Need help getting your child their DESIRED education?…
Help has arrived!
WE GET THE STRUGGLE
BISS Is All About Your Son or Daughter’s Future!
If you’re here, you probably have a child that is about to graduate, or recently graduated, from an International Secondary or US High School and are facing the stress and anxiety that comes from trying to guide your son or daughter through one of the most important decisions they will make in their young lives! What are they going to do with their life in the near future?
Unfortunately, this decision is like sailing through ‘mine infested waters‘, filled with many unknown, submerged ‘dangers’. Helping your young adult child navigate through these unknown waters is no small task! The numerous options of choosing what to study, which institute to go to, how to pay for it and — for those studying abroad — the added burden of getting a student visa makes this decision a multi-faceted and unique ‘minefield’ for everyone! It is a serious, life impacting decision and both you and your son or daughter need competent and affordable help spotting mines and helping them chart a course that will get them safely to their desired destination. An uninformed, misguided decision can be like hitting a mine, causing great damage that can have long term consequences for your child’s future causing them and you much grief, financial loss and possibly debt!
We are PARENTS like you too!
The entire BISS core team has walked through this complex decision-making process themselves…
Many of us with our own children. We also had to struggle through the financial issues as well, so we at BISS can relate and empathize with you. Because we know these complexities ourselves (from both a professional and personal perspective) we started BISS initially with you and your child in mind, creating a unique, user-friendly step-by step system that educates both you and your child and guides them through each step of the process, ending with a unique ‘matchmaking’ system. This gives you and your son or daughter, the knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate through the ‘minefield’ of decisions, helping them safely arrive at the port of their desired destination. We do all this at a nominal cost that will pleasantly surprise you!
We are PARENTS like you too!
The entire BISS core team has walked through this complex decision-making process themselves…
Many of us with our own children. We also had to struggle through the financial issues as well, so we at BISS can relate and empathize with you. Because we know these complexities ourselves (from both a professional and personal perspective) we started BISS initially with you and your child in mind, creating a unique, user-friendly step-by step system that educates both you and your child and guides them through each step of the process, ending with a unique ‘matchmaking’ system. This gives you and your son or daughter, the knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate through the ‘minefield’ of decisions, helping them safely arrive at the port of their desired destination. We do all this at a nominal cost that will pleasantly surprise you!
Your Family is Facing some Tough Questions
- What should your son or daugther do, what skill or degree should they pursue?
- What track is best for them? A “Votech“ institute, full University or, for International students, do they need to go to an English Language School (ELS)?
- How will you know as parents which specific institute they can or should go to?
- How does my son or daughter apply?
- How much will it cost and how much can we afford?
- I’m International and my child wants to study in the US or abroad what are the extra steps, requirements, and cost involved?
- How do we prepare and apply for a student visa?
BISS Term Definitions
VoTech
VoTech (Vocational/Trade, Technical) Institutes: 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” and divides them generally into two classes:
1.) ‘Vo’cational Education and Training (VET) also called “Industrial Arts”, “Trade Schools or Institutes”. These jobs are primarily ‘hands on’, skilled labor positions where you learn and apply specific, physical skills. Plumbing, Electrician, Welding are just a few or many examples.
2.) Career and ‘Tech’nical Education (CTE), Also called “Tech schools or Institutes”, the more academically or technically oriented positions. Advanced Auto mechanics, Software Programing, Paralegal are examples.
Some VoTech can fall under both classes depending on the level of skill or expertise you seek to obtain.
Both VET or CTE are usually taught in a ‘teach and then do’ type of method, so there is classroom and then practical application work stations where you learn and use the ‘tools’ of the skill. Technical (CTE) schools generally require more advanced classroom type learning than Vocational (VTE) schools. And there is often on-the-job training as well. All training for either VET or CTE are specific to their field. Example: if you choose to go to a culinary school, every thing you learn and do will be related to the specific culinary field that you choose to study.
There are hundreds of “VoTech” fields, here are just a few examples:
- Air Conditioning tech (HVAC)
- Air Traffic controller
- Aircraft Pilot license & certification
- Auto Mechanics
- A variety of Building & Construction skills
- Culinary (chef school)
- Elevator Technician
- A variety of ‘IT’ applications & certificates
- Paralegal
- Paramedic & Health related skills
- Plumbing
- Hi-tech Welding
- and many, many more.
