Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Caribbean Student Scholarship Fund at Ohio University
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Student Spotlight: Juella Gumbs; Bronx Community College [ The Bronx, New York ]
This week I spoke with Juella Gumbs of Bronx Community College, which is a 2 year college under the umbrella of the City University of New York (CUNY) school system. The college is located in The Bronx, New York. The CUNY system is one of the largest university systems in the United States and consist of many reputable 2 and 4 year colleges. It is also important to note that it is a very affordable school system, making it a haven for Caribbean Students. The only downfall of the CUNY schools is their lack of on campus housing. Most, if not all of the universities and colleges are commuter schools. Otherwise, it is an excellent school system with renowned colleges such as Baruch College, Queens College, Brooklyn College, York College, LaGuardia Community College, Bronx Community College- just to name a few. Juella will be graduating from Bronx Community College in a few weeks- CONGRATULATIONS!! She will be transfering to one of the top business schools in the nation, Baruch College- which is located in Downtown Manhattan.Below is my interview with Juella:
Ozelle M: Why did you choose to attend Bronx Community College?
Juella G: Initially I had not applied to Bronx Community College. Baruch was my first choice and I had been accepted. However, due to issues with the Math Placement Test I chose to attend Bronx Community College.
Ozelle M: What is your major at BBC?
Juella G: I'm a Business major with a concentration in Marketing
Ozelle M: Okay so we know that BCC is a 2 year college, what are the benefits of attending community college as oppose to going directly to university?
Juella G: There are several advantages you can get by attending a community college despite the stigma attached to them. Not only is the tuition a fraction of the cost compared to 4 year colleges, but class sizes tend to be small enabling students to develop relationships with their professors. Also it provides a smooth transition from high school to a 4 year college. This can be attributed to the small class sizes and the individual attention. Students are able to find out exactly w hat professors expect of them, and are able to correct any mistakes that may prove costly had t hey been at a 4 year college with minimal direction.
Ozelle M: How’s campus life at BBC?
Juella G: I would say the only thing I'm disappointed in with BCC is the campus life; it's practically non-existent. As a commute school, you find many of the students enrolled are part-time versus full-time students who work. You find most people just come for classes and leave once they are done to attend to their other obligations like work or their families. There are activities on campus but in comparison to 4 year colleges, school spirit is considerably lower.
Ozelle M: Is the student population accepting of Caribbean Students?
Juella G: I would say the student population is accepting of Caribbean students. Over the course of my studies at BCC I have come across many students I didn't know were from the Caribbean. From as far north as Jamaica to way down south by Trinidad, we are represented.
Ozelle M: Is there a Caribbean Student Association on campus and are you apart of it?
Juella G: There isn't a CSA present on campus but there have been Caribbean Clubs as well as International Students Clubs active on campus. During my second semester at BCC I was actually the Inter Organizational Council representative for the club from Sping 08 to Fall 08. These clubs have and continue to serve as a sort of retreat to make Caribbean students feel 'at home'.
Ozelle M: Would you encourage Caribbean Students to come to BBC?
Juella G: Of course I would. By no means is it cheap for Caribbean students to pursue an education in the US but with a school such as BCC that provides relatively low tuition and fees, it is worth the investment. It is even more beneficial to us caribbean students if we have family within the city that can provide us with low cost or free accomodation. As far as NY being a distracting city, it is only as distracting as one allows it to be. Most Caribbean students I come across are honor roll students and know how to balance school and the lure of the city life. We also know the value and importance of an education so it all comes down to staying focused and working diligently towards the goals we set forth for ourselves. Also if they have a support system behind them, they will be always be
reminded of their purpose.
Ozelle M: What plans do you have after you complete your degree at Bronx Community College?
Juella G: Well I'm currently in my last semester and I've already been accepted to Baruch for Spring 10 (yaaay!). My plans there are to enter the Zicklin School of Business and pursue my Bachelor's in Advertising and Marketing Communications with a minor in International Business. My long term education goals are to continue on to a Masters in Business as well as attain certification in Fashion Merchandising through a Continuing Professional Studies program at the Fashion Institute of technology.
Juella's interview was very informative and it was my pleasure to speak with her. She provided lots of information about life at a community college and how one can benefit from attending such an institution. For more information about Bronx Community College, please go to www.bcc.cuny.edu and to get more information about other City University of New York schools, please visit www.cuny.edu
Next week:: More information your blogger. Yup, I will invite you into my life (education wise):-)
Ozelle M: Why did you choose to attend Bronx Community College?
