Study-Abroad in the Midst of Crisis
The lure of study-abroad programs draws over 250,000 college students each year. In light of recent (and continuing) crises in the Middle East and Japan, more attention is being paid to the students and their safety. NYU evacuated 50 students and staff from Egypt in January. In March, Temple University offered to fly over 200 students back from its campus in Tokyo, where over 3,000 students, including 300 U.S. study-abroad participants, attend classes. Some colleges contract with security firms to provide updates on local conditions, some watch the State Department travel warning list. Students enrolled in programs in Japan, which uses a different academic calendar, are torn because not going for the program would complicate their earning credits and graduation schedule. Despite the potential dangers, some students revel at being where the action is, and have been reluctant to return to the U.S.
For more information, click hereAP Testing
Advance Placement (AP) exams will be given this week and next week, May 7-18. These exams are crucial, as colleges generally weigh students' exam scores as part of the admissions process. High AP exam scores (typically 3-5, more often 4-5) can also allow students to place out of certain college courses and obtain credit towards the graduation requirement. Good luck to all!!