- A full list of options is available as part of BISS Basic Package
VoTech courses can run from a few weeks (a barista certificate) to 4 years (complete auto or airplane mechanic/technician), averaging between 3 and 9 months. Some VoTechs have ‘rolling admissions‘ meaning they can start classes every 2 to 3 months. The cost of any given program varies greatly depending upon the vocation or skill chosen and the duration of the program. That said, they are typically less expensive than a 4-year university program. Most programs also have much easier admissions requirements, giving those with lower secondary school grades (GPA) — or who are short on the required academic course work to gain entrance into a 4 year bachelor’s University program — an option for further education and an opportunity to find excellent, well paying employment.
Most VoTech’s offer either a certificate or the license necessary to be employed in that work or field. Many offer 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 offer visa sponsorship.
University/College
BISS defines the ‘university’ as a 2 year or a 4 year degree program where you physically attend a specific university or college in a specific location and are seeking to obtain an Associate’s (2 year) or a Bachelor’s (4 year) degree/diploma. The majority of Universities have on campus housing that many VoTech and Language Institutes will not offer. – BISS has a separate track for those students that wish to pursue ‘online’ courses or degrees (coming soon).
The university track, unlike the VoTech track, is going to be a diverse, broad based educational track. What this means is that in the course of a University based Associate or Bachelor’s degree program, a full year or more of your studies is going to be spent taking courses in various subjects regardless if they have any relevance to your field of study. You will have to take some English writing and literature, some history or social studies, some political science and economics, some math, some physical education no matter what you major in. The philosophy or education behind the University program is to have a student be ‘well rounded’ with some fundamental knowledge in a number of ‘disciplines’ and then a heavy emphasis on your field of study in which you get your degree.
The university track will also have specific minimal entrance requirements based on your secondary school course work and grades and possibly other criteria, which will vary between universities. Most VoTech Institutes and all Language Institutes do not have such requirements. Also, for International Students, the University track will demand proof of ability to pay for 2 or 4 years of education, depending on the length of the program, to be given to the US consular before issuing a student study visa.
English Language Schools (ELS)
These schools exclusively focus on learning English.
From a practical perspective it is simple. If your students is struggling to read and understand this and it is taking them time and effort, then BISS highly recommends that you consider sending them to an English Language School (ELS) before attempting to go to a University or VoTech institute. All universities and VoTech Institutes will require a level of English comprehension, the level will vary depending on the of the course work studied.
ELS Advantages:
- FLEXIBILITY: Unlike most university language programs, Independent ELSs have flexibility. Most have rotating entrance dates meaning that your student may be able to start in October or March or February, etc. as they have multiple class start up dates around the year.
- VARIETY OF LEARNING LEVELS: Many ELS have a variety of class levels from basic beginner, to intermediate, to high tech or business language classes. Also, language immersion, outside of their native language environment, 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: ELS do not require Secondary/High school transcripts or records or any other test scores or entrance exams to gain entrance. They may have your student take their own English aptitude test, but this is simply so that they will know which level of class to place them in. Basically, all that is needed to go to an ELS is the necessary finances to pay for the travel, the TOPE – (Total Out of Pocket Expense- which includes the cost of the course and living expenses) – and that they be at least 18 years of age.
- UNIVERSITY RECOMMENDATIONS: Some ESL institutes have agreements with certain universities to accept your student based on their recommendation regardless of their TOEFL (English fluency) score.
your current solutions
- Self-Education
- Attend an Elite School
- Hire a Professional Consultant
- Try a University Recruitment Service
Your family can mull through the massive amount of information, processes and procedures on your own through internet research, attending college or school fairs (if possible), and talking to others who have gone through the process. Almost all the material and information is ‘open source’ and there are a multitude of websites where this information can be acquired.