Juella G: Initially I had not applied to Bronx Community College. Baruch was my first choice and I had been accepted. However, due to issues with the Math Placement Test I chose to attend Bronx Community College.
Ozelle M: What is your major at BBC?
Juella G: I'm a Business major with a concentration in Marketing
Ozelle M: Okay so we know that BCC is a 2 year college, what are the benefits of attending community college as oppose to going directly to university?
Juella G: There are several advantages you can get by attending a community college despite the stigma attached to them. Not only is the tuition a fraction of the cost compared to 4 year colleges, but class sizes tend to be small enabling students to develop relationships with their professors. Also it provides a smooth transition from high school to a 4 year college. This can be attributed to the small class sizes and the individual attention. Students are able to find out exactly w hat professors expect of them, and are able to correct any mistakes that may prove costly had t hey been at a 4 year college with minimal direction.
Ozelle M: How’s campus life at BBC?
Juella G: I would say the only thing I'm disappointed in with BCC is the campus life; it's practically non-existent. As a commute school, you find many of the students enrolled are part-time versus full-time students who work. You find most people just come for classes and leave once they are done to attend to their other obligations like work or their families. There are activities on campus but in comparison to 4 year colleges, school spirit is considerably lower.
Ozelle M: Is the student population accepting of Caribbean Students?
Juella G: I would say the student population is accepting of Caribbean students. Over the course of my studies at BCC I have come across many students I didn't know were from the Caribbean. From as far north as Jamaica to way down south by Trinidad, we are represented.
Ozelle M: Is there a Caribbean Student Association on campus and are you apart of it?
Juella G: There isn't a CSA present on campus but there have been Caribbean Clubs as well as International Students Clubs active on campus. During my second semester at BCC I was actually the Inter Organizational Council representative for the club from Sping 08 to Fall 08. These clubs have and continue to serve as a sort of retreat to make Caribbean students feel 'at home'.
Ozelle M: Would you encourage Caribbean Students to come to BBC?
Juella G: Of course I would. By no means is it cheap for Caribbean students to pursue an education in the US but with a school such as BCC that provides relatively low tuition and fees, it is worth the investment. It is even more beneficial to us caribbean students if we have family within the city that can provide us with low cost or free accomodation. As far as NY being a distracting city, it is only as distracting as one allows it to be. Most Caribbean students I come across are honor roll students and know how to balance school and the lure of the city life. We also know the value and importance of an education so it all comes down to staying focused and working diligently towards the goals we set forth for ourselves. Also if they have a support system behind them, they will be always be
reminded of their purpose.
Ozelle M: What plans do you have after you complete your degree at Bronx Community College?
Juella G: Well I'm currently in my last semester and I've already been accepted to Baruch for Spring 10 (yaaay!). My plans there are to enter the Zicklin School of Business and pursue my Bachelor's in Advertising and Marketing Communications with a minor in International Business. My long term education goals are to continue on to a Masters in Business as well as attain certification in Fashion Merchandising through a Continuing Professional Studies program at the Fashion Institute of technology.
Juella's interview was very informative and it was my pleasure to speak with her. She provided lots of information about life at a community college and how one can benefit from attending such an institution. For more information about Bronx Community College, please go to www.bcc.cuny.edu and to get more information about other City University of New York schools, please visit www.cuny.edu
Next week:: More information your blogger. Yup, I will invite you into my life (education wise):-)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Student Spotlight: Vincia Woods; Senior at Howard University [ Washington D.C. ]
Yesterday, I conducted an interview with Vincia Woods who is a Senior (4th year) student at Howard University in Washington D.C. Attending school in the nation's capital offers so many perks, particularly for students pursuing careers in fields such as law, politics, public administration and medicine. There are countless internships available in the various fields and to my knowledge, many of the professors at universities in the DC/MD/VA area are well-connected. Vincia is from the island of St. Kitts and is an aspiring medical doctor. She began her studies at Howard University in the Fall of 2006 and now she is preparing for her graduation in May 2010. Below is the brief conversation I held with Vincia:
Ozelle M: Why did you choose to attend Howard University?
Vincia W: Well firstly, I love the DMV area which includes District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia and also Howard has a great accelerated Biology/M.D. program. It was also the school that my mother dreamed I attended since I spoke my first words (haha)
Ozelle M: So this program allows you to complete your undergraduate degree and medical degree in a shortened time as oppose to if you did them independantly of each other?
Vincia W: Yes! That's correct!
