It is always hard to predict what life has in store for you, but one thing is for sure that it is going to be a roller coaster ride. The next story we bring you forth is on a very similar line.
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A lot of changes in a short period can be exasperating. However, still, for Alisha, these changes were quick and based on smart decisions.
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“I completed my schooling in 2014 and decided to move to the US as my family was based there. I started searching over the internet for options related to studying in the US and found out that traditional US universities were highly expensive. If I chose to study with them, I’d be buried under a huge debt. As a result, I decided to try my luck with Community Colleges and got admitted to the Delaware County Community College, Pennsylvania. Within two years, I completed an Associate Degree in Computer Science at Delaware. Completing a degree is not a compulsion as a student can join the community college to get General courses at a low price compared to other prominent universities.
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In the US Education system, everything works on your academic transcripts. So, whatever modules I was pursuing at Community College were accepted by other US Universities, and I did not have to pay any extra penny for those modules. This way, I ended up saving at least two years of tuition fees! Also, whenever you plan to join any of the Community Colleges, be ready to witness a different culture and lifestyle. The American TV Shows we have watched growing up have created an unrealistic reality about High Schools and Universities. At Community Colleges, you’ll find people coming from extremely different walks of life. It does get pretty lonely at times as everyone is highly engrossed in their lives. In my opinion, the key to surviving in any foreign location would be to be as interactive as possible with the people around you and also to try making friends.
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From this, one of the best things about Community Colleges is that they all have state-appointed Counsellors and Advisors. They work with you to find out the best route for your further education. My Counsellor too played a crucial role when I decided to pursue ‘Accelerated Bachelors and Masters of Science in Computer Science’ (BSMS) at Drexel University, Philadelphia. BSMS is a unique course where you can complete two degrees at the cost price of one and also save a year or two (including two six month Co-ops) if you did two degrees separately. Also, I earned 89 credits through my Associate Degree, which, in return, saved me a lot of time and money while studying at Drexel.
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So, pursuing the BSMS with Drexel University meant that after completing about four years, I’d pass out with both Bachelors and Masters degrees. Also, while pursuing my Degree at Drexel, I stood a chance to avail ‘Co-Op’ twice. Co-ops are traditionally full-time, paid positions and usually refers to a multi-work term agreement with one employer; traditionally with at least three work terms alternated with school terms. They even fetch you credit scores at University and specifically help an International student to learn how things run in the real professional world.
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Presently, I’m working as ‘Software Developer’ with ‘OSIsoft’ from the previous six months and earlier even worked with ‘IPipeline Inc’ for a year.
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To the students planning to study in Philadelphia, food is not at all going to be a problem. There are plenty of Indian eating joints available in and around the campus. Still, the major challenge you might face would be related to finding the right kind of accommodation. For that, I would recommend you to search for university accommodations or search on Facebook for any student sublet. If planning to study in or around Drexel University, you can try the ‘Drexel University Housing Sublet’ or ‘Craigslist’- an American classified advertisements website.
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On the other hand, if travelling within Philadelphia is concerned, you may try the SEPTA App or ,,http://www.septa.org/ by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Also, as an international student, one is allowed to work 20 hours a week and can earn around $8 an hour. The universities too offer excellent work opportunities to work on the campus.
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Any change (even a replacement for the better), is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. You might take time to absorb these changes or come to terms with them but always be ready with open arms up for what happens next. It is how life makes us grow and learn things in life”.
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