However, with over 7000 post secondary accredited Universities and VoTech Institutes in the US alone, going through them on your own is not a realistic possibility! It will take hundreds of hours to gain the necessary knowledge to even come close to making a sound decision. (We know, as we have!) Unless your child is already sure about what they want to study and which country and school they want to go to, it is not a practical or truly realistic option. Just trying to understand and execute the process and procedures necessary to first choose, then apply, then get accepted, not to mention acquiring a visa (* INT), is an intense and exhaustive endeavor. Many individual professional student counselors do not know the intricacies of the process, especially for the US and there is no way they could know all the best possible schools for them!
These are schools both abroad and in the US, that have established links to some universities in other nations and have a general understanding of what curriculum’s, courses and activities international tertiary schools are looking for to be a competitive applicant.
Even if you are one of the few fortunate and reasonably affluent ones who can afford such a school, they too have limitations.
1) Your child’s guidance counselor normally has many students to advise and they cannot give them the personal help you may desire or need.
2) They too are limited in their knowledge about which country or academic institutes (over 3500 accredited universities in the US alone) might be the best fit for your son or daughter.
3) Many students that do go to these elite HS/Secondary schools end up hiring additional outside professional college consultants to help them choose and walk through all the necessary procedures to gain entrance to their school of choice.
4.) They may be an excellent institute with strong connections to one nation but have little to no knowledge giving guidance to their students that might wish to study in a different nation.
Though this is a viable option, — (BISS offers a broad range of professional consulting options, some are economical and have the unique advantage of using the BISS tools, network and matchmaking system as well) — however, like the elite International schools, it is a costly affair, often running into the thousands of US dollars depending upon the requested services. Even then, they, including BISS, cannot guarantee your acceptance into your preferred university if you do not have the grades, academic rigor, requirements or connections at your university of choice. Many students who do meet all the requirements also still get rejected! They/we also cannot guarantee that you will gain a visa from your country of choice. They also cannot guarantee that you will win any merit-based scholarships or financial aid from any University or institute.
Like any service of this nature, including BISS, their ability to help place you is going to ultimately depend upon the quality and rigor of your academic work, the integrity of character you portray and your ability to pay for your university or VoTech education and upkeep while there. Ultimately these personal consultants, including BISS, can only offer what is a called a ‘best effort’ service.
There are many University recruitment services available. They are easily found through internet searches. Many of these services offer useful information and then ask you to give your information to be contacted. Many of these services are simply selling and passing your information off to various universities that then send you promotional emails. You will then more than likely start to see college ads on your email and other social media platforms! The recruiters may also be selling your info as a ‘lead’ to other recruiters or universities to target you with advertisements. BISS will never do this, your privacy and security are crucial to BISS. Visit our Privacy Policy page for full details on how we carefully guard your information releasing it to only those institutes where you are matched.
Many are also recruiting for specific universities in various nations where they are paid a significant ‘finder’s fee’ for any student that they place with those contracted universities. Some will give you a large list of options to sort through which can be daunting as well. Many will seek to steer you to choose one of their represented universities and may only inform you of universities that they are recruiting for. Finally, many will seek to draw you into paying for their personal consultancy services which leads you back to option #3, a costly affair.
SELF-EDUCATION
Your family can mull through the massive amount of information, processes and procedures on your own through internet research, attending college fairs (if possible), and talking to others who have gone through the process. Almost all the material and information is ‘open source’ and there are a multitude of websites where this information can be acquired.
While possible, it will nevertheless take you hundreds of hours to gain the necessary knowledge to even come close to making a sound decision. Unless you already are sure about what you want to do, it is not a practical or truly realistic option. Just trying to understand and execute the process and procedures necessary to first choose, then apply, then get accepted, not to mention acquiring a visa (* INT), is an intense and exhaustive endeavor. Many individual professional student counselors do not know the intricacies of the process, especially for the US!
ATTEND AN ELITE SCHOOL
These are schools both abroad and in the US, that have established links to some universities abroad and have a general understanding of what curriculums, courses and activities international tertiary schools are looking for to be a competitive applicant.
Even if you are one of the few fortunate and wealthy ones who can afford such a school, they too have limitations.
1) Your child’s guidance counselor normally has many students to advise and they may not be able to give them the personal help you may desire or they might need.
2) These school and their counselors are also limited in their knowledge about which country or academic institutes (over 3500 accredited universities in the US alone) might be the best fit for your child.
