BISS BASIC Advantages include: 

• Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guidance for Students who wish to Study Abroad
• Personal matchmaking to Universities and Institutes based on your profile and preferences
• ‘Pre-Approved’ Universities or Language or ‘VoTech’ Institutes (Preferred Institutes)
• Personal ‘Bridge’ to ‘Pre-Approved’ University/Institute Admissions Counselors (Preferred Institutes)
• Tuition Discounts & Scholarships (Preferred Institutes)
• Guided questions to ask University and Institute representatives
• Visa Interview Preparation and Guidance (International students)
• Preparation for University Student Life Abroad

”BISS will not sell your information: Ever.

Many student recruiting companies are either representing specific universities and/or they are seeking to get you information so they can sell that information to Universities for a fee. They gather a certain number of students info into a bundle or package of ‘leads’ and they get paid by universities or a group of universities or marketing companies for your info and then the universities and others will then begin to send you information and advertisements.

The problem for you is that they are going to send those ads and emails to you regardless of whether or not the institute is a good match for you or you can qualify for entrance or afford it! Furthermore, there is no matchmaking with those universities. It is just bulk marketing and you get buried with many emails and advertisements. This creates the ‘haystack’ and you get overwhelmed trying to find ‘the needle’.

• BISS does not sell your info to anyone. EVER!
• We only release your submitted information to those preferred universities that you have been matched with through our system.
• BISS does not represent or act as a recruiting agent for any university, institute or school, including ‘preferred’ institutes.
• We require that our “Preferred Institutes” also to not sell or pass on your profile or information without your direct written permission.

These institutes exclusively focus on teaching language, even if they are associated with a University.

From a practical perspective,  as far as English is concerned, it is simple. If you are struggling to read and understand this and it is taking you time and effort, then BISS highly recommends that you consider going to an English Language school (ELS) before attempting to go to a university or VoTech institute. 

ELS Advantages: 

•  FLEXIBILITY: Unlike summer university language programs, Independent ELS’s have flexibility. Most have rotating entrance dates meaning that you may be able to start in October or March or February, etc. as they have multiple class start updates around the year.
• VARIETY OF LEARNING LEVELS:  Many ESL’s have a variety of class levels form basic beginner, to intermediate, to high tech or business language classes. Also, language immersion is the best way to master a language in the shortest amount of time
• STUDENT VISA SPONSORING:  All BISS referred language schools can issue the necessary documents to be submitted to the US consular to gain the all-important student visa 
• ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE MINIMAL:  Most ESL’s do not require your Secondary/High school transcripts or records or any other Test scores or entrance exams to gain entrance. They may have you take their own English aptitude test but this is simply so that they will know which level of class to place you in.  Basically, all you need to go to an ELS is the necessary finances to pay for the courses, the TOPE and that you be at least 18 years of age.
• UNIVERSITY RECOMMENDATIONS: Some ESL institutes have agreements with certain universities to either provide their language program or accept you based on their recommendation regardless of your TOEFL score. 

BISS is in the business of making options available that didn’t exist before. This is the heart of our Track Choice approach. Once you purchase access to BISS Matchmaking Software, you will be able to choose what educational length and focus you want to pursue through this revolutionary system.

The three tracks you will be able to choose from include:

• Has anyone ever told you that you could pursue your education “in steps” abroad (getting an Associate’s Degree first, and then going for a full Bachelor’s Degree later)? 
• Did you know you could just go for a technical or vocational training option abroad? 
• Did you know you could go to a Language School abroad? 

BISS works by empowering our students and their families through education and knowledge and then we match you accordingly. Once you have access to our software you will learn exactly how this track system can best benefit you and also gain the confidence to make an informed decision on which track you would like to pursue. 

Pre-approved: Once you have completed your BISS  Student Profile and Prefernce Survey (SPPS) your information will be sent to your “Matched” institutions that are BISS Preferred Institutes. One of the requirements for a University or Institute has do to become a Preferred Institue is agree to Pre Approve you for admissions, based on you SPPS. 

These institutions have agreed to “pre-approve” you for acceptance pending: 

• Confirmation and authenticity of your self-reported information
  • Official transcripts,
  • Test scores
  • Proof of finances (etc…)
  • Receiving all the necessary official documentation by thier acceptance deadline
  • And receiving an additional admissions requirements unique to their institution (such as essays and recommendations).

VoTech (Vocational, Trade, Technical): Are post-secondary schools and institutes that provide targeted training and education where you earn a certificate, license or associates degree (2 year diploma) in a specific skill, trade or technical job. BISS calls them “VoTech” – a combination of Vocational Education and Training (VET) also called “Industrial Arts”, these are primarily skilled labor type of jobs, and Career and Technical Education (CTE), the more academically or technically oriented job. They can be a combination of classroom, hands-on and on-the-job training.

There are hundreds of “VoTech” fields, here are just a few examples:

VoTech courses can run from 1 month to 2 years, a few going for 4,  averaging between 3 and 9 months, and the cost also varies greatly depending upon the program length of time and vocation or skill chosen. That said, they are typically less expensive than a bachelor’s university program. Many offer either a certificate or license necessary to be employed in that job or field and guided field work experience after completion of the classroom stage. Some have internship programs attached to them as well, often leading to a job offer. There are hundreds of VoTech schools and institutes seeking international students and can offer visa sponsorship.

from  Bridges International School and Student Services (BISS) is not a service for those seeking to enter the United States of America or any other country by any means. We strongly discourage students and parents from using the BISS website and resources in this manner.    

Ultimately, Bridges International Student Service (BISS) is for the serious, motivated, and capable secondary/high school student or graduate who really desires to gain a degree from a US college/university and use it for the betterment of themselves, their families, and their community.  BISS will provide, to the best of our ability based on the information you submit to us, a bridge connecting students to colleges and universities in the US. We cannot guarantee that students will get accepted into any college or university or that students will receive educational visas into the United States. That outcome is entirely dependent on the quality, completeness, and accuracy of the required information submitted. The required study visa, for International students, is issued at the entire discretion of the US State Departments or other countries official interviewing consular.  

Additionally, BISS BASIC does not offer interactive or personal consulting advice or services. We have created detailed content and resources guides to walk our students and families through the process of applying to colleges and universities in the United States. We have attempted to make it as ‘user friendly’, and comprehensive as possible so a student can walk through the entire process without any personal help.

However, if further personal help or interaction is needed or desired, BISS recommends that you choose one of the affordable student consultancy packages offered by the (BISS Consultancy) — Bridges Student and International School Counseling services, that provides personal help walking through the SPPS and also provides personal help from 9th standard on all the way through the entire selection, application, and transition steps to continue your post secondary/high school education.