EDUCATION REPORT - Foreign Student Series 10: Cost to Study

EDUCATION REPORT - Foreign Student Series¹ #10: Cost to Study in the U.S.
By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, November 04, 2004

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Education Report.

We continue with our Foreign Student Series. Today, in part ten, we discuss the cost to attend a college or university in the United² States.

Students who want to come to this country to study must have enough money to pay for each year of their education. There are different costs to consider. The cost to attend classes is called tuition³. Room-and-board is the cost for a place to live at the school and for meals. You will also need money for books and supplies.

If you want to take part in social activities or buy things like music and clothes, you will need money for that, too. Educational advisers⁴ say foreign students should keep enough money in a local bank to pay for at least two months of spending.

So how much will a year at school cost? We will use the University of Arizona in Tucson as an example. Almost three thousand foreign students from one hundred thirty-five countries attended the University of Arizona last year. The school says foreign students pay almost twenty-six thousand dollars a year.

Many schools in the United States cost less than the University of Arizona. Others cost more.

The university says it generally offers no financial aid to undergraduate⁵ foreign students. However, some foreign students can receive aid that lets them avoid out-of-state costs. These are costs normally⁶ paid by any student whose family does not live in Arizona. Such aid can save about ten thousand dollars a year.

Foreign students who want to attend an American school must explain how they plan to pay for their education. For example, when you apply to the University of Arizona, you must identify any person who will help you pay for your education.

That person must sign the documents and also send proof⁷ from a bank to show that he or she has the money. If you will be paying the costs yourself, a banker in your country must write to confirm⁸ that you have enough money.

Your government or your employer⁹ may help you pay some of the costs of an education. It is a good idea to seek such financial aid at least eighteen months before you want to start your studies in the United States.

Our Foreign Student Series is online at voaspecialenglish dot com. And for information from the State Department, visit educationusa.state.gov.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. This is Gwen Outen.

1 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 tuition   

n.（某一学科的）教学，讲授，指导，学费

参考例句：

• Students can apply for individual tuition.学生可以申请个别指导。
• Is this money enough for the tuition fee?这些钱交学费够吗？

4 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

5 undergraduate   

n.大学生，大学肆业生

参考例句：

• Mr. Stone spent his undergraduate days in Columbia University,majoring in economics.斯通先生在哥伦比亚大学度过了他四年的大学生活，主修经济学。
• During this time,they are called undergraduate students.在此期间，他们被称为大学本科生。

6 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

7 proof   

adj.防...的，耐...的，能防护；n.校样，证据，证明；vt.检验，给...做防护措施

参考例句：

• He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
• The proof was fished up from some old papers.校样在旧文件中被找到了。

8 confirm   

vt.证实；确认；v.确认

参考例句：

• I'll call you back to confirm.我会给你回电话确认的。
• I need to confirm my reservation on the next flight.我要确认我预订的下一个航班。

9 employer   

n.雇用方，雇主

参考例句：

• My employer deducted ten pounds from my wages this week.我的雇主从我本周的工钱中扣除了十英镑。
• His monthly salary is paid into the bank by his employer.他的月薪由雇主替他存入银行。