BROOKDALE COLLEGE ECUADOR

In 1985, Brookdale Community College in Lincroft , New Jersey started teaching first and second year college courses in Guayaquil , Ecuador . For 20 years , this decision has had a tremendous impact on the dreams of over 2,000 students who wanted to earn a U.S. college or university degree. Most have studied the first two of the required four years to earn a bachelors degree here in Guayaquil in the comfort of their homes, in the company of their friends, near the beach, and saving a tremendous amount of money before they transfer to the U.S. The first question that every student has is "what is the difference between a U.S. university education and an Ecuadorian university education". I will address the differences and I will also explain the benefits these many students have enjoyed at Brookdale Community College in Guayaquil . First , a college and university in the United States is the same thing. The principal difference is the size of the institution. The University of Florida , for example, has 56,000 students on campus and a college might have between 1,000 to 15,000 students. Brookdale Community College (a community college or junior college offers the first two years of courses before students transfer to a four year institution) has 18,000 students on campus. Second , perhaps the most important difference is that all colleges and universities use a liberal arts system of instruction. This means that students do not typically choose their major ( specialization of study ) until their second or even third year of university. In the U.S. system, students do not "specialize" until later in their studies. In Ecuador , students are required to declare their specialization before they start their first courses in the university. A common question is what specializations does Brookdale offer? The answer is all of them and many you never even heard of before. A lawyer does not start her first year of college studying law, she can major in anything and only after the bachelor's degree does she continue on to law school. A doctor typically majors in science and after the four years bachelor's degree he goes to four years of medical school and then does four years of internship before he is a doctor. A person who has a bachelor's degree in history can then earn a masters degree in business administration (MBA). It's the flexibility that is so different. Third , in a two year college students earn an Associates degree. In a four year college or university students earn a bachelor (of arts or sciences). After the four year degree, many students continue on to graduate school to earn their master's degree which is generally two or three more years of specialized study. Then, if the student wants to continue on to a doctor's degree, it can be at least three more years plus a dissertation (thesis) which can be many more years of study. Fourth , in the U.S. , students can change their major later in their college career and not lose the work they have done up until that time. Students are not locked into any specialization in the first two years and many do change their major when they discover, as they mature academically. The flexibility of the U.S. system is perfect for young students who, in most cases, tend to be unsure of just what they want to do for the rest of their working lives. They have the opportunity to change their minds, usually up to the third year of studies. Fifth , in the liberal arts system, all students, regardless of what their major will be, (engineering, science, humanities, business administration, whatever) are required to take a wide variety of courses in areas such as mathematics, science, humanities (political science, history, philosophy), social sciences (sociology, psychology, etc.) economics, languages, literature, composition/research, and other core (the center of the curriculum) courses. Then, in addition, you also study courses in what you have determined to be your specialization. This is drastically different from the Ecuadorian system of specialization. Sixth , U.S. (and BCC) students can easily transfer from one college or university to another because all U.S. institutions of higher learning MUST be accredited. This is done by regional organizations that constantly inspect the schools to guarantee the quality and consistency of the curriculum, the academic credentials of the professors (every professor MUST have a masters—or preferably a doctor's—degree to teach in an accredited college or university. Every summer, about 100 Ecuadorian students studying all over the United States return for vacation and take courses at BCC to transfer back to their school. It's as easy as that. Because BCC is accredited, there is no review of individual courses or credits. Seventh , there is no pre-university requirement. U.S. students take a Scholastic Aptitude Examination (SAT) while in the 12 th grade (6to curso). Colleges and universities use the score to determine whether they want to admit that student. They also use other criteria such as grades (naturally), extra curricular activities (sports, community service, etc.), to see if the student is "right" for the institution. College and university admissions are extremely competitive in the U.S. For example, the University of Florida Warrington School of Business only accepts less than 20% of applicants for the freshman (1 st year) students. Harvard and Princeton accept less. Of course this depends on the reputation of the school. Eighth , all foreign students are required to take a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination. The exam is to determine the students' English ability for admissions. For Brookdale Guayaquil students this is never necessary because they have already studied or have completed their first two years of U.S. college studies here in Guayaquil . Ninth , in almost all U.S. colleges and universities, many courses are offered online using a website called WebCT. Even students who are attending a large institution like the University of Florida are required to take online courses because there might not be enough seats available. At Brookdale in Guayaquil , students who want to earn an Associates degree before transferring must complete online courses taught by New Jersey professors. Distance education is now extremely sophisticated and required everywhere. It includes streaming video classes, online exams, quizzes, homework submissions, discussions and student presentations. Finally , the chance to study in another country changes a student`s perspective and expands life's opportunities. Most students at BCC have majored in business administration (including marketing & publicity, general administration, business economics, and finance), hospitality and tourism administration, graphic arts, industrial arts, and humanities. But they have also graduated with U.S. degrees in psychology, international relations, political science, history, sociology, engineering (industrial, mechanical, computer, electrical, etc.) and many have earned their masters degrees and even doctor's degrees in the U.S. You never know where you will end up when you start at Brookdale Community College in Guayaquil but the beginning is exactly the same for all colleges and universities in the U.S . Guayaquil, Ecuador -Km. 15, via a la Costa- 2872664 / 3901064 / 3901062 / 3901063 INFO CENTER -Urdesa, Circunvalacion Sur 102 y Victor Emilio Estrada- 2381201