Ozelle M: Is the student population at Howard accepting of Caribbean students?
Vincia W: Yes they are. They seem to enjoy different cultures and they support the Caribbean-related activities that are held on campus.
Ozelle M: Are you apart of the Caribbean Students Association?
Vincia W: Yes and I joined it to feel connected with my West Indian roots while I'm studying in Washington D.C.
Ozelle M: What plans do you have after you complete your degree at Howard?
Vincia W: I'm hoping to go on to graduate school.
Ozelle M: Would you encourage Caribbean Students to come to Howard University?
Vincia W: Definitely! Academically, it is a good school and it is very diverse. Also, there is a large West Indian population.
Ozelle M: Thank you for your time Vincia. I do hope that even more Caribbean people will be encouraged to attend Howard University in the future.
Vincia W: No problem. Thank you for having me on your blog and I invite more West Indians as well.
I really hope that you guys were able to benefit from this interview and will be encouraged to apply to Howard University to further your studies. Believe me, Washington D.C. is a great place to study. This summer, I made my inaugural visit to the nation's capital and it was nothing short of awesome. Even though, I was not able to visit the campus at Howard University, I did stop by Georgetown University for a bit. The area surrounding Georgetown is nice, chic and trendy. It seems as if it caters mainly to the Georgetown University community as most of the people were about in their 20s. Another thing I noted, Downtown Washington D.C. is VERY clean and many of the building look very stately. Hey! They should, since the President of the United States is now a D.C. resident.
Ozelle M: Why did you choose to attend Howard University?
Vincia W: Well firstly, I love the DMV area which includes District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia and also Howard has a great accelerated Biology/M.D. program. It was also the school that my mother dreamed I attended since I spoke my first words (haha)
Ozelle M: So this program allows you to complete your undergraduate degree and medical degree in a shortened time as oppose to if you did them independantly of each other?
Vincia W: Yes! That's correct!
Ozelle M: Is the student population at Howard accepting of Caribbean students?
Vincia W: Yes they are. They seem to enjoy different cultures and they support the Caribbean-related activities that are held on campus.
Ozelle M: Are you apart of the Caribbean Students Association?
Vincia W: Yes and I joined it to feel connected with my West Indian roots while I'm studying in Washington D.C.
Ozelle M: What plans do you have after you complete your degree at Howard?
Vincia W: I'm hoping to go on to graduate school.
Ozelle M: Would you encourage Caribbean Students to come to Howard University?
Vincia W: Definitely! Academically, it is a good school and it is very diverse. Also, there is a large West Indian population.
Ozelle M: Thank you for your time Vincia. I do hope that even more Caribbean people will be encouraged to attend Howard University in the future.
Vincia W: No problem. Thank you for having me on your blog and I invite more West Indians as well.
I really hope that you guys were able to benefit from this interview and will be encouraged to apply to Howard University to further your studies. Believe me, Washington D.C. is a great place to study. This summer, I made my inaugural visit to the nation's capital and it was nothing short of awesome. Even though, I was not able to visit the campus at Howard University, I did stop by Georgetown University for a bit. The area surrounding Georgetown is nice, chic and trendy. It seems as if it caters mainly to the Georgetown University community as most of the people were about in their 20s. Another thing I noted, Downtown Washington D.C. is VERY clean and many of the building look very stately. Hey! They should, since the President of the United States is now a D.C. resident.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Caribbean Students: Travelling
One expense that we constantly incur while in college involves travelling back and forth from our home country. During my first year, I went back to St. Kitts during winter break and for summer break. For my remaining years, I only travelled home for the Christmas holidays. My summers would be occupied either working or taking summer courses or both. This helped me to graduate a whole semester earliar than my expected graduation date and also put a few dollars into my pockets, so that I can have myself a mini-vacay during the summer as well.
I am an AmericanAirlines junkie! I am never disappointed with their service! AmericanAirlines has the best deals to the Caribbean. Somehow I almost always manage to get GREAT deals to go to my home country from New York or Miami, FL for Christmas break. Timing is very important! The best time to reserve your winter flights home is during the summer. Yes, a whole 6 months early! Check your academic calenders on your school's website and note the last day of finals as that should help you with your bookings.
Another way to get great travel deals include my fav, good ol' coupon codes. In the summer of 2008, I went from New York to Florida to visit my bestie for $129 ROUND TRIP with taxes included. I flew on DeltaAirlines. Though, I am an AmericanAirlines die-hard, I couldn't give up this trip. Those of you who travel throughout the United States would know that a flight from Florida to New York would cost around $250- $300 but with a good ol' coupon code, I flew for a startling $129.
Here are my recommendations: To travel within the United States, you'll probably get the best deals on DeltaAirlines or Southwest Airlines. I know many of you are wondering about JetBlue., but while I love flying JetBlue because of their personal televisions and leather seating, their rates have soared and the taxes are relatively high.
To travel from the United States to The Caribbean, I recommend AmericanAirlines and a far second would be US Airways. American Airlines has lots of direct flights and that's just a plus but I hate connecting flights. I always seem to miss my connector and I just can't be bothered with the hassle.
Take my travel tips into consideration for the next time you're flying and don't forget to always research promotional codes, you'll save tons. I love saving! You should love it too!
I am an AmericanAirlines junkie! I am never disappointed with their service! AmericanAirlines has the best deals to the Caribbean. Somehow I almost always manage to get GREAT deals to go to my home country from New York or Miami, FL for Christmas break. Timing is very important! The best time to reserve your winter flights home is during the summer. Yes, a whole 6 months early! Check your academic calenders on your school's website and note the last day of finals as that should help you with your bookings.
Another way to get great travel deals include my fav, good ol' coupon codes. In the summer of 2008, I went from New York to Florida to visit my bestie for $129 ROUND TRIP with taxes included. I flew on DeltaAirlines. Though, I am an AmericanAirlines die-hard, I couldn't give up this trip. Those of you who travel throughout the United States would know that a flight from Florida to New York would cost around $250- $300 but with a good ol' coupon code, I flew for a startling $129.
Here are my recommendations: To travel within the United States, you'll probably get the best deals on DeltaAirlines or Southwest Airlines. I know many of you are wondering about JetBlue., but while I love flying JetBlue because of their personal televisions and leather seating, their rates have soared and the taxes are relatively high.
To travel from the United States to The Caribbean, I recommend AmericanAirlines and a far second would be US Airways. American Airlines has lots of direct flights and that's just a plus but I hate connecting flights. I always seem to miss my connector and I just can't be bothered with the hassle.
Take my travel tips into consideration for the next time you're flying and don't forget to always research promotional codes, you'll save tons. I love saving! You should love it too!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Scholarships for Caribbean Students Vol. 2
I've received countless emails inquirng about scholarship opportunities available for Caribbean students. The reality of the situation is that there is very little scholarship money available to Caribbean students from United States funding sources. The best way to work around this is to seek out universities that target Caribbean students. I've listed these universities in a previous posting.
I will provide you guys with a list of organizations and websites that are good places to seek out scholarships for Caribbean students who wish to study in the United States.
ScholarshipExperts.com This is a free site and you can specifically search for scholarships for International Students.
International Education Financial Aid This is yet another free site for you to seek out scholarships for International Students. Please bear in mind that as Caribbean Students intending to study in the United States you will be considered as "International Students".
Rotary International Most of the islands of the Caribbean have a Rotary International chapter. This organization provides limited international student scholarships.
FastWeb I know that many FastWeb scholarships are geared toward United States citizens but if you do a thorough search, you will stumble across a few scholarships that are open to International Students.
I will provide more advice in college posts about getting funding from your local organizations to study in the United States or Canada.
I will provide you guys with a list of organizations and websites that are good places to seek out scholarships for Caribbean students who wish to study in the United States.
ScholarshipExperts.com This is a free site and you can specifically search for scholarships for International Students.
International Education Financial Aid This is yet another free site for you to seek out scholarships for International Students. Please bear in mind that as Caribbean Students intending to study in the United States you will be considered as "International Students".
Rotary International Most of the islands of the Caribbean have a Rotary International chapter. This organization provides limited international student scholarships.
FastWeb I know that many FastWeb scholarships are geared toward United States citizens but if you do a thorough search, you will stumble across a few scholarships that are open to International Students.
I will provide more advice in college posts about getting funding from your local organizations to study in the United States or Canada.
Caribbean Students: How to Save Money in College
Considering the current state of the global economy, many of us are wondering how to save money while we are college students. I have gathered a few tips that many of you will find essential. Sometimes we have to swallow our pride and use those good ol' coupons. Personally, I actually LOVE coupons and I always walk away from the store with a good feeling inside whenever I use my coupons to save tons of dollars.
