In case you couldn’t guess, I love the articles our bloggers write about culture and culture clash.  I’m fascinated by what happens when different cultures come into contact and coexist, and by finding out all the little differences that end up making a huge impression, like whether getting a tan is beautiful or whether writing with your left hand is weird.

But we also cover lots of practical advice here, and in the past year our bloggers have shared tons of tips for getting into a U.S. college or university and for getting the most out of it.

Here are the top 10 that any prospective international student should read:

Getting in:

How I Made Myself a Good Candidate for US Admissions (and Other Advice from a Successful Applicant) – Anna

Can International Students Attend American Medical School? – Jess

How to Speak English Fluently? – Nick

Learning How to Take the SATs – Vladimir
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As promised, since yesterday I shared YOUR favorite posts of the past school year, today I’m sharing MY favorite posts.  These weren’t always the most read or most shared items, but they all had something insightful, interesting and important to say.  These were the posts that made me see the world through someone else’s eyes, and learn something in the process.

Where are you from is not an easy question. Here I am holding a Chinese flag in a Palestinian market in the West Bank.

5. What Does it Mean to “Be American” As a Chinese Student?

The struggle to define yourself, and to decide how much your definition of self is in relation to others, is something everyone goes through in college.  But when you’re struggling to define yourself within another culture, as Qian has, it takes on a whole other dimension.

Waking from an alcoholic stupor after a party and walking in 5-inch-heels with my friends in the empty streets of Hong Kong at 3:00 am, I kept asking myself again and again, “Is this the life you want? If yes, why did you feel uncomfortable? If no, why do you have to continue this lifestyle you don’t actually enjoy?”

(Also make sure to take a look at Tara’s thoughts about dating in America, the “relationship talk,” and the fascinating differences in Chinese and American attitudes towards relationships)

4. Apetito and Acai Berries: Beauty and Weight in Zimbabwe and America

When being in America means redefining what it means to be “beautiful” and “healthy.”  Senzeni explores the obsession with weight in America, and back home in Zimbabwe.

During my freshman year, I watched with undisguised fascination as my friends would eat not to fill their stomachs, but to ensure that they had just barely met their daily calorie requirement. I also remember, vividly, watching helplessly as my American roommate’s face clouded over when I “complimented” her that she had gained weight (as you may have guessed, in America this is not a compliment).

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It’s hard to believe that another school year is coming to an end!  It seems like just yesterday we were introducing you to a new crop of writers, and now we’re saying goodbye, wishing some of them good luck in their post-graduation futures, and some of them a happy summer spent pursuing internships and other new experiences.  Thanks to them for a great year filled with great insights, and thanks to you for reading, commenting and participating.

In honor of a great 2011-2012 school year, we’ll spend this week looking back at the year and some of our favorite posts (in case you missed them!).  First off, our top 5 most read posts of the year…

5. How Old is Too Old to Start College?

Is there such thing as being too old to start college? Ryan thought he might be too old to start over, but quickly learned that non-traditional students are more traditional than he thought.

At AMINEF, when the counselor found out that I was 21, she assumed that I was applying for a graduate program. It was a funny misunderstanding, but at that exact moment, it struck me that I may be too old to start over pursuing my studies at a new college.

4. A Chinese Student’s Story of Job-Hunting in the US

In this video, Qian shows off her talent for videography, as well as the story of a Chinese student’s path to finding internships in America.

(Also check out Olena’s discussion of her own experience looking for internships, and what she wishes she’d known before she started)

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As you probably know, most Fridays we post a list of upcoming webinars, virtual college fairs, and other free online events of interest for anyone who hopes to study in the U.S. Well, this was a slow week in the webinar world, so instead we found online recaps of two past events about finding a job in America.

Our friend Jose Navarro recently attended a workshop about employment options for international students on an F-1 visa, given by a NY-based law firm and hosted by Berkeley College. He writes:

To be honest, the amount of information and the decisions to make are quite overwhelming. That’s why I would advice, if you’re considering the possibility of starting your career in the USA, is to start thinking about it as soon as possible.

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Though most students who will be starting at a U.S. college this fall are probably already thinking about what to pack, if you missed the application deadlines or got rejected from the places you applied, there’s still an opportunity to get admission for 2012-2013.

According to the NACAC, over 360 colleges still have space in their freshman classes and will accept applications from prospective students. The full list of colleges still accepting applications is available on the NACAC website.

Found a college you’re interested in? Contact the institution directly for information on how to apply. The information was compiled as of May 1, and will remain available until June 29.

Community colleges are not included on that list, but they are also an option for anyone still seeking admission. The New York Times has put together a great resource on how to decide whether you should apply to a community college instead of a 4-year institution.

[What is a community college?]
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In May and June, graduating students have the chance to hear highly accomplished professionals speak at commencement ceremonies, and to gather some last words of wisdom to prepare them for life after academia. Commencement is traditionally a time to celebrate the achievement of completing a university degree, and to think about how your education has prepared you for the real world. But, perhaps paradoxically, the commencement addresses that have most stuck with me have been given by people who dropped out of college – Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Oprah Winfrey.

Although it’s been a few years since they gave their commencement addresses, you can still see their speeches on YouTube, which is where I had the pleasure to listen to them.

Steve Jobs – 2005, Stanford University

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A preview version of the 2012-2013 Common Application has been posted online, giving you a look at exactly what you will face if you plan to use the Common App next year, and a good sample of what your application could look like no matter where you’re applying. You can check out a PDF of the preview application on their website.

I’m sure you’re most curious to hear about the essays you’ll have to write. Well, here’s the guidance:

Please write an essay of 250 – 500 words on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below, and attach it to your application before submission.

…

1) Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have
2) Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to
3) Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence
4) Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
5) A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
6) Topic of your choice

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Ah, it is summer again! The golden time for travel! Dear international students, are you familiar with traveling in America? As an international student myself, I can still remember my first travel in America. I learned a lot about how transportation works in the U.S., and I’m glad to share with you some tips I learned from my own experience.

Train is the primary means of long distance transportation for people in my home country China, while the most popular way in America is to take a plane. But there are lots of other methods of traveling far distances in America as well, that an international student may not know about or think about.

Since almost every form of travel here requires a reservation, you should think about how you want to travel well in advance of your trip.

Airplane

Flight is the most popular means of travel in America, since it is fast and comfortable.  During my last spring break, I took a plane to Los Angeles in order to save time. Spring break only lasts for one week, and I wanted to make sure I had as much time as possible for entertainment.
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We’re searching the web to find webinars and other online events of interest to prospective international students. Check here each Friday to find out what’s coming up in the next week.

As always, if you attend any of these events, report back and let us know what you learned! (Use the comments, the Facebook page or just email me – jstahl@voanews.com). And also please share any online events you’ve found that we haven’t.

Coming up next week:

May 21

EducationUSA: Adjusting to American Culture
9 am US eastern time
More details: http://www.educationusa.info/edusa_connects/
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When you hear the word “arts,” you probably think of things like painting or singing. So why can you get a liberal arts degree in biology?  And why does a School of Arts and Science offer courses in history?  It’s pretty confusing, which makes it a great submission for the Glossary of Confusing Words!

(Thanks to the anonymous person who suggested it. I hope you know who you are)

As a description of university programs, “arts” can cover a pretty broad range of courses.  So, from most to least obvious, here are the university courses described by the word “arts.”

Fine Arts/Performing Arts

Some universities have programs in “Fine Arts” or “Performing Arts.”  In either case, “arts” has a meaning closest to what you’re probably used to – the practice of creative expression.  Fine Arts can include only the visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography, etc.), or both the visual arts and performing arts (music, dance, theatre).

Arts and Sciences

At many universities, the general education program is housed in the “School of Arts and Sciences,” in which case “arts” also cover studies of human thought and culture, called “humanities.”  This would include things like languages, philosophy, and religion.
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Why, thank you for noticing.  We DID change our layout today.

Our parent site, voanews.com, went through a major overhaul.  If you are a VOA reader and haven’t checked out the new site design yet, pop over and take a look.  It’s cleaner, more visual and hopefully easier to navigate.

It’s also a lot wider, and we’ve changed our look to match.  So you’ll see a wider layout on our blog posts and sidebar.  We’ve also added a section at the bottom of each post for related items, so you can hopefully find more things that you’re interested in.  And you’ll see more options for sharing to social media (Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus).

No, it’s not perfect, and we’ll be continuing to tweak it as we get settled into the new look.  But think of it like a new haircut – let it grow in for a few days before you judge!  And as always, questions, comments and feedback are encouraged.

The Department of Homeland Security announced it is expanding the list of science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs that qualify international students for an OPT extension.

The OPT program allows international students to stay in the U.S. for up to 12 months after their graduation in order to work and gain experience in their field.  Students who studied in certain categories of “STEM” programs are eligible to stay an additional 17 months on an “OPT STEM extension.”

According to the DHS press release:

By expanding the list of designated STEM degree programs to include such fields as pharmaceutical sciences, econometrics and quantitative economics, the Department is helping bring the best, most qualified international students to the United States.

Here’s the full list of programs that are eligible for the extension (PDF).

We’re searching the web to find webinars and other online events of interest to prospective international students. Check here each Friday to find out what’s coming up in the next week.

As always, if you attend any of these events, report back and let us know what you learned! (Use the comments, the Facebook page or just email me – jstahl@voanews.com). And also please share any online events you’ve found that we haven’t.

Coming up next week:

May 15

CollegeWeekLive: New England Colleges Day
1 pm US eastern time
More details: http://collegeweeklive.com/en_CA/Guest/NEW_ENGLAND_DAY
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I had the pleasure of talking this week with VOA Special English, who wanted to know about the types of questions international students ask when applying to study in the U.S.  You can listen to the report they put together from our conversation here:

After the interview, they also asked me to share some of my favorite websites for international students. I figured you all might want to see as well, so I thought I’d post the list here, exactly how I sent it to them in my email (well, I corrected one typo…).

A lot of these are also in our Resources section or under our “useful websites” tag (check out both of those links for more sites to look at).  Let me know in the comments what other websites you like!

The only must-know site for all international students:

EducationUSA

If you only know one additional site:

Study in the States (Department of Homeland Security)

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