3) Many students that do go to these elite HS/Secondary schools end up hiring additional outside professional college consultants to help them choose and walk through all the necessary procedures to gain entrance to their school of choice.
4.) They may be an excellent institute with strong connections to one nation but have little to no knowledge giving guidance to their students that might wish to study in a different nation.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL STUDENT CONSULTANT
Though this is a viable option, — (BISS offers a broad range of professional consulting options, some are economical and has the unique advantage of using the BISS tools and matchmaking system as well) — however, like the elite International schools, it is a costly affair, often running into the thousands of US dollars depending upon the requested services. Even then, they, including BISS, cannot guarantee your acceptance into your preferred university if you do not have the grades, academic rigor, requirements or connections at your university of choice. Many students who do ‘meet all the requirements’ also still get rejected! Nor can they guarantee that you will gain a visa from your country of choice. They also cannot guarantee that you will win any merit-based scholarships or financial aid from any University.
Like any service of this nature, including BISS, their ability to help place you is going to ultimately depend upon the quality and rigor of your academic work, the integrity of character you portray and your ability to pay for your university education and upkeep while there. Ultimately these personal consultants can only offer what is a called a ‘best effort’ service.
TRY A UNIVERSITY RECRUITMENT SERVICE
There are many University recruitment services available. They are easily found through internet searches. Many of these services offer useful information and then ask you to give your information to be contacted. Many of these services are simply passing your information off to various universities that then send you promotional emails. You will then more than likely start to see college ads on your email and other social media platforms! The recruiters may also be selling your info as a ‘lead’ to other recruiters or universities to target you with advertisements. BISS will never do this!
Most are also recruiting for specific universities in various nations where they are paid a significant ‘finder’s fee’ for any student that they place with those contracted universities. Some will give you a large list of options to sort through which can be daunting as well. Many will seek to steer you to choose one of their represented universities and may only inform you of universities that they are recruiting for. Finally, many will seek to draw you in to paying for their personal consultancy services which leads you back to option #3, a costly affair.
Our Solutions for your Child’s Educational Future
BISS Basic PACKAGE
The foundation of BISS services is our Basic Package, a highly affordable, proprietary, web-based, ‘matchmaking’ platform that offers a comprehensive step-by-step approach for US domestic or International Students who desire to continue their education in the U.S (Coming Soon: U.K, Australia, Canada, etc.).
Counseling packages
Our counseling packages are designed to help you obtain your desired education! We will guide you personally through each and every step throughout the matchmaking process and beyond so that you are comfortable and confident with this critically important decision.
Our BISS Basic Package is included with ALL our consultancy options!!
Bridges International Student Services
Not Financially Driven!
Did you know?
BISS was not initially created to make money. BISS was birthed from the struggles friends and our own team had guiding our own children through the complex, costly, difficult and life changing decision of post-secondary educational choices! We know the difficulties are compounded for our International friends whose children wish to study abroad, as they also have the added cost and requirements to gain a student visa. We understand and empathize with both the international and the US student perspectives. This is why BISS was created: to educate, guide, and assist international and US Secondary/High school students and their families walkthrough, step by step, a critically important decision with confidence at a nominal cost. We simply believed there had to be a better way… and there is!
Unique Long & Short Term Options
No other International student consultancy, recruitment or placement program offers this!
BISS is unique! We offer multiple study options besides the basic 4 year university bachelor degree programs, we also make available shorter-term and less expensive, vocational or technical – “VoTech“ – institutes, and 2 year associate degree or shorter certificate programs. This opens up a vast array of more affordable and shorter-term options with easier entrance requirements to International as well as US students. Students who, before BISS, may have thought they either could not afford or could not qualify to enter a 4 year university. Both international and US students can find excellent careers in fields that are in great demand. Options that were simply unknown to the vast majority of the international student community and many US students as well, as these options are often not presented to them by their high school student advisors.
Revolutionary Matchmaking Software
Matchmaking Software that is unique and works for you!
Our BISS BASIC proprietary matchmaking system is the ‘brains’ of BISS and it allows us to offer you outstanding and comprehensive personal university/institute finding and placement services, at a surprisingly low cost. The BISS matchmaking database is vast, and we do not represent or have student placement contracts or quotas for any specific university or institute. Universities and Institutes also do not have to pay BISS to be in our system. This means that you will have many more universities or institutes that you could be matched with that meet your specifications and preferences than conventional recruiting or consultancy placement services that does not match you or offer BISS’s massive inventory of universities, “VoTech“ or language institutes.