Last night, I did some shopping on Victoria's Secret website to purchase a few clothing pieces to take home (St. Kitts) for the Christmas break. I bought over $150 dollars worth of clothing and only paid $53.50 with shipping included. This incredible website (www.retailmenot.com)is literally the best thing since slice bread. I die for it! Anytime I do some online shopping, I always check in with this website for some awesome coupon codes and I always save tons.
Okay, so clothing is minor [not really] haha but what about groceries?!? I'm sure that's what many of you are asking right now. I can bet $1000 [ okay maybe not] that you thought Amazon.com was just for buying books but hey, you better think again!! Amazon is another site that I die for. It is one of my favorite sites EVER! Did you know that you can buy food in bulk on Amazon??? It's an incredible marketplace! You can literally find anything there. Stop going to the grocery every weekend and simply buy in bulk on Amazon.com once a month and have your food delivered right to your door while saving tons of dollars. If that's not amazing stuff, I don't know what is.
Moving along! The major purchases that we make as college students usually involve academic- related material. As much as I hate buying books, they are mandatory to ensure our success in university. Again, the great Amazon.com is the perfect place for this. You can usually find amazing prices on used books and I promise you that you will save tons.
Now generally, we all just love discounted items whether it's clothing, electronics, household items- we just LOVE discount. They give us a great feeling inside that can have us smiling for days. There is an incredible site called CouponChief where you can find discount and promo codes for over 8000 stores in the United States. It's a great deal! A college student couldn't ask for a better site. It's a college student's dream! They cater to merchants such as BestBuy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Forever21, Amazon.com and over 8000 more. Imagine getting anything and everything you need discounted. The money you can save with CouponChief is just unbelievable. Visit CouponChief before you purchase anything on the web because I guarantee that you will save money.
Last night, I did some shopping on Victoria's Secret website to purchase a few clothing pieces to take home (St. Kitts) for the Christmas break. I bought over $150 dollars worth of clothing and only paid $53.50 with shipping included. This incredible website (www.retailmenot.com)is literally the best thing since slice bread. I die for it! Anytime I do some online shopping, I always check in with this website for some awesome coupon codes and I always save tons.
Okay, so clothing is minor [not really] haha but what about groceries?!? I'm sure that's what many of you are asking right now. I can bet $1000 [ okay maybe not] that you thought Amazon.com was just for buying books but hey, you better think again!! Amazon is another site that I die for. It is one of my favorite sites EVER! Did you know that you can buy food in bulk on Amazon??? It's an incredible marketplace! You can literally find anything there. Stop going to the grocery every weekend and simply buy in bulk on Amazon.com once a month and have your food delivered right to your door while saving tons of dollars. If that's not amazing stuff, I don't know what is.
Moving along! The major purchases that we make as college students usually involve academic- related material. As much as I hate buying books, they are mandatory to ensure our success in university. Again, the great Amazon.com is the perfect place for this. You can usually find amazing prices on used books and I promise you that you will save tons.
Now generally, we all just love discounted items whether it's clothing, electronics, household items- we just LOVE discount. They give us a great feeling inside that can have us smiling for days. There is an incredible site called CouponChief where you can find discount and promo codes for over 8000 stores in the United States. It's a great deal! A college student couldn't ask for a better site. It's a college student's dream! They cater to merchants such as BestBuy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Forever21, Amazon.com and over 8000 more. Imagine getting anything and everything you need discounted. The money you can save with CouponChief is just unbelievable. Visit CouponChief before you purchase anything on the web because I guarantee that you will save money.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Best American Schools for Caribbean Students
Midwestern State University- Witchita Falls, Texas
http://www.mwsu.edu/
Monroe College- New Rochelle, New York
www.monroecollege.edu
Cameron University- Lawton, Oklahoma
www.cameron.edu
Florida Memorial University- Miami Gardens, Florida
www.fmuniv.edu
Plattsburgh State University- Plattsburgh, New York
www.plattsburgh.edu
Baruch College New York City, New York
www.baruch.edu
Florida International University Miami, Florida
www.fiu.edu
Howard University Washington, DC
www.howard.edu
http://www.mwsu.edu/
Monroe College- New Rochelle, New York
www.monroecollege.edu
Cameron University- Lawton, Oklahoma
www.cameron.edu
Florida Memorial University- Miami Gardens, Florida
www.fmuniv.edu
Plattsburgh State University- Plattsburgh, New York
www.plattsburgh.edu
Baruch College New York City, New York
www.baruch.edu
Florida International University Miami, Florida
www.fiu.edu
Howard University Washington, DC
www.howard.edu
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