アメリカの大学のアドミッション担当者にインタビューを行い、各大学の特色や学生生活、出願などに関するお話を伺います。
今回は、デラウェア州立の研究大学である デラウェア大学 を取り上げました。すべて英語で掲載していますので、最後まで頑張って読んでいきましょう！
Established in 1743, the University of Delaware is one of the best research universities on the East Coast, with top-ranking programs in Chemical Engineering and Public Affairs.
This month, YGC interviewed Dr. Song Hoffman, the Director of International Admissions.
Fast Facts
| Name | Location | US News Rank | Times Higher Ed. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | Newark, Delaware, USA | 76 | 400-500 |
| Number of Students | International Students | Student-to-faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 23,613 | 11% | 12:1 |
| Average SAT Scores | Required TOEFL iBT® Score | Average High School GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 1260–1410 | 79+ | 3.85–4.32 |
Interview
I. Academics
- What are your most popular majors or areas of study?
That’s a hard question to answer because as a long-established state university, we have eight academic colleges covering a lot of majors, minors, and other areas of study. Of our eight academic colleges, the Lerner College of Business & Economics and our College of Engineering are the most popular.
Among American students, Biology, Psychology, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Sports Management majors are very popular. International students often major in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and more recently Cybersecurity.
UD creates majors according to what is needed by markets and by society. For instance, the Cybersecurity major is popular among students also studying Finance, Hospitality, and Marketing Management. UD wants our students to master many different skill sets.
- Do you emphasize theoretical or practical learning? Are classes mostly lectures, discussions, or labs?
We’re very proud of the hands-on, experiential learning we offer our students. We have a very high graduation rate, ranking in the top ten of public universities in the US! I mention this because student retention and academic support are very, very important to us. Thus, keeping classes interactive and fun while maintaining a positive learning environment is essential.
We encourage our students to spend time in discussions, flipped classrooms, labs, lectures, and internships. That way their interdisciplinary studies can progress.
- Do you have a “common read”? What is it and why was it assigned this year?
Yes! The 2024 Shared Common Reader is “I Never Thought of It That Way” by Mónica Guzmán. Guzmán wants readers to be curious about others’ beliefs and provides research on how to do so. Throughout the first semester, UD will host guest speakers, film screenings, and other cultural events based on the book’s theme. This helps incoming students connect with the entire UD community in a meaningful, intellectual way.
II. Admission
- What does your ideal applicant look like?
That question is quite specific! For Japanese applicants, and all international applicants, we hope they will have a brilliant academic experience. Personal experience and employability, or an interest in career development also very important. Basically, we want academically sound students who have curious minds and always want to learn! Applicants must show us they have an open mind and desire to experience new things.
I’m glad that you specifically asked about Japanese students. Japanese society is rather conservative and I see that conservativeness in a lot of students. Confidence, especially in presentations and public speaking, needs to be cultivated among Japanese students. That’s one way that YGC, counselors, advisors, and admissions officers can work together.
- What part(s) of an application (e.g., personal statement, letters of recommendation, volunteer experience, grades, test scores, etc.) do you place particular importance on?
In terms of background, we’re definitely committed to diversity. We’re also looking for students who have done something extraordinary. This doesn’t have to be feeding the poor or raising the dead! Show us things you have done to make a small, but real difference in someone’s life—even your own! Show us how you have made positive changes in your community.
- Do you use the Common Application? Do you require supplemental essays?
Yes. We accept the Common Application and the Coalition Application, and on top of that we also have a University of Delaware application through a system called “Slate.” When you apply through the Common Application, we do require that essay. However, there is no supplemental essay requirement.
III. Financial Aid
- Do you offer scholarships to international students? Are they awarded based on need or merit?
Yes, we do! In fact, we are working on a new international scholarship strategy to make the University of Delaware even more accessible to the international community. We are on the East Coast, where education can be more expensive. At UD, our package (tuition, room and board, etc.) is relatively cheaper than bigger institutions in bigger cities.
Currently, we’re offering international students $5,000–$18,000 per year, which are renewable scholarships based on merit and diversity. However, we would like to attract more international students and are updating our scholarship package to become even more competitive.
- Are international students eligible for on-campus jobs? What about internships?
Dr. Ravi Ammigan is the Associate Provost of International Programs. He also leads the Center for Global Programs and Services. They are following a model called Global 360 which prioritizes expanding UD’s interdisciplinary and global opportunities. That means career services, and international career services, are part of the deal! We offer a lot of internships on-campus and off-campus and have staff members prepared to help you.
