Get an international experience! by Amandine

You've always dreamed about doing an internship in the U.S.A and have an international experience? Well, your dream might become true!



The Institute of International Education for Global Experience and Training (GET) is giving a new opportunity to student all around the world to participate to an internship is the U.S.A!




For who?
If you are an undergraduate or a graduate student, recent college graduate or a young professionals and you want to get international experience and contribute to research in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, improve your English and spend some time in the U.S.A..



What I am going to do?
Depending on the field you are interested in, the opportunities are going to be different but unique. It is going to be an unforgettable learning experience.  The opportunities include hands-on research, laboratory time, mentorship, industry-focused lectures, and site visits to companies and organizations relevant or influential to a specific field and a lot more!

Opportunities are full time, requiring 30-40 hours of work per week, and can range from six weeks to six months in duration.  Besides the research and the opportunities related to your field of study/interest, you and the other participants will go to museum exhibit, field trip to the U.S landmarks, recreational activities, theater, musical productions, national holiday events... 
How cool! You get to meet new people and to be immersed in the American culture!



You want to learn more about this opportunity? READ MORE about it HERE

How to get your U.S driver license? by Amandine

Yes, it's possible for an international student to get a U.S license driver if you are over 18!

Driving in the U.S can be very different from driving in your home country, and so the rules and laws can be very different. Also each states in the U.S have different laws, so I you plan to do a road trip in another state, make sure you read about the differences to not get a ticket!

Here are the step to follow:

STEP 1. Make an appointment before going to the DMV office.
Click here to find an office near you.  Click on the location you want and then go on Make an appointment and choose Office Visit Appointment Fill the form with you information.


STEP 2. Study for the written test. You can get a handbook in English or your language to study at the DMV or online. You have 36 questions and you can make up to 3 mistakes. Practice for the test here, here and here.


STEP 3. The day of the appointment. COME EARLIER: it is always crowed so plan ahead mainly if you planned to do something else during your day. Come prepared with all your documents and money to pay fees.You will need: your passport, I-20, I-94, $35 in cash or card.
Once in the DMV, you will fill a form (Form DL 44) with your information, you will be given a number, you will pass a vision test, you will have your fingerprint and your photo taken. You can ask to pass the test in your own language if you wish.



STEP 4. The test. You will be called to pass the test on a screen. You will start your test and answer the question. Once you are done, you will know if you passed it or no. If you passed, you will be delivered a receipt which is valid for 1 year to pass to behind-the-wheel test.

STEP 5. Schedule a driving test. Click here to find an office near you. Click on the location you want and then go on "Make an appointment" and choose Behind-the-Wheel Drive Test Fill the form with you information and the receipt received from the DMV.


STEP 6. The driving test.
Once you arrive at the office, go to the right service (driving test). You will wait in a lane. Once it is your turn at the window, give all the document they are requiring INCLUDING the receipt from the written test. They will give you a document that you will put on the dashboard of your card.
Then you will be called and you will have to go get your car on the parking and bring it where DMV examiners are.
It takes 15-20 minutes. An examiner will come to you, and ask you do some basic stuff, like turn on your lights, your right signal...
While you drive, the examiner will grade you, DON'T look at their sheet, it is not because they write something that you did something wrong and FOCUS on your driving. They also write what you did right.

PS: if you rent a car, or borrow a car from someone to pass the driving test the car HAS TO BE insured.


STEP 7. Got it!
At the end of the drive, you examiner will tell you if you passed or not, what you did right or wrong.
If you pass the test, you will be givenan interim license valid for 90days until you recive your new photo license in the mail.


If you want to see what at driving test looks like, click here
Maiko also blogged about U.S license driver, check out here.

Time to pick my class! by Amandine

At the end of each semester, we have to enroll for the next semester and pick our classes.

What classes should I take?

It is not an obligation but it is recommended for every new and continuig student to see a counselor. The counselor will help you plan for your next semesters.

