Get familiar with the US

Why this Asia tour?
Asia is increasingly important to Smith. About 3% of all our students are Asians. They number 160 – about half of all international students. We have 15 students from India and they are in programmes across disciplines.

Tell us about Smith’s new summer programme for school students from outside the United States.
This programme is for high school students who want to write better in a way that US colleges expect from them and teach them about the application process of American colleges. Through the programme, we are going to teach them to read analytically, introduce them to American culture, and take them to colleges in the New England area (consisting of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut). It’ll be a six-week summer programme starting in 2012.

When will you recruit students? Will the programme be held every year?
We’ll be recruiting for it next fall and will start with 20 students for a pilot batch and ultimately go up to 60. Yes, we’ll do it every summer.

Why are you including instruction on analytical reading and academic writing?
Our experience is that many international students speak fluent English. Their spoken English is not a problem but they have a problem with the volume of reading that they have to do and with writing. This programme is to enable them get into a college and do really well when they get there.

About the programme
What: Six-week summer enrichment programme for girls aged 14 to 17, in secondary schools
Where: Smith College, which will organise tours to other colleges in the New England area Cost? $9,000

First Published: Nov 30, 2010 11:13 IST