Stepping stone to academia
Many Hong Kong teenagers dream of attending university in the United States. But is it just an impossible dream?
Generally, students attending local secondary schools should have completed Form Six before they can be considered for admission to a US institution of higher learning. But there is an alternate route for those who simply cannot wait: a two-year community college.
According to the US-based International Institute of Education (IIE), many community colleges welcome Form Five school leavers from Hong Kong. Owing to articulation agreements, these students can often transfer to four-year institutions, enrolling in their third year, assuming they have followed an approved two-year course of study.
'Community colleges can be a stepping stone to four-year institutions for Form Five graduates and students whose English proficiency is not so good,' says Katherine Fung-Surya, director of IIE-China/Hong Kong.
An attraction of community colleges for many international students is that they tend to offer more support for students whose English is not up to par. Special classes can help students top up their English skills while they adjust to life in a new environment.
Other attractions include smaller class sizes, more emphasis on teaching (as opposed to research) and substantially lower tuition fees than those charged by four-year institutions.
Admission requirements are also less stringent. SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is not usually required and minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores tend to be lower.
Other options for those not wanting to finish their secondary schooling in Hong Kong include attending a US high school as an exchange student, studying at a boarding school and seeking direct entry into a four-year college or university.
Some four-year colleges and universities will consider Form Five graduates whose HKCEE results are good enough - usually at least five passes. SAT I or SAT II (or both) might also be required. However, usually these options require a considerably longer lead time of at least one year.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, there are 1,117 community colleges in the US: 992 public, 148 private and 31 tribal.
A total of 10.4 million students are enrolled, 5.4 million in credit and five million in non-credit courses. Community colleges account for 44 per cent of undergraduates. They are especially popular with women and minorities. Part-time students, often working adults, account for 63 per cent of enrolment.
In contrast to the ivory tower environment of many four-year institutions, community colleges can offer international students a rare insider's look at the life and culture of the US.
But there are downsides. Because most community colleges cater primarily to the communities they are in, many students - especially those who are younger - live at home with their parents.
For this reason, student housing is not usually provided. Overseas students often have to make their own arrangements, either renting a room with local families or sharing an apartment.