Personal
We create direct, personnel connections!
Our match making system may be the ‘brains’ but our students, are the heart of BISS. We do exactly what our name implies, we build a ‘personal bridge’. Students will receive a personal contact point with all – (if option chosen) – the universities or institutes that are in your top five listed matches. These schools will ‘pre-approve‘ you for acceptance based on the information BISS will send them, that you submitted. Participating universities and institutes that you will be matched with will have an admissions counselor contact you directly to come to their school. This direct communication with a person from a number of matched schools that want you to attend, gives you the power to choose. Also, you and/or your parents can get answers to questions that are important to you before paying a non-refundable application fee and making a final decision. This gives you options and the knowledge that you need to make a confident and informed decision.
Student Advocacy Focus
BISS is first and foremost a student representative service and because of this, BISS does not represent or recruit for any university or institute. The BISS matchmaking system is not biased toward any school! You will be matched with your top five schools regardless if a university or institute pays BISS a ‘finders fee’ or not (If option chosen).
Unlike many college recruiters and consultancy companies, BISS does not seek to direct students to any specific schools. The match-making system is simply going to match you with the universities or “VoTechs” that best fit the preferences, budget and qualifications that you submit to BISS. Furthermore, the system will not match you with any university or institute where you do not meet their requirements or that don’t match your preferences, even if they are “Preferred”. Though we do have BISS Preferred Institutes that may be suggested to you, this will only be done after the ‘match-making’ process if that Preferred school is in your personalized match list. BISS Preferred institutes gain preferred status because BISS reps (who are student advocates) have contacted and vetted them. This means these schools have agreed to offer our students “BISS Advantages” that may include “pre-approval” financial incentives, and a personal contact point or they will contact you. Schools that are not BISS Preferred have not agreed to contact you or give you any of the BISS advantages.
Education
Empowering education is one of our main goals!
The majority of the BISS website is dedicated to educating you on the processes and procedures involved in helping you to make a personal, informed and sound decision concerning your tertiary educational options. BISS is not just an informational center, overwhelming you with massive amounts of material about a complex and multi faceted subject. We break it down systematically into guided discovery steps that will lead you into relevant knowledge helping you know which options are best for you. Though the information on the website is voluminous, covering many topics, it is presented in a basic to complex style where you can choose how deep into a subject you wish to go. At the end of it all, if you are diligent and take advantage of the system, you will be well equipped to ask the right questions leading to a confident, educated and smart choice about one of the most important decisions of your young life, your future!
- Not Financially Driven
- Unique Long & Short Term Options
- Revolutionary Matchmaking Software
- Personal
- Student Advocacy Focus
- Education
Did you know?
BISS was not initially developed to make money. BISS was birthed from the struggles friends and our own team had guiding our own children through the complex, costly, difficult and life-changing decision of post-secondary educational choices! We know the difficulties are compounded for our International friends whose children wish to study abroad, as they also have the added cost and requirements to gain a student visa. We understand and empathize with both the international and the US student perspectives. This is why BISS was created: to educate, guide, and assist international and US Secondary/High school students and their families walk through, step by step, a hard but critically important decision with confidence at a nominal cost. We simply believed there had to be a better way… and there now is!
No other International student consultancy, recruitment or placement program offers this!
BISS is unique! We offer multiple study options besides the basic 4 year Univeristy bachelor degree programs. We also make available shorter-term and often less expensive, vocational or technical “Votech” institutes, that offer 2 year associates degree or even shorter certificate programs. This opens up a vast array of more affordable and shorter-term options with easier entrance requirements to International as well as US students. Students who, before BISS, may have thought they either could not afford or could not qualify to enter a 4 year university, or attend post secondary school, or study abroad at all. Both international and US students can find excellent careers in fields that are in great demand. Options that were simply unknown to the vast majority of the international student community and many US students as well, as these options are often not presented to them by their secondary/high school student advisers.
Matchmaking Software that is ‘one of a kind’, unique and works for you!
