Global Assessment Certificate Program
The GAC Quarterly Newsletter
August 2019
Deciding on a university, GAC center updates, and more
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Are you interested in continuing your education in the United States after earning your Global Assessment Certificate™ (GAC)? