Opportunity Students Share Their Experiences

[MUSIC PLAYING]
AGATHA OLIVEIRA: So I was interested in coming to
study in the US.
So my mom called the US embassy, and they talked to
her about the EducationUSA office.
And then I visited the EducationUSA office, and there
I heard about the whole process of applying to
university.
And then I came back for a private session.
And then I talked to the advisor, and I told her that I
had limited, very limited funds to do all of my exams.
And so she talked to me about the
Opportunity Grants program.
And that's how I heard about it.
And actually, the day that I went there was one of the last
days that I had to apply.
So it was a really lucky shot.
So the Opportunity Grants, they pay for the whole process
of applying to the US universities.
So all the exams, the SAT exam, TOEFL.
They helped with me getting materials to study for my
exams. And then after I was accepted into a university,
they helped me with the visa process.
And they also have helped with plane tickets.
So that was--
actually I got help from my advisor.
Because when I was trying choose which universities I
would apply for, she gave me a list of the universities that
usually accepted international students with financial aide.
So from that list, I chose my top choices.
And then when I was accepted to the University of
Pennsylvania, they accepted me with almost full tuition.
So I didn't have to look for anything out.
ABDULLA MOHAMED ZAID: Well it is expensive if you want to
pay the money.
But some people don't pay the money.
Some people pay another way.
Universities are very interested in international
students who can bring something else
other than the money.
They're interested in students that can bring diversity and
international understanding of the world.
They want more of a cultural
understanding in their campuses.
So they're willing, they are really willing to pay, for
your education.
You have to have the right criteria.
You have to have good SAT, TOEFL scores, and good
activities, things like that.
Otherwise you shouldn't be applying.
Well, you have to be proactive.
The opportunity is not going to knock on your door.
You have to go out there and look for the opportunity.
And if you have the right things that
they're looking for--
I mean they are really looking for international students to
represent the multi-cultural understanding.
So and you have the right test scores and you have the right
activities and high school scores and everything is
alright, you should be fine with funding education.
It's not something to worry about.
KAMILLA GILIAZOVA: Opportunity Grant paid for my books, for
my testing, for my transportation.
Because, you know, I don't live in Moscow.

I received a full scholarship here, full tuition
scholarship.
My scholarship here, my mom pays for my
tuition all the way.
So I need to pay for my living here.
But it's not a big deal.
SHU WEN TEO: Here you can't find a conventional style of
learning teaching assistant.
They try to incorporate creativity and
innovation as skills.
So in class, class
participation is very important.
So that students will engage in discussion and they will
help you to think out of the box.
So that it can be helpful for you in the future.
It helped me when I was interning in the American
Chamber of Commerce as corporate communication
because it helps you to--
it improves your social skills, primarily.
And helps you to open up to different cultures and ideas.
MAPUTI BOTLHOLE: There's a great sense of community.
There's a fantastic support network for
international students.
Some of the students at WVU gained an interest in wanting
to learn more about my country, South Africa, and
wanting to learn more about the entire continent, the
African continent.
And I've been very blessed in that I'm surrounded by amazing
people, whom I plan to still continue to be in
communication with in the future.