From: Jeffrey Schwab <jeff@...>
Date: 2005-12-03T17:02:53+09:00
Subject: Re: [OT] Studying in the US

Daniel Schierbeck wrote:
> Hi fellow Rubyists!
> 
> I've been on this list for a little while now,and I feel like you're all 
> very open and helpful. That's why I direct my question to you.
> 
> I'm at my senior year at the Danish (north of Germany, south of Sweden) 
> equivalence to the US high school. My grades are excellent (about an A 
> average, though I'm not completely sure about the conversion. I expect 
> to finish with an average of over 10, if there are any Danes that know 
> what that would amount to in teh US system.) I was hoping to study in 
> the US either next school year or the year after, depending on what my 
> options are (and perhaps it's already too late to apply for next year,) 
> but I'm not sure I will be able to afford it - We have a public (free) 
> education system in Denmark, so I do not have any college savings. What 
> I want to know is what my options are in regard to scholarships and 
> whatever funding there may else be.
> 
> I've been looking at colleges like UC Berkeley, which I believe is a 
> state college, but I've also been dreaming of going to more prominent 
> colleges, such as Boston College, though that may not be realistic.
> 
> My grades are good enough to get me into pretty much any education I 
> want here in Denmark, but I'd very much like to get away for a few years 
> and try to live across the pond. I also find the selection of courses 
> more interesting. Here we specialize a lot earlier.
> 
> I'm mostly interested in the scientific and mathematical areas, so I 
> think I'd pick math, CS, or the like as mayor.

I got my undergraduate degree in Computer Systems Engineering at Boston 
University, and had a great time getting it.  Boston is a wonderful 
place to go to college, and a great place to live if you can stand the 
winters.

Your best options probably will be private scholarships.  BU is 
expensive, but gives a lot of merit-based scholarship and grant money. 
You should have a good shot at some of that money, given your scholastic 
accomplishments.  It also has great programs for foreign students.  Your 
English already seems excellent, so you will be one step ahead of other 
students.

I don't know what BC's programs for foreign students are like.  Life at 
BC seems to revolve around two religions:  Catholicism and Football.