US/Canadian college for an International student?

Originally Posted by XSO

I've been looking at college in Spain (I'd prefer to have it in my own language and there aren't much GOOD English uni's about). I've also been looking at college in Britain, although I don't greately relish the idea of going back there too well just yet.

I'm deciding to perhaps aim my sights a little too fucking high and think about the USA and/or Canada. Any good (but not too Harvard/Yale SUPER HARD TO GET INTO LIEK TEH HARD TOFFEE) colleges? I've had the University of Toronto suggested by a Canadian guy somewhere.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I want to study Design (graphic design, website design, you know, sorta computer based design and shit) and/or Film, with perhaps a side-plate of Business as well. I'm not sure how the college system works over there, I've heard you "major" in subjects and kinda minor in others. How does that work? All that happens over here is that you take so and so subjects (like I have above) and do just that until HUEG EXAM at end of the year.

Anyway, before I even begin looking for colleges (expect a follow-up thread in a while) would there be any point in even thinking about it? Would I have to take some other sorta entrance exam alongside already having all the GCSEs and AS Levels and A Levels and all that? Scholarships?

Also any idea on converting all that A Level and GCSE and AS Level shit to a GPA so I can have a rough idea of what I'm looking at?

So yeah kthx for any info. >_>

British + Film =

One of the best film schools I've heard of where you can learn business would have to be University of Southern California .

Spoiler:

They are located in Los Angeles (with some schools in other cities) where they get famous film stars (directors, actors, producers, etc.) to sometimes guest lecture and many of today's famous individuals in the media have graduated from this school (it's not on the site anymore, but I found another list): Famous Alumni Link

They also have what looks like an in-depth graudate field. There is a form you can print out on-line for financial aid help. I was looking into this school because my college is one of the most work-heavy liberal arts colleges (and a liberal arts degree isn't as good as a practical degree from a University). Here is a list of major and minor classes for undergraduates: Undergraduate Majors and Minors

There's also a link to the International Student page: International Link . And if you pick which major you want you can look up some of the estimated costs, but there is financial aid you can apply for if you're in a low income range. I have a buddy that attends USC Davis if you want more information about USC.

Actually, I'm stuck in a similar situation and I'm traveling to the University of Sunderland for a semester because my school doesn't have Film/Media Communication. I think the only big test required to get into a University would be either the S.A.T. or A.C.T., but you may want to contact potential colleges to see what they want (or if they need for you to take either test since some have made it optional).

About the GPA, all I know is that my school takes the classes abroad and marks it as either a "pass" or "fail" instead of giving it a letter grade, so it doesn't hurt or help the existing GPA. However, it may work differently for other colleges.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by XSO

God this whole minor and major thing sure is a blast. ._. And this credit business, what's that all about? He said you got 20 credits and 2 majors will take up like 16 of them and whatnot.

It really is a blast . Credits are the numbers you receive per class. For example, if you take 1 class for 3 hours a week--one hour class for 3 days a week--then you get 3 credits for that class. I don't know how it works in Canada, but in the U.S. you have to take General Studies courses (as in, courses not related to your major).

For example, let's say you need to have 30 credits. You take 5 classes that relate to a Film major and each of them are 3 credits (last for 3 hours per week), then that means you have 15 credits. Well, in America, you need general classes, so let's say the other 15 credits you need are your general courses: Math (3 credits), Science (3 credits), English (3 credits), Social Science (3 credits), and Physical Education (3 credits).

Of course, the number of credits can change (normally receive around 2-4 credits per class). They may do credits different in Canada, but in America it mostly depends on how many hours the course is per week. There are a few exceptions when dealing with Liberal Arts colleges, but they can mainly make their own rules since many of them are private.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by XSO

Hmm...well thats the minor major thing sorted out I guess. >_> Now I gotta decide exactly what type of mixture of stuff it is that I wanna take. >_>

Yeah, that is one of the major concerns with just about every US or canadian uni I've looked at, also hence me mentioning our not-so-huge income. I'm like "hay I'm not a US/canada guy" and they're all "WELL BIG PRICE TO PAY BWHAHAHAHAHA DIE (also we offer very little funding stuff as well)" It says it's roughly like 11,000€ for the first year for most unis. Would that go down or up in price over the years? Also we've entered the Green Card Lottery (I doubt we'll win but whatever), but I doubt I'd get resident state uni prices for just having a green card, right?

Double Post:
Also for anyone doing uni in Britain, or anyone who's been there, do they offer this sort of Major/Minor type stuff?

I'm not sure about minors, but Britain has one good thing about majors that the U.S., and maybe Canada, do not have. In Britain, when you begin going to a university, you do NOT have to worry about taking General Studies courses. You get right into what you want to do for a major. One of the cheaper film/media communication universities there is the University of Sunderland. It's still a few thousand euros per semester, but this college has been known to have given people jobs for MTV, The Guardian, BBC, and a few other forms of media. They do have some business courses there and one of the better graphic design studios I believe, but I do not know if they really have minors or not. However, they have some good hands-on film training and unlike U.S. dorms, you get your own dorm room .

I'm in a hurry, but I'll add a link later today.

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