EducationUSA continues to offer sessions through online

CEBU, Philippines — The 5th EducationUSA University Fair at Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu and Manila was another success, and those who have missed it need not worry as there are advisers from its center offering virtual sessions to guide applicants on how to apply for higher education in the U.S.

U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Cultural Affairs Officer, Della Hareland, mentioned during an interview at the university fair in Cebu that there are two advising centers in the country, but both are in Manila.

EducationUSA Philippines, an advising network of the U.S. Department of State, provides free, comprehensive, and up-to-date information on U.S. higher education to Filipinos interested in studying in the United States.

Although EdUSA doesn’t provide scholarships, it offers step-by-step guidance for those planning to further their education in the U.S.

“Advisers travel all around the Philippines to provide in-person advising…They also provide virtual group advising and individual advising…They take them to a step-by step advising how to apply for US university and how to find institution best for them,” Hareland said.

Hareland also expressed a desire to have an advising center in Cebu. In the meantime, EducationUSA frequently travels around the country and offers virtual sessions.

“We would love to be able to do that (put up as Center here in Cebu) but what we’re doing right now as opposed to having an actual center is just to mention that education USA advisers from Manila are traveling here as frequently as possible and also making virtual sessions available for the people in this region,” she added.

Over the years, more Cebuanos, along with students, parents, and professionals from the Visayas and Mindanao, have shown interest in pursuing higher education in the U.S.

While EducationUSA itself does not offer free scholarships, its education fairs have led to several Filipinos receiving scholarship offers from various universities and colleges.

Hareland looks forward to seeing more Filipinos, including those from Cebu, securing full educational scholarships, especially given that the latest university fair in Cebu was the largest edition to date.

“We have 32 US universities here from 14 different states and they are from large universities, small universities, community colleges, colleges with very specialized fields so there’s something for everybody here…So we’re really glad to this representation and I think what you should note from that is that it’s very indicative of how much US universities value recruiting from the Philippines especially from here in Cebu and Visayas,” Hareland said. — Jonavie Villa