Virtual Group Advising Program

Virtual advising program that assists ALL high school students
in grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

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The program is administered by the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission’s Advising Center

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In partnership with the English language high schools in Bulgaria

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The Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, Fulbright alumni and Bulgarian students currently in the U.S.

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The U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria

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The American Spaces, CorPlus, the YES Program

The program assists all high school students
in grades 8-12

Our partners are: the English language high schools in Bulgaria, the Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, the Fulbright alumni, the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, the American Spaces, CorPlus, the YES Program, and Bulgarian students currently in the U.S.

 

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The EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program is a results-based, intensive, virtual advising program of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission that assists ALL high school students in grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

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The program goals are threefold: to promote U.S. higher education to Bulgarian high school students; to provide accurate, current, and comprehensive information to help students find schools that are their best fit, and to assist students in their college preparation for admission with financial aid.

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International education is a core component of U.S. diplomacy and is integral to advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives. Higher education is among the United States’ top service-sector exports, contributing over $44 billion to the U.S. economy in 2019 and supporting well over 400,000 U.S. jobs.

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International students who will become the next generation of global leaders gain critical skills and knowledge on U.S. campuses while also enriching the learning environment for their American peers and building ties with emerging leaders from the United States. 

EducationUSA’s network of over 430 advising centers serves as the official source of information about financing U.S. higher education abroad.

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The network promotes all accredited U.S. colleges and universities to help institutional leaders meet their international student recruitment and campus internationalization goals, and maintains and expands the United States as the top destination for international students. 

EducationUSA advising is a major component of the Fulbright Commission grant supporting activities.

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The Fulbright-Bulgaria EducationUSA Advising Center is an effective and time-tested instrument of promoting the EducationUSA brand, the strengths of the U.S. educational system and the Fulbright program in Bulgaria by providing up-to-date information and competent guidance on educational opportunities in the U.S., admission procedures at U.S. universities, financial aid, testing, language training, the annual Fulbright and other competitions. The Fulbright EducationUSA Advising Center has acquired an even greater importance in the context of Bulgaria’s integration with the European Union and the strong competition from European universities. 

 

Information about the program

The EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program will build the following applicant competencies:
  • Create your successful admissions strategy;
  • Maximize your test scores;
  • Develop English reading competency by reading articles and books in English;
  • Develop English writing competency by writing essays and keeping a community service journal;
  • Write winning college application essays;
  • Prepare an effective college resume;
  • Get enthusiastic teacher recommendations;
  • Prepare competitive applications for admission to U.S. colleges and universities;
  • Fill in a realistic financial aid application;
  • Shine in your interviews;
  • Stand out in the application process;
  • Improve your chances of getting accepted by your top choice schools;
  • Have a successful study experience in the U.S.
Who can Join?

The EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program is open to ALL students in grades 8-12 (12th graders must join by June before the 12th grade). The only other requirement is commitment. Students must attend all virtual advising sessions, held once per week during the whole year. Absences must be approved by the Adviser.

What do Participants do?
  • The EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program involves a number of activities, including virtual advising sessions, community service activities, a book club, movie nights, reading assignments, writing assignments and more. From the beginning, students prepare for the standardized tests that provide U.S. colleges and universities with a quantitative measure to back up the student’s school grades.

    There are 5 basic requirements for membership in the EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program:

    1. Maintain minimum grade requirement (approximately top 10% of students).
    2. Participate in four virtual advising sessions a month.
    3. Prepare for the American Standardized Tests.
    4. Participate in volunteer/community service activities: 8 hours/month during the school year, 8 hours/week during the summer.
    5. Develop reading and writing competency in English: read one book in English per month, and practice writing essays in English.
Program Components
  1. Participation is open to ALL students in grades 8-12 who are interested in pursuing higher education in the United States.
  2. Four virtual advising sessions a month focused on test preparation activities, presenting U.S. colleges and universities, and preparing to apply to U.S. schools.
  3. Community service: 8 hours/month during the school year, 8 hours/week during the summer. Community service activities can include, but are not limited to, volunteering in a hospital, senior citizen center, orphanage, etc. The EducationUSA Adviser assists with identification of community service projects, if necessary, and must approve the proposed activities in advance.
  4. Book Club: develop reading and writing competency in English by reading books in English and practice writing (and re-writing) essays in English.
  5. Workshop for high school teachers of English on how to write an effective letter of recommendation
Why Join the EducationUsa Virtual Group Advising Program?

We offer organized study and systematized expert guidance for students and their parents throughout the application process. We train teachers on how to write effective letters of recommendation.

From grades 8-12, the EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program involves a number of activities, including virtual advising sessions, community service activities, reading assignments, lectures and work sessions. From the beginning, students prepare for the SAT, SAT Subject tests and TOEFL iBT or IELTS as these provide a U.S. college or university with a quantitative measure to back up the student’s school grades.

Committed participants who follow the full program will be able to prepare competitive applications for admission to U.S. colleges and universities. Students who have participated in the program for a minimum of 12 months are eligible to receive a letter of recommendation from the Adviser for their college applications.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that all participants in the program will be accepted to U.S. colleges or universities, but this intensive advising guarantees the best possible chance. The EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program Adviser will also work with the student to have an alternative plan in the event that the application process is not successful.

Getting Started

The EducationUSA Virtual Group Advising Program starts close to the beginning of the academic year. All high school students are eligible. Students can join at any time, but freshmen and sophomores will have a significant advantage as they will have more time to prepare for the exams and more activities on their extracurricular resume.

Filip Lyapov

Education USA Advisor

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