American colleges target Indonesian students
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives from 100 American state and private universities took part in a one-day fair on Saturday to enroll Indonesians searching for academic excellence.
Thousands of people visited the fair at Kartika Chandra Hotel for a glimpse of the facilities being offered by big names like State University of New York, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and Indiana State University, as well as the lesser colleges.
Organizers of the fair said there is a growing interest in studying in the United States among young Indonesians.
While growing prosperity has often been cited as the main reason for the increasing number of Indonesians turning to overseas universities, the shortage of university seats at home is also a factor.
"Many students in Indonesia want to go to the university, but the seats here are limited," said Kay Ikranagara, executive director of the International Education Foundation (IEF) which organizes the fair annually.
Other countries have held similar fairs promoting their own universities in Jakarta and other major cities in Indonesia.
The fair is intended to provide information on higher education facilities in the United States. The 100 universities have sent their representatives to personally meet with prospective students, Ikranagara said.
Some words of advice from the IEF: Anyone intending to study in the United States should take the time and effort to choose and to apply to schools that meet their needs.
There are over 3,500 schools in the United States offering nearly 500 different fields of study to foreign students.
The U.S. embassy runs educational advising service centers in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan.
According to the IEF, to join an undergraduate program, one must have attended at least 12 years of primary and secondary education. Most institutions require foreign students to take a Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). For an undergraduate program, the minimum TOEFL is set at between 500 and 550, and for a graduate program, the TOEFL requirement is around 550.
The average cost for undergraduates is $17,000 a year, while for graduate students it is $23,000.
But costs vary from state to state, and university to university.
The Oregon State University, Corvallis, where there are currently 213 Indonesians studying, estimates the total cost for an undergraduate student at $18,630 a year, with $11,070 going for tuition fees, $4,587 for room and board, $810 for books and supplies, and $2,163 for personal and miscellaneous expenses.
To study at Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, in Indianapolis, Indiana, a student needs $7,890 if staying at a public residential facilities and $18,309 at private residential facilities. The school is part of the Indiana State University, where six Indonesians are currently studying. (05)