Our BISS BASIC proprietary matchmaking system is the ‘brains’ of BISS and it allows us to offer you outstanding and comprehensive personal university/institute finding and placement services, at a surprisingly low cost. The BISS matchmaking database is vast because Universities and Institutes do not have to pay BISS to be in our match making system. Furthermore, we do not represent or have student placement contracts or quotas for any specific university or institute. This means that you will have many more universities or institutes that you could be matched with that other conventional recruiting or consultancy placement services do not offer. And no other recruiting, consultancy or student placement service has our revolutionary matchmaking system! All institutes matched with you will meet specifications and preferences that you have submitted to us.
We create direct, personnel connections!
Our match making system may be the ‘brains’ but our students, are the heart of BISS. We do exactly what our name implies, we build a personal ‘bridge’ between students and educational institutes. Students will either receive a personal contact point with all BISS Preferred universities or institutes that they are matched with, or they will receive an institute profile and web link for any BISS Standard institutes that are in your top five listed matches at the end of the three month match making process. BISS Preferred schools will ‘pre-approve‘ – (or waive application fee) you for acceptance based on the information BISS will send them, that you submitted. Preferred universities and institutes that you will be matched with, will also have a personal admissions counselor available or will contact you directly to talk to you about their school. This direct communication with a personal admissions rep from a number of schools that want you to attend, gives you the ability to get answers to questions that are important to you and your family before paying a non-refundable application fee and making a final decision. This gives you the power and the knowledge that you need to make a confident and informed decision that is best for you.
100% Student Success Focused!
BISS is first and foremost a student representative service and because of this, BISS does not represent or recruit for any university or institute. The BISS matchmaking system is not biased toward any school! We do not try to place, influence or ‘sell’ you to go to any institute. We simply let our matchmaking system build a bridge between you and institutes that fit the preferences and specifications that you have given us.
Many college recruiters, placement or consultancy services will seek to direct students to specific schools in their network or to those that pay them a referral fee. BISS DOES NOT do this! Our match-making system is simply going to match you with the universities or “VoTech” institutes that best fit the preferences, budget and qualifications that you submit to BISS. Furthermore, the system will not match you with any university or institute where you do not meet their requirements or that don’t match your preferences, even if they are “Preferred”. Though we do have BISS Preferred Institutes that may be suggested to you, this will only be done after you go thought the ‘match-making’ system and only If that Preferred school fits your personalized match list. BISS Preferred institutes gain preferred status because BISS reps have contacted and vetted them. This means these schools have agreed to offer our students “BISS Advantages“ that may include “pre-approval” for acceptance, financial incentives, and a personal admissions rep, or they may contact you themselves. BISS Standard Schools have not agreed to contact you or give you any of the BISS advantages and have not been vetted by BISS and you will have to initiate contact with them yourselves.
Empowering education is one of our main goals!
The majority of the BISS website is dedicated to educating you on the processes and procedures involved in helping you to make a personal, informed and sound decision concerning your tertiary (post secondary school) educational options. However, BISS is not just an informational center, overwhelming you with massive amounts of material about a complex and multi faceted subject. We break it down systematically into guided discovery steps that will lead you into relevant knowledge helping you know which options are best for you. Though the information on the website is voluminous, covering many topics, it is presented in a basic to complex style, with links, where you can choose how deep into a subject you wish to go. At the end of it all, if you are diligent and take advantage of the system, you will be well equipped to ask the right questions leading to a confident, educated and smart choice about one of the most important decisions of your young life, your future! Still, if you want more direct, personal help, BISS offers various personal consultancy options headed up by Dr. Brita Nash, BISS Chief Educational officer, who has more than 35 years of experience in this field, 20 years of those Internationally.
BISS Term Definitions
VoTech
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” and divides them into two classes:
1.) Vocational Education and Training (VET) also called “Industrial Arts”. and are also called ‘Trade Schools or Institutes’. These jobs are primary skilled labor positions. Plumbing, Electrician, Welding are examples.
2.) Career and Technical Education (CTE), Also called ‘Tech schools or Institutes’, the more academically or technically oriented positions. Advanced Auto mechanics, Software Programing, Paralegal are examples.
