Today’s report on the establishment of an EducationUSA Advising Center in Curaçao (see related story) is interesting. A related agreement was signed between the US Consulate in Willemstad, local Ministry of Education, and Study Financing Foundation SSC.
This will be part of the American State Department’s network of more than 430 facilities in more than 175 countries and territories. Their goal is to provide accurate and up-to-date information on opportunities for study at accredited post-secondary institutions in the US.
The free service provides prospective international students with resources and tools to research schools, examine possibilities for financial aid, go through the application process, obtain a student visa and prepare for departure.
Needless to say, this is an important initiative for high school graduates who want to continue their studies at a US college or university. Admission and success are by no means guaranteed, but it could certainly improve their chances.
The programme fits in well with efforts to promote more study in the region, apart from the still-valuable option with basic student loan, free public transport, etc., in the Netherlands. The idea is to keep them closer to home and under circumstances they may feel more familiar with than in far-away Europe.
Money is always an issue especially seeing the cost of higher learning in the US. However, alternatives do exist, like negotiating in-state or otherwise reduced tuition.
There was already a centre in Aruba, which begs the question whether St. Maarten is being considered too. After all, the distance to the so-called ABC islands would be major drawback to local students also benefiting from the two there.
St. Maarten is probably the Dutch Caribbean country with the greatest American influence, where the most prevalent currency on the street is the US dollar and the population has English as mother tongue. Such a move by the US Consulate would no doubt be appreciated in Philipsburg but probably St. Eustatius and Saba as well.
No pressure.
