Classes have begun at DVC, and just like last semester, finding available seats in classes is a huge challenge. This is due to the economic crisis in California: The state government cut the community colleges' budgets, resulting in fewer sections of courses being offered; but when the economy is bad, people return to college for job training and career exploration, so enrollments are at an all-time high. This makes it very difficult for students to get the classes that they want and to maintain their timeline for completing their academic goals at DVC.
So, what can you do if the classes you want to take are full? I've answered that question, and many more, in my Frequently Asked Questions page, available on the International Students website, or at this link here: http://www.dvc.edu/international/pdfs/frequently-asked-questions.pdf
Check out all of the questions in the FAQs to see if your questions can be answered there.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Holiday Availability
Diablo Valley College will be closed beginning Tuesday, December 22, 2009 until Monday, January 4, 2010. Faculty, including counselors, may not be available until classes begin on Friday, January 22, 2010. In the meantime, students are encouraged to utilize available resources for finding answers to common academic counseling questions. These resources include:
1. http://www.assist.org/, for information about CSU and UC admissions and program requirements, majors offered, and the transferability of DVC courses to the CSU and UC systems.
2. The DVC Catalog, available online at http://www.dvc.edu/; click on "Schedule of Classes" on the right; on the next page, find the Catalog and Addendum files at the bottom of the page. Both are PDF documents.
3. The DVC New International Student Orientation online: Go to www.authorstream.com/tag/misham, then click on "DVC New International Student Orientation." The orientation has audio and lasts approximately 1.5 hours. There are other useful and informative presentations on my authorstream page that might answer many academic counseling questions.
Also, read my other posts on this blog to see if your questions can be answered by one of those.
Happy Holidays, and see you all next year!
1. http://www.assist.org/, for information about CSU and UC admissions and program requirements, majors offered, and the transferability of DVC courses to the CSU and UC systems.
2. The DVC Catalog, available online at http://www.dvc.edu/; click on "Schedule of Classes" on the right; on the next page, find the Catalog and Addendum files at the bottom of the page. Both are PDF documents.
3. The DVC New International Student Orientation online: Go to www.authorstream.com/tag/misham, then click on "DVC New International Student Orientation." The orientation has audio and lasts approximately 1.5 hours. There are other useful and informative presentations on my authorstream page that might answer many academic counseling questions.
Also, read my other posts on this blog to see if your questions can be answered by one of those.
Happy Holidays, and see you all next year!
If the classes you want are full...
If the classes you want to take are full:
1. Check the Schedule of Classes daily to see if someone has dropped, leaving an opening for which you can register.
2. If the class has a waiting list that still has openings on it, add your name; if an opening occurs, the department will contact you and ask if you want to register for the class. If you attend the first day of class and openings are available, those students on the waiting list will get priority for the open seats.
3. If the class is still closed on the first day, attend anyway, taking a Schedule Request form (available at http://www.dvc.edu/pdfs/Schedule-Request.pdf ) . Ask the instructor if you can take the class; if the instructor consents, get his/her signature on the form, then take it to the International Student Admissions and Services office.
4. Look for other classes to take, such as General Education courses or elective classes. Remember that international students MUST enroll in at least 12 units each semester in order to maintain legal status while in the U.S.
More students are enrolling in California community colleges while fewer classes are being offered, due to the bad economy and state budget cuts. Classes at DVC fill up VERY quickly, and students MUST be flexible in their expectations. If the classes you want are full, there is nothing that counselors, instructors, or administrators can do to create more classes for you. If you would like to take action, please consider contacting the California legislators for Contra Costa County to voice your concerns: http://www.dvc.edu/news/announcements/closedclasses.htm
1. Check the Schedule of Classes daily to see if someone has dropped, leaving an opening for which you can register.
2. If the class has a waiting list that still has openings on it, add your name; if an opening occurs, the department will contact you and ask if you want to register for the class. If you attend the first day of class and openings are available, those students on the waiting list will get priority for the open seats.
3. If the class is still closed on the first day, attend anyway, taking a Schedule Request form (available at http://www.dvc.edu/pdfs/Schedule-Request.pdf ) . Ask the instructor if you can take the class; if the instructor consents, get his/her signature on the form, then take it to the International Student Admissions and Services office.
4. Look for other classes to take, such as General Education courses or elective classes. Remember that international students MUST enroll in at least 12 units each semester in order to maintain legal status while in the U.S.
More students are enrolling in California community colleges while fewer classes are being offered, due to the bad economy and state budget cuts. Classes at DVC fill up VERY quickly, and students MUST be flexible in their expectations. If the classes you want are full, there is nothing that counselors, instructors, or administrators can do to create more classes for you. If you would like to take action, please consider contacting the California legislators for Contra Costa County to voice your concerns: http://www.dvc.edu/news/announcements/closedclasses.htm
Monday, November 2, 2009
The UC Personal Statement: A Great Video
If you are applying to the UC system, here's a link to a wonderful video hosted by a UC faculty member:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zo6NI4wHf4
When I give advice about writing the personal statement, I get my information from this video and similar presentations offered by UC authorities. Here you can hear and see it directly from the UC officer herself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zo6NI4wHf4
When I give advice about writing the personal statement, I get my information from this video and similar presentations offered by UC authorities. Here you can hear and see it directly from the UC officer herself.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The UC Personal Statement
The application for the University of California system is now available. Part of the application is the personal statement. The personal statement consists of two topics, and applicants may write a maximum of 1000 words. The personal statement topics can be found at the following link:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html
Applicants are reminded to complete the application before writing the personal statement, as statement readers will be looking at the applicant's application before reading the personal statement. For other great tips on writing the personal statement, view the PowerPoint presentation, courtesy of the UC system, posted on my authorSTREAM page: http://www.authorstream.com/tag/misham.
To access the UC application, click on this link: https://admissions.ucop.edu/pathwaysF2010/Pathways
DVC international students should be advised that the international counselor will have extended drop-in counseling available in the month of November to offer feedback on the personal statement. However, applicants should not expect extensive editing, as the personal statement is just that: PERSONAL. It is your story, not mine.
For details on the extended drop-in hours, contact the DVC Counseling Center: 925-685-1230, extension 2276 or 2278.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html
Applicants are reminded to complete the application before writing the personal statement, as statement readers will be looking at the applicant's application before reading the personal statement. For other great tips on writing the personal statement, view the PowerPoint presentation, courtesy of the UC system, posted on my authorSTREAM page: http://www.authorstream.com/tag/misham.
To access the UC application, click on this link: https://admissions.ucop.edu/pathwaysF2010/Pathways
DVC international students should be advised that the international counselor will have extended drop-in counseling available in the month of November to offer feedback on the personal statement. However, applicants should not expect extensive editing, as the personal statement is just that: PERSONAL. It is your story, not mine.
For details on the extended drop-in hours, contact the DVC Counseling Center: 925-685-1230, extension 2276 or 2278.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Reporting Prior Coursework on the University Application
I want to take this opportunity to remind students that ALL prior coursework MUST be reported on the University of California application, as well as on any other university application. Some students act like they do not believe me when I tell them this information. Here is a link to the University of California website that confirms my assertion:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/educators/counselors/adminfo/transfer/advising/answers/applying.html#1
University applications all include a statement that must be read and signed, even virtually, by applicants verifying that the applicant has reported all information in the application accurately and honestly, and that failure to do so can have negative consequences on the applicant's admissibility to the university. If the university discovers that you failed to report prior college coursework, you can have your admissions rescinded, or taken away, and it can affect your admissibility to any other university in the system.
Do not be afraid to report prior college coursework, even if your GPA was weak. Let the university make the decision on your application, not your peers, and remember that any decision can be appealed through proper channels of communication.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/educators/counselors/adminfo/transfer/advising/answers/applying.html#1
University applications all include a statement that must be read and signed, even virtually, by applicants verifying that the applicant has reported all information in the application accurately and honestly, and that failure to do so can have negative consequences on the applicant's admissibility to the university. If the university discovers that you failed to report prior college coursework, you can have your admissions rescinded, or taken away, and it can affect your admissibility to any other university in the system.
Do not be afraid to report prior college coursework, even if your GPA was weak. Let the university make the decision on your application, not your peers, and remember that any decision can be appealed through proper channels of communication.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Transfer Admission Guarantee
Students who will complete all of their transfer requirements by the end of Spring 2010, and who have no units from a college or university outside of the U.S., might want to look into the opportunities provided by the Transfer Admission Guarantee, or TAG, with several of the UC campuses.
All UC campuses except Berkeley and Los Angeles have TAG programs. All of the TAG programs allow international students except San Diego.
Davis is the most popular TAG for international students at DVC. The deadline to submit the Davis TAG is September 30. You MUST see a counselor BY APPOINTMENT to write the TAG, as doing so requires your file to be pulled from the Admissions and Records office, and it requires more time than a drop-in meeting would allow. So, if you are interested in writing the TAG with UC Davis, schedule an appointment IMMEDIATELY by calling the Counseling Center at 925-685-1230, ext. 2276 or 2278.
The other UC's have different procedures and deadlines. Check with the Transfer Center in the Counseling Building for more details about the UC TAGs. You can also refer to the UC website: http://uctransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer_admis_guar.html
All UC campuses except Berkeley and Los Angeles have TAG programs. All of the TAG programs allow international students except San Diego.
Davis is the most popular TAG for international students at DVC. The deadline to submit the Davis TAG is September 30. You MUST see a counselor BY APPOINTMENT to write the TAG, as doing so requires your file to be pulled from the Admissions and Records office, and it requires more time than a drop-in meeting would allow. So, if you are interested in writing the TAG with UC Davis, schedule an appointment IMMEDIATELY by calling the Counseling Center at 925-685-1230, ext. 2276 or 2278.
The other UC's have different procedures and deadlines. Check with the Transfer Center in the Counseling Building for more details about the UC TAGs. You can also refer to the UC website: http://uctransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer_admis_guar.html
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