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Going to Out-Of-State and International Universities
Arcadia Weekly May 06, 2016
–Courtesy photo / Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
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Representatives from 38 out-of-state and 35 international colleges and universities were on hand to explain their curriculum, or educational system, to 314 high school juniors in attendance. – Photo by Becky Marchant
By May S. Ruiz
Any parent who has sent a child to university will tell you that college admissions are a mind-churning process, an out-of-body experience, but that which leaves you drained and numb. It isn’t surprising, therefore, that it spawned a billion-dollar industry which includes test prep companies, coaches, and independent counselors who help students get ready for and navigate this complicated maze.
Bob Tyra and Becky Marchant are Southern California educators who, in 2012, co-founded a company that holds independent college fairs outside the high schools called California Out-of-State & International College Fairs (COOS&ICF). Tyra had an extensive professional career in junior high and high school counseling programs as well as high school and adult school career counseling. Marchant works as lead counselor, ACT testing supervisor and intern coordinator at Brea Olinda High School. Together, they provide high school students access to information they need for college admissions.
According to Marchant, the idea for this niche organization came to her as she attended events with her students. She relates, “Despite the array of colleges in attendance, students tended to gravitate to tables of institutions they were already aware of in the local area and walk by those that they were unfamiliar with.
“As educators, the challenge is to open students’ minds to all options and this is something we are very passionate about! By holding college fair events for only out-of-state, WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) and international colleges and universities, we found a solution to potentially self-limiting behavior by finding a way to expand their world,” continues Marchant.
COOS&ICF held its first fair in 2012 at the Pomona Unified School District Conference Center at Indian Hill. Close to 1,000 high school students and counselors from surrounding counties and over 50 educational institutions from 23 states, some from outside the United States, attended.
That impressive draw convinced Tyra and Marchant that they should hold more fairs of this kind in other Southern California areas. Now they offer eight such events – two in the spring and four in the fall.
Marchant says, “To date we have held 29 fairs, served over 15,000 students and hosted almost 200 out-of-state universities, including 50 international institutions. Our fairs are always free to students and educators and local busing is reimbursed. We limit the size of the fair so students will be able to explore all participating institutions and we provide materials to prepare everyone who attends.”
Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, was the venue for COOS&ICF’s spring college fair held on Tuesday, April 26. Representative from 38 out-of-state and 35 international colleges and universities were on hand to explain their curriculum or educational system, in the case of the international institutions, to a total of 314 high school juniors who milled around their tables.
Tyra and Marchant’s organization provides high school students access to information they need for college admissions. – Photo by Becky Marchant
An enthusiastic recruiter with the Swiss Education Group happily handed out brochures and earnestly explained how they can assist students in making internship arrangements as part of their study program. One helpful recruiter from an English university was making the case for an English versus a Scottish education (three years against four, thus saving a full year of tuition).
Tyra and Marchant, this year, organized for a student in a wheelchair to attend the college fair – 17-year-old Tito Morales, a junior at Downtown Magnet High School in Los Angeles. Asked why he is at the College Fair, Morales responds, “I’m at the point of deciding on majors and looking at all my options. While I want to stay in-state, I also want to see what’s available out-of-state.
“My interests include writing in my journal – stories, anime fan fiction, whatever’s on my mind; I have no boundaries,” Morales continues. “But I’m mainly looking for a school that offers graphic design, animation, gaming. And, of course, one main concern is their accommodations for students like me since I’m in a wheel chair. I would like to see the college’s or university’s preparation for emergencies, should they arise.”
Morales spoke with several recruiters and found that universities in Canada and the United Kingdom offer courses he is particularly interested in, and even have accommodations for wheelchair-bound students.
One important consideration is the cost of a college education. As Morales states, “I’m concerned about tuition too. Our school counselor, Lynda McGee is working with students right now on scholarships. She’s also making sure we’re taking all the courses we need to be on track for college.”
“I really want to work on digital design and graphics. A job with Dreamworks is truly something I would enjoy,” Morales wistfully says.
An only child born to Guatemalan parents, Morales will be the first in his family to attend college. His parents could not afford higher education for themselves but they are determined for their son to live his dream of a college diploma, gainful employment in the future, and a better life. For Morales, finding a university during this College Fair is the first step in that direction. And for Tyra and Marchant, that would be such a rewarding outcome.