We’re also part of Handshake, which is a job-seeking platform that focuses on international recruitment. It has become an international network for internships and scholarships! As a matter of fact, I was just answering an email from our Career Service Center and one of our Chinese alumni is offering an internship that they want to promote as part of a recruitment package!
IV. Student Life
- What kinds of on-campus support are available to international students? Do you have an ESL program?
International students can be admitted to UD in a few ways. They can be admitted through our English Language Institute (e.g., the Academic Transitions Program or the Intensive English Program), where we help students reach English proficiency and offer cultural and living experiences with their American peers. The ELI has been supporting students for 45 years and is a very good resource.
We also have a Writing Center and the Mathematical Sciences Learning Laboratory. Also, because we have small class sizes our academic faculty members are often students’ mentors.
As I mentioned, the Center for Global Programs and Services offers International Student and Scholar Services. For the past ten years, they have run an event called “International Coffee Hour,” which welcomes all international students for free.
Academically, socially, mentally, and financially, we support our students in all aspects of their lives.
- What are your most popular student clubs and organizations?
There are a lot of options! My son is in the biomedical engineering pre-med track. So, he joined one of UD’s Greek Councils that emphasizes pre-med. There is also the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association, the Japanese Culture and Language Club, and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers.
V. After Graduation
- How many of your students graduate with a four-year degree? How many secure a job after graduation? What about graduate, law, or medical school?
We are proud to be one of the best public universities for on-time graduation in the USA. 73% of our students earn their bachelor’s degrees within four years. 94% of our graduates are either employed or pursuing higher education. Many go on to earn their MA or a professional degree (e.g., law, medicine, veterinary, etc.). Some top employers include JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Amazon.
A fun way to learn about life after graduating from UD is to visit our Career Outcomes page. You can find graduation and employment data by major! For example, using this tool you can see that 94% of our Business Analytics graduates are employed or pursuing higher education.
- What careers do your alumni pursue after graduation? Who are some notable alumni?
Most notably former President Joe Biden and his wife, former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden graduated from the University of Delaware. Wang Xing, the Chief Executive Officer of Meituan attended UD as well. Alumnus Wayne Westerman and one of our professors developed some of the earliest touchscreen technology, which was later acquired by Apple Inc.
VI. Other Questions
- How should students in middle school or the early years of high school prepare for applying to university?
You must be academically sound. You can’t enter our most competitive programs without at least a 3.5 GPA. However, your extracurricular activities are also very important. You should develop your skills in leadership, communication, time management, and even finance management. Your personal statement is an essential tool we can use to get a 360-degree view of your character and abilities.
Be mindful of what you list in your extracurriculars on your application. Only include those that will actually strengthen your application! For instance, if you want to declare a Computer Science major and you happen to be the long-term treasurer for a computer science or robotics club at your school, you have a better chance of getting accepted!
Of course, some communities don’t have these opportunities. In that case, you can demonstrate your character by telling us about your personal responsibilities, like taking care of a loved one.
Don’t sell yourself short, but never put false information or exaggerate your capabilities on the application. This can have severe consequences.
- Do you have any academic programs for high school students currently living in Japan?
Yes, we have quite a few! The Edge Summer College Program is a three-week summer program in which students can earn up to three university credits. It’s like an AP class, but you can study agriculture, business, computer science, engineering, business, you name it! It’s not only an academic program, it’s also a cultural exchange program with excursions to Washington D.C., New York City, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. It’s a very immersive experience.
For students in grades 10 and 11, I highly recommend participating in the Diamond Challenge. It is a program for domestic and international students interested in entrepreneurship. Individuals and small teams can pitch business ideas and win funding to put their ideas into effect! The Diamond Challenge is part of our Business School and I had the honor of sitting on the committee last year.
- Why are you passionate about the University of Delaware?
I am very passionate about international education because I was an international student in 1998. When I started my journey, counseling and advising played very important roles in shaping my life and academic journey. Now, I want to pay it forward. I enjoy guiding international students at UD. I’m also a university mom, through my son! I’ve learned so much about our university through him. I’m also a Blue Hen myself, as I earned my Master of Science here!
The University of Delaware is a hidden gem for international students. As an employee, parent, and student, I am passionate about our school because we care about our students and lay strong foundations for them to go on and live good lives.
※TOEFL®はETSの登録商標です。このコンテンツはETSの検討を受けまたはその承認を得たものではありません。