You can take any classes that you want. The best is to take the classes that you NEED to tranfer or graduate and once you know your major and where you want to tranfer, it is so easy!

You pick your classes from Plan A if you are not planning to transfer and only want to graduate from MiraCosta
You pick your classes from Plan B if you want to transfer to a CSU.
You pick your classes from Plan C if you are not sure either you want to transfer to a UC or a CSU.

Now I know what classes to take, how do I enroll?

Use the online SURF catalog here  or the paper catalog that you can find on campus to know when and what time the class is starting and also the name of your teacher.

Step 1. Search your classes by subject, for example: art



Then a list of classes is going show. Here they are all the same, except the day, time and teacher.

For example, I want to choose the first class




Step 2. Click on select.
Then you are enrolled!! Re-do the exact same thing to select your other class and make that there is no time conflict between your classes.

If you don't want to take the class you enrolled anymore or you want to take a different one, you can drop it.
In SURF, click on My Academics > Drop > Select the class you want to drop > Finish.

If you still need help, the International Office can help you.

I want a Bachelor Degree but what's that? by Amandine

Certificate Degree, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree.. I am pretty sure you've already heard about it ... but what's that ?

The U.S education system is way different than the one in our country. Well, I have to admit that when I started to apply at MiraCosta I was still a little bit confused and lost about which degree I should get.

As you might know from my previous post, my major is Graphic Design. MiraCosta College is a Community College and provide the Associate Degree that is necessary for a Bachelor Degree that I can get at a University like San Diego State University.
So I will go 2 years at MiraCosta (it can take longer, but it's not a problem) + 2 years at a University to get a Bachelor Degree. It is also called Transfer to a 4-Years Institution.

The cool thing with going to Community College instead of going four years of university is that you save 2 years of university tuition as Universities are way more expensive.



Still confused? Don't worry, I've got you covered!
Take a look at the image I've made.

The Finals are coming soon! by Amandine

 The Spring semester is soon to be over!

I am exited about it but I still focus for my Finals.
What's cool is that during the Finals period the MiraCosta Library and the Writing Center has extended hours so I can study longer (and get a good grade).


Here a list of my Finals assignments, so you get an idea of the amount of work. I already started working on them.

An essay to type for my Geology class
An letter to type to a company for my English class
A last project (a chandelier) for my Art class
An essay type and a quiz for my History Class.

Wish me luck!



PS : I went to the Art Gallery of MiraCosta last week because I gave one of my projects for the exhibition. Look how cool it is!

Applying to MiraCosta is easy! By Amandine

Hi everyone!

I know that the US system is really different from our home countries.

This is a slide that I realized, I hope it will make it simplier for you to understand the steps.

If you have any question, feel free to let a comment below or to send an email here.

ONCE YOU SEND EVERYTHING TO MIRACOSTA, you will receive a package including your I-20. You are good to go for your interview at the embassy and get your visa!

How do I choose my major? by Amandine

Hello everyone!

When I decided I wanted to study at MiraCosta, I knew I would be studying Graphic Design.  Since I was little, I always liked to draw, to go museums and art shows. Then one day I started drawing on my computer with Photoshop and it became a passion! I decided I wanted it to be my dream job.

To start applying college and  be a student in the U.S you have to choose a major.

What is a major?
A major is a discipline that you study as a focus area.  It becomes the name on your college degree.  The United States has a lot of different majors!  You can have a major like Chemistry, Computer Science, Math, Dance, Business, History, Art, or Recording Arts.  Check HERE all the major available at MiraCosta.

How do I choose my major?
Choose a discipline that you like, something that you are interested in. It could be a passion, a a topic related to a dream job.

If you are not sure of your major, no panic! You can change your major at anytime!  At MiraCosta, you can meet with professional career counselors and academic counselors to help you choose your major.   The Career Center as many resources to explore the perfect major for you.