Both VET or CTE are usually taught in a ‘teach and then do’ type of method, so there is classroom and then practical application work stations. And there can be on-the-job training as well. All training for either VET or CTE are specific to their field.
There are hundreds of “VoTech” fields, here are just a few examples:
- Air Conditioning tech (HVAC)
- Air Traffic controller
- Aircraft Pilot license & certification
- Auto Mechanics
- A variety of Building & Construction skills
- Culinary (chef school)
- Elevator Technician
- A variety of ‘IT’ applications & certificates
- Paralegal
- Paramedic & Health related skills
- Plumbing
- Hi-tech Welding
- and many, many more.
- A full list of options is available as part of BISS Basic Package
VoTech courses can run from less than 3 months to 4 years, averaging between 3 and 9 months. The cost of any given program varies greatly depending upon the vocation or skill chosen and the duration of the program. That said, they are typically less expensive than a 4-year university program. Most programs also have much easier admissions requirements, giving those with lower secondary school grades (GPA) — or who are short on the required academic course work to gain entrance into a 4 year bachelor’s University program — an option for further education and an opportunity to find excellent, well paying employment.
Many offer either a certificate or the license necessary to be employed in that work or field. Many offer 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 offer visa sponsorship.
University
BISS defines the ‘university’ as a 2 year or a 4 year degree program where you physically attend a specific university or (college) in a specific location and are seeking to obtain an Associate (2 year) or a Bachelor’s (4 year) degree/diploma. – BISS has a separate track for those students that wish to pursue ‘online’ courses or degrees (coming soon) — The university track (US based) unlike the VoTech track, is going to be a diverse, broad based educational track. What this means is that in the course of a University based associate or Bachelor’s degree program, a full year or more or more of your studies is going to be spent taking courses in various subjects regardless if they have any relevance to your field of study. You will be required to take some English writing or literature, some history or social studies, some political science and economics, some math, some physical education no matter what you major in. The University track is a broad-based education and the philosophy behind this is to have a student be ‘well rounded’ with some fundamental knowledge in a number of ‘disciplines’ while obtaining a specific degree in a subject field. The university track will also require specific minimal entrance requirements that many VoTech’s or Language Institutes do not ask for.
English Language School (ELS)
These schools exclusively focus on learning English.
From a practical perspective 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 in an English speaking country.
ELS Advantages:
- FLEXIBILITY: Unlike most university language programs, Independent ELS’s have flexibility. Most have rotating entrance dates meaning that you maybe able to start in October or March or February, etc. as they have multiple class start up dates 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 and gain the necessary student visa.
- UNIVERSITY RECOMMENDATIONS: Some ESL institutes have agreements with certain universities to accept you based on their recommendation regardless of your TOEFL score.
BISS Never Sells Leads
BISS will not sell your information: Ever.
Many student recruiting companies are either representing specific universities and/or they are seeking to get your 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 issue with this is that they are going to send those ads and emails to you regardless of whether you can qualify for entrance or afford it! Furthermore, there is no personal interaction, no matchmaking with those universities. It is just bulk marketing.
- BISS does not sell your info to anyone. EVER!
- We only release your submitted information to those universities that you have been matched with through our system.
- BISS does not represent or act as a recruiting agent for any university.
Pre-approval
Once you have completed the BISS application process your information will be sent to your “Matched” institutions.
Many 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…)
- Space being available at the time they receive your official documents
- Any additional admissions requirements unique to their institution (such as essays and recommendations).
BISS BASIC Advantages with (BISS PREFERRED INSTITUTES)
Includes:
- Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guidance for Students who wish to Study Abroad (BISS BASIC)
- University or Institutes Matchmaking System (BISS BASIC)
- Choose of three tracks, University, VoTech or Language School (BISS BASIC)
- ‘Pre-Approved’ Universities or Language or ‘VoTech’ (BISS PREFERRED Universities or Institute)
- Personal ‘Bridge’ to ‘Pre-Approved’ University/Institute Admissions Counselors (BISS PREFERRED)
- Tuition Discounts & Scholarships (BISS PREFERRED)
- Visa Interview Preparation and Guidance (BISS BASIC)
- Preparation for University Student Life Abroad (BISS BASIC)
Get solutions for your child’s educational future.