the international student newsletter - Delaware County Community ...

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T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L
S T U D E N T N E W S L E T T E R
W E L C O M E F R O M I N T E R N A T I O N A L
S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S
Welcome to our new students, and welcome back to our
returning students. The Office of International Student
Services is here to help you help yourselves. Feel free
to visit us at any time. For course selection, important
or time-consuming matters, and anything related to
immigration, please make an appointment.
We wish you the best for the rest of the spring and the
summer 2009 semesters.
Our offices are located in Room 3555, and our office
hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(except for lunch, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.).
Lydia Dell’Osa
Director, International Student Services
610-359-7322. E-mail: ldellosa@dccc.edu
Patrick McGinty
Assistant Director, International Student Services
610-359-7336. E-mail: pmcginty@dccc.edu
Candy Berlin
International Student Housing Coordinator
610-325-2830. E-mail: cberlin@dccc.edu
Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m
H A V E Y O U T A K E N T H E T O E F L
TEST
As you know, Delaware County Community College
currently does not require or accept Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for placement into
English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Instead,
students who come to the College take the ESL placement
test during our Orientation, and their scores
determine the levels at which they begin ESL.
The College is conducting a survey to determine whether
recent TOEFL scores would be an accurate indication of
placement into the College’s ESL program.
Therefore, we are asking all students who have taken the
TOEFL test to provide Lydia or Patrick a copy of your
results. The results will NOT change your ESL
placement test scores, which you took at Orientation.
However, you would be substantially helping us in our
study and you may end up influencing future policy.
Your participation is greatly appreciated.
S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 E S S A Y C O N T E S T
The Office of International Student Services is sponsoring
an essay contest for students on the following topic:
Since you arrived in the United States, you have
probably noticed differences between your culture
and American culture. What are some of those
differences, and which one has been the most
surprising or most meaningful to you
Here are the requirements:
Type your essay. It should be double-spaced and
2-3 pages in length.
Send your essay by e-mail to Lydia or Patrick.
The grand prize winner will receive an award!
Additionally, the winning essay will appear in the Fall
2009 International Student Newsletter.
S U M M E R A N D F A L L 2 0 0 9
C O U R S E S E L E C T I O N
Registration (course selection) will begin on March 23
and continue through this semester and the summer.
Please note that there are two summer semesters for
regular academic courses:
Summer I runs from May 26 to July 2.
Summer II runs from July 7 to August 13.
Summer ESL credit courses are offered only
starting June 8 and ending August 13.
Fall runs from August 31 to December 15-21.
Many students believe that they must register
immediately. This is not true. Take your time and
carefully consider the classes that will be best for your
academic career. Once you are confident that you have
chosen useful courses, you can either register online
through delaGATE or make an appointment with your
assigned academic advisor.
The Office of International Student Services is happy to
advise students without assigned advisors and students
taking ESL courses. However, students interested in
transferring to a 4-year institution should make an
appointment to see a transfer counselor in the Career
and Counseling Center, Room 1325. Do not wait until
the last minute, as appointments fill up.

T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 2
G R A D U A T I N G I N M A Y
If you are going to graduate in May 2009, please visit
the Records Window or www.dccc.edu/studentrecords/
graduate.html to complete a graduation application. A
$25 fee must accompany the application. If you have
questions, please visit the Records window or e-mail
records@dccc.edu. Caps and gowns, invitations, and
other graduation related items are available through the
College bookstore.
Students graduating in May 2009 may be able to apply
for authorization to work full-time for one year in the
United States. Applications for Optional Practical
Training (OPT) are now being accepted by U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The fee
for the application is $340. Before filing the application,
students must refer to the instruction booklet at
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-765instr.pdf. After
reading the instructions, please see Lydia or Patrick if
you plan to apply for OPT.
Congratulations to all of our recent and soon-to-be
graduates! For a list of some institutions to which international
students have recently transferred, see page 3.
