A Special Guest from the US: Green River College
By I’mACE Team
On 8 May 2019, IDP Education (Cambodia) hosted the US Education & Scholarship Expo at ACE Tuol Tom Poung campus. With representatives from 11 US education institutions in attendance, students and their parents had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives of US high schools, community colleges, universities and other institutions.
One of the institutions represented at the Expo was Green River College, which first opened its doors in 1963 and is located in Auburn, Washington. One of the best community colleges in the US, Green River offers both baccalaureate degree programs and high school programs. The school is currently home to over 11,000 students, including 1,600 international students from 66 different countries. During the US Education & Scholarship Expo, the I’mACE team had the chance to sit down with Alvin Tai, Green River’s representative.
Could you explain to us the nature of Green River College?
Green River College is a community college that offers the first two years of a four year university education in the US. When students come to Green River, they undertake the first two years of their higher education. After these two years, we help students transfer to a university, where they complete their third and fourth years, and ultimately obtain a Bachelor degree.
What are some of the popular courses offered at Green River College?
We offer approximately 80 courses. Among our Cambodian students, Business, Finance, Accounting and Management have always been the most popular courses. We also offer a robust Engineering program that includes Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Aerospace and Biomechanical Engineering, as well as Computer Science. Aviation is also becoming more popular. Because we are situated so close to Boeing, the aeroplane company, a lot of students have started to major in aviation while completing Airport Management Control and Commercial Flight degrees.
Could you tell us about the Aeronautical Science degree?
Aeronautical Science is essentially a degree to become a commercial pilot. At Green River, we are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified. We also have ten flight simulators that professionally train our students to be commercial pilots. In addition to taking ground classes, students have access to our three neighbouring airports and airfields that enable them to complete their PPL (Private Pilot License) and their APL (Aeroplane License).
What kind of support do you provide to international students?
At Green River College, each international student is linked with an academic advisor to ensure that the student has the best possible experience at our school. Our academic advisors make sure our international students take the most appropriate classes for their specific major, and also help them transfer to a four year university. Each international student is also linked with a second year peer mentor for at least the first three months of their education at Green River. Our second year peer mentors are selected via an extensive interview process. There is also a scholarship available to Green River students who have attended the school for three months. Depending on their academic performance, scholarship application and personal assets, students can be considered for a scholarship that awards them a 10-15% discount on their tuition fees.
For more information about your study abroad options, visit an IDP Study Abroad office at any ACE campus to talk to a Study Abroad counsellor.
To learn more about Green River College, go to https://www.greenriver.edu/