Very bad news from ETS...

We've been expecting this for years...but every year they continued adding 6 more PBT exams in Mexico.  Now the official announcement is posted on the ETS web site that the paper-based official TOEFL test is being phased out.  We thought maybe they would add more PBT tests just because there are not enough iBT options in Mexico City--so many applicants have to leave the city to take the test.  But that does not seem to be the case...it's now May 7, the last scheduled PBT was May 5, and no new test dates are appearing on the ETS site.  So now you will have to take the iBT if ITP is not accepted.  Or travel to some very faraway land where limited PBT's might be administered due to lack of Internet capabilities...perhaps some Latin American countries will still offer it--we'll have to see.  We will continue preparing students for ITP (which we administer) and iBT.  We'll also add a IELTS prep program soon--some applicants find the speaking section is easier since it's administered as a live interview, not just speaking to a pc.  Here's the announcement:

TOEFL® Paper-based Test to Be Phased Out

The TOEFL® PBT test, administered in a paper-based format, will be phased out starting in mid-2012. In some regions, the last TOEFL PBT test administration will be in May 2012. You can take the TOEFL PBT test until that time and submit your scores to institutions and agencies for two years after your test date.

When the TOEFL iBT® test was launched in 2005, ETS established a transition period to allow continued use of the paper-based test in countries where infrastructure issues limited our ability to offer the TOEFL iBT test. These issues included unreliable electrical service, Internet connectivity issues and other factors.

Currently, 96 percent of TOEFL test takers worldwide take the TOEFL iBT test and access continues to expand. Also, the TOEFL iBT test is desired by universities because it measures all four communication skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking. For these and other reasons, we feel it is time to end paper-based testing.

ETS remains committed to providing access for anyone who wants to take the TOEFL test. Please be assured that ETS is making every effort to ensure that individuals living in areas where the TOEFL PBT test is currently administered will be able to test.

Learn more about the TOEFL iBT Test.

No shipping on English books to Mexico...

Here's a web site we recommend if you're looking for new English language books.  The shipping is free to Mexico!  There are only new books (not used), but with pretty good prices.  We've ordered several books from this site.  Need a copy of TOEFL Prep for Spanish Speakers?  You can find it here.!  If you order before May 14th, you can take an extra 10% discount, using this code:  APMA12

No shipping, no Customs charges, discounted rates, and an extra 10%!

  

Virtual student fair scheduled for April 21...

Here's a student fair you can attend without leaving home!

Hobsons’ Virtual Student Fair

Date: April 21, 2012

Time: 11:00hrs - 17:00hrs

Some features of this event:

• Get admissions information from U.S. colleges and universities: chat live with them when you log in!

• Chat with international students like you who are already on campus

• Watch student video webcasts and download them.

• Be eligible to win USD3,000 in scholarships- all you need to do is follow these 2 easy steps: 1) Register Online and 2) Attend the Fair.

 Registration: http://www.hobsonsevents.com/la

April 19th info. session for Comexus scholarship info...

Estudios de Posgrado

How to Choose and Finance a Graduate Program

with COMEXUS

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2012

Time: 16:00 to 18:00

Place: EducationUSA Advising Center in the Benjamin Franklin Library

Cupo límite: 50

Hear from our EducationUSA advisors who will talk about the process of applying to a graduate school program, scholarships, financial aid, the student visa, and mandatory exams such as the TOEFL iBT and GRE. *This information session qualifies you for a follow-up one on one advising session.

CONACYT-FUNED 2012 scholarship program announced...

Programa Conjunto CONACYT – FUNED 2012 

CONACYT and FUNED have just launched their application for joint funding for 2012! Successful applicants will receive a scholarship of $20,000 for their M.A. program in the social sciences, business, and science fields that FUNED finances. In addition, students would receive a loan from FUNED to complement the scholarship. This scholarship/loan is available for students who have already applied and been accepted to the university program. Please click here for more information.