T H A T T I M E O F Y E A R A G A I N :
A T A X G U I D E
All international students who were in the U.S. during
2008 must file “tax returns” with the U.S. government.
Students who received no income from U.S. sources
during the calendar year 2008 will only need to fill
out Federal Form 8843.
Federal Form 8843 and instructions can be picked
up in the Office of International Student Services.
Complete the form and mail by April 15, 2009.
Students who received wages from U.S. sources
during 2008 will have to file Federal and
Pennsylvania state tax returns.
First, your employer should send you a statement of
the wages that you earned and the taxes that were
withheld from you ("Form W-2" or "Form 1099").
Download copies of Form 8843 and Form 1040NR-
EZ and the accompanying instruction booklet on the
web at http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/formspubs/.
Download the Pennsylvania state form via the web
at http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/.
Complete the forms and mail by April 15, 2009.
“The only difference between a taxman and a
taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.”
- Mark Twain
T H E 1 2 - C R E D I T R E G U L A T I O N &
W I T H D R A W I N G
T R A V E L I N G O U T S I D E O F T H E
U N I T E D S T A T E S
Students on F-1 visa who travel outside of the United
States are required to have their I-20s signed by Lydia,
Patrick, or Linda Ortiz in the Admissions Office before
they leave. This applies to students who are in status
and planning to return to the College.
As always, students must keep the Office of International
Student Services informed of any changes of visa
status, address, and anything else related to the I-20. If
you have questions, please visit Room 3555.
Students on F-1 visa are required to complete at least 12
credits each fall and spring semesters. Therefore,
students taking 12 credits cannot afford to withdraw
from a course. Students with 15 credits may withdraw
from a three-credit course, since they will still complete
12 credits. While receiving a “W” grade is preferable to
receiving an “F” grade, you must keep in mind the
12-credit regulation to avoid potentially serious
consequences. A “W” erases credits; an “F” or “NP”
counts toward the 12-credit minimum.
The last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of
“W” is April 3. Students may withdrawal themselves
online, with their advisors, or at the Records window.

T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 3
T R A N S C R I P T S
Transcripts may be needed to apply to university, prove
you are a student at the College, etc. Students can order
official transcripts and print unofficial transcripts
through the online portal delaGATE. Students can also
request transcripts from the Records window, across
from the Cashier.
Do not wait until the last minute to request your
transcripts. The College generously produces transcripts
for no charge; many institutions charge a fee for each
official transcript ever printed.
C A M P U S H A P P E N I N G S
I N T E R A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S S T U D Y
H A R D A N D G E T I N V O L V E D
History has proven that international students succeed at
Delaware County Community College. They study hard
and earn high GPAs. They participate in class and on
campus, and in return earn very good letters of
recommendation from professors and advisors.
International students are active in the community,
volunteering at hospitals and in conversation partner
programs, and otherwise adding life experiences to their
young but global resumes. International students have
been captains of the College’s sports teams, leaders in
Phi Theta Kappa, work study students, executive editor
of The Communitarian, president of the Business
Society, and president of the Multicultural Club, to name
a few.
In recent semesters international students have continued
their success. While the measure is not only if and
which university they transfer to, the list below is a
concise testament to the hard work of students interested
in and capable of attending 4-year institutions. Here are
just some of the colleges and universities to which
international students have been accepted or transferred
in the past few years:
This year’s Springfest will be held April 27 to May 1.
LOUIS MASSIAH, Filmmaker and Producer:
Louis Massiah will have a partial screening of his film
“W.E.B. DuBois – A Biography in Four Voices,” with a
discussion to follow. Thursday, February 26, 11:05 a.m.
to 12:00 p.m. in the small auditorium (Room 2246).
ISHMAEL BEAH, A Child Soldier from Sierra Leone,
West Africa: Ishmael Beah will hold a presentation
about war, violence, and the moral and political impact
of religion on Thursday, March 26, 11:05 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. in the large auditorium. A book signing will follow
the presentation.
