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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider EducationUSA holds 1st virtual pre-departure orientation for 78 US-bound Filipino students

EducationUSA holds 1st virtual pre-departure orientation for 78 US-bound Filipino students

Published Aug 7, 2020 02:04 pm

EducationUSA Philippines, one of the US State Department's vast networks of advising centers for international students, has conducted its first-ever virtual pre-departure orientation for 78 Filipino students who are slated to continue their higher education in the United States. 

At the virtual event on Thursday, US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim welcomed students and thanked them for the contributions they will make to US classrooms and campuses. 

"Each student we assist to realize their educational or professional development dreams through U.S. education represents another powerful, enduring, and positive link between the United States and the Philippines," he said.

In a real-time survey conducted during the virtual event, it showed that nearly half of the PDO participants received financial aid offers from their respective schools totaling to almost US$500,000.

Several EducationUSA alumni such as Michelle Limpe (Johns Hopkins University), Arienne Calingo (Harvard University), Atty. Ralph Calinisan (University of Pennsylvania), Christine Okubo (New York University), and Simon Lee (Duke University) joined the virtual event and shared their respective stories from their time at US universities and provided advice to the new batch of students.

Representatives from the US Embassy’s Consular Section also  joined the event to answer questions related to student visas.

EducationUSA provides free advising services to prospective international students in more than 170 countries and offers students resources and tools to help navigate the five steps to US study: researching schools, identifying financial aid opportunities, completing applications, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure. 

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