Choosing & financing programs & schools...upcoming info sessions...

How to Choose a Graduate Program of Study with COMEXUS

Date: Monday, March 5, 2012

Time: 16:00 to 18:00

Place: EducationUSA Advising Center in the Benjamin Franklin Library

Capacity: 45

Did you know that there are over 2,000 graduate programs in the U.S.? We’ll help you search for and compare programs and find options that fit your goals/interests.

   
La licenciatura en los EUA y cómo financiarla

Fecha: jueves, 8 de marzo, 2012

Hora: 16:00 a 17:30

Cupo límite: 45

Lugar: El centro de asesoría de EducationUSA en la Biblioteca Benjamín Franklin

Entérate sobre becas y apoyo financiero, la visa estudiantil, los exámenes de entrada incluso el TOEFL iBT, ACT y SAT, cómo lograr admisión, y educación superior en los EUA. *Después de asistir esta sesión informativa, tienes la posibilidad de arreglar una cita individual.

   Cómo elegir una carrera universitaria

Fecha: Jueves 22 de marzo, 2012

Hora: 16:00-17:30

Cupo límite: 45

Lugar: El centro de asesoría de EducationUSA en la Biblioteca Benjamín Franklin

Explora tus intereses y opciones para la carrera. Aprende cómo se define un “major” y “minor” (enfoques académicos) y cómo caben dentro de un programa académico de “liberal arts,” sistema típico estadounidense.

9 reasons NOT to choose a college...

It’s that time of year again! High school seniors are anxiously waiting to find out if they were accepted by their dream colleges. Don’t have a dream college? You’re not alone.

There are dozens of determining factors when selecting the right school for you. Depending on your unique situation, some factors will weigh more heavily than others.

Figuring out how to pick the right college can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled nine of the wrong reasons to pick a school below:

1.  You're following friends.  Going to the same college as your boyfriend, girlfriend or BGG might sound like a good idea now, but the tables could turn a few weeks into the semester.  People change at college--a lot.  College is a time of growth--time to make new friends. 

2. Your parents went there.Some parents want their children to attend the same college they did. Your mom or dad might have loved the place, but that doesn't necessarily mean you will.

3. Tuition is ultra-cheap (or ultra-expensive.) The cost of a college education is a big deal, but cheaper (or pricier) doesn't necessarily mean better. Cost alone should not be your only deciding factor.

4. They offered you a huge scholarship. A $20,000 college scholarship sounds great … and it is! But just remember that it might be spread across four years, and a $5000 discount per year might not put much of a dent in the tuition at a pricy private university. (Some are $50,000 per year and up!)

5. You’re a big fan of their sports teams. Just because you love watching their games on TV isn’t a great reason to go to college there. After all, football is fun but you’ll do a lot more than tailgate during your college career!

6. It’s the only school you applied to. Even if you have your heart set on a particular college, apply to one or two others. You never know what you might be missing out on.

7. It’s in New York City (or near the beach, or in the mountains, or…) Some students attend a college that’s close to home so they can avoid paying room and board, which means that the school’s location was an important deciding factor when picking the college. Choosing a college because it’s far from home or in a particular city may not be the best idea, though. You might wind up at a school that you hate because you thought being near the beach sounded cool.

8. It’s a party school. It’s completely possible to have an active social life at any college. Choosing a school because a magazine claims it has the most keg parties in America isn’t necessary to have a good time during your college years.

9. It has a prestigious reputation. A degree from an Ivy League college might look good on your resume, but choosing a college simply because of its rep is fairly superficial. Yes, you will receive a quality education, but does the school’s cost really justify going there for the sake of its name? In most cases, a good student can succeed at any college.

Wondering how to pick the right college for you? StateUniversity.com is a comprehensive resource full of information you can use. Search schools by state, ranking, program, size, cost, and more! Use our School Comparison Tool to compare up to 4 colleges and universities at once.