Interested in government JOIN SGA (the Student
Government Association). Build your resume, have a
voice on campus, and work with great people! Meetings
are held Tuesdays, 11:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. in
Room 2287 and Wednesdays, 12:20 p.m. in the SGA
Office. All students are invited to join. For more
information, stop by the SGA Office, Room 2514, or
the Campus Life Office, Room 2518.
Alvernia University
Auburn University
Baylor University
City University of New York
Columbia University
Drexel University
George Washington University
Penn State University - Brandywine,
Harrisburg, and University Park
Purdue University
Southern New Hampshire University
St. Joseph’s University
SUNY - Binghamton , Buffalo, and Stony
Brook
Temple University
The University of the Arts
Touro College
University of Indiana
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
University of Pennsylvania
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Washington University (St. Louis)
West Chester University
Widener University

T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 4
S T U D E N T I N T E R V I E W :
I R E N A M I L O V A N O V I C
The Office of International Student Services is proud to
present the following interview with former international
student Irena Milovanovic. Irena arrived at the College in
August 2006, quickly progressed through the English as a
Second Language (ESL) program, completed 45 credits with
a 4.0 GPA, and left after the summer of 2008 to study at
Drexel University in Philadelphia. Among other topics, we
asked Irena to comment on the virtues of the College and if
she had any advice for our current students.
Could you tell everyone a little bit about yourself
Hello, my name is Irena and I am from Serbia. I came to the
U.S three years ago (as part of a lifeguard program) with no
intention to stay longer than six months. Even though I had
a nice life back home, school and a job waiting for me, I
decided to stay in the U.S., and transfer to the school here.
Since Serbia is in a bad economic situation, some students do
not have a great future outlook after they graduate.
Therefore, I was very excited about the opportunity that a
person may have after studying in the U.S.
Being a lifeguard at that time, I was granted a temporary
working visa that allowed me to work and save some money
for school. Now, three years later, I am able to look back
and be proud of myself for what I have done, even though it
was not easy and I did not have too much free time on my
hands.
What did you like the best about Delaware County
Community College What I liked the best about
the College were definitely the people, the International
Friendship Program, the Multicultural Club, and all of my
advisors. One of the best things about the people at the
College is that they really care about their students. Also,
professors have a lot of understanding and always want to
help. The chance to be a part of the Multicultural Club and
the International Friendship Program has helped me in
meeting many new people, and hearing and learning about
different things.
What are some challenges you are facing now as a
junior at Drexel University Honestly, the transition to
Drexel University was very difficult. Not only because of
the new environment, but because of the complete school
schedule as well. Drexel’s calendar is divided into four
quarters instead of two regular size semesters. Therefore,
most of the students spend two out of four quarters doing
their co-ops and the other two quarters in school. Also, the
complete school environment is business oriented (seeing
students wearing suits and ties on campus is an everyday
thing), everything is fast paced, and when you think that
you finally have everything under control, there is something
else that you missed. Overall, I really like Drexel.
School tasks are very professional and challenging. Also,
there are plenty of activities workshops, and organizations
that students can engage in. Moreover, the co-op organization,
co-op training, and the job selection is excellent.
What kind of scholarship did you receive from Drexel
I was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship for transfer students.
Every student is considered for this scholarship as long as
he or she applies. Actually, the most important thing is
having a good GPA because they match your scholarship
according to your grades. Therefore, the better the GPA
you have, the more money you get.
Do you have any words of advice for our current
students One of the most important things that I learned,
in all this time since I was here, is to be persistent. No one
will ever do anything for you if you do not ask for it. Most
of the professors respect sincere effort; after all, you cannot
lose anything if you try. I hope that all of you got something
from my story. Even if you think that it might be
hard, there is always a chance to succeed as long as you
try. Remember, you are setting your own boundaries, not
someone else.
Delaware County Community College
Office of International Student Services
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063
E-mail: dcccintl@dccc.edu