Welcome back to school!

It’s the start of a new school year, and students around the world are returning to campus and settling into dorms and apartments. In this issue we highlight some of the practical back-to-school items you’ll need to address as you get back into the rhythm of classes and studying. Also, we are getting very close to the re-launch of InternationalStudent.com, so watch your email for an announcement in the next few weeks!

As always, we appreciate your feedback.

Best of luck with the new school year!

Ross Mason

Editor, InternationalStudent.com

Join our Facebook Group | Visit/ Comment on our Blogs | Participate in our forum

As you head back to school, there are always the last minute things you either forget or put off until the last minute - luckily we can help and a few essential resources are:

International Student Loans: Student loans for international students studying in the US or Canada, and for US students abroad. Apply online for up to $30,000 per year.

 

International Student Insurance: Student Secure is comprehensive health and travel insurance for students outside their home country, meets most school requirements.

 

International Calling Cards: Keep in touch with your family and friends with low cost international calls from your mobile or home phone.

 

USA Sim Card and Mobile Phones: Stay mobile with a sim card or mobile phone for the USA and get a local US number to cut your roaming charges.

....and with any new school, or back to school experience, it's a time to make new friends:

• Join our Facebook Group and introduce yourself to our current members
• Participate in our Forums and chat with other students

Already stressed from classes? Take a few minutes to decompress and scan the latest Hollywood headlines, hear the latest gossip and catch up on what Britney, Lindsay and Paris are doing.

Read Perez Hilton's blog and find out who's in rehab and who should be:

http://perezhilton.com/

The InternationalStudent.com Annual Travel Contest is back - and bigger than ever!

Send us your video about why and where you want to travel or study abroad. The videos should be around 4 to 8 minutes in length, and we will judge the entries on creativity, video production and editing quality, originality and interest level in the proposed trip or study abroad, and pure subjectivity on our part. Take a look at some of the entries from last year!

Entries are due by October 15. To be eligible, you must either be an international student, currently studying outside of your home country, or the trip that is the subject of your video must be a study abroad trip.

This year, the winner will receive $2,500 to use towards their trip or study abroad experience - plus there will be some cool runner-up prizes.

http://www.internationalstudent.com/contest/

US Grad School International Admissions Increase Again

The Council of Graduate Schools reported this week that offers of admissions to international students at US graduate schools increased 8% this year, following a 12% increase last year. This is the third consecutive year of increases, welcome news for US graduate schools competing worldwide for international graduate students. US schools have had to combat post-9/11 visa hurdles and stigmas as well as increased global competition, and this report is further evidence that these efforts are paying off.

The report also shows a dramatic increase in the number of schools setting up collaborative programs with schools outside of the US. These collaborative programs, where a student spends some time at a university in her home country and some time at a partner school in the US, have eased some of the burdens of international education, since a student does not have to obtain an entire degree far from home.

Click here to read the press release from the Council of Graduate Schools : http://www.cgsnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=240&newsid440=54&mid=440&&

There are many reasons for the popularity of Italian language and culture: Italy is one of the most significant centers of fine arts in the world, it is the birthplace of classical music and it offers unique archaeological sites in an amazing landscape.

To find the right Italian course, "The Language Course Finder" offers you the opportunity to search for language courses according to your personal criteria (e.g., location, course type, group size, accommodation, supplementary activities…) Moreover important details which are needed for a language holiday or study-abroad program are also readily available, i.e. comprehensive information about language certificates, country and travel facts (immigration, insurance...).

Click here to find your Italian course now and experience a new way of life:

https://www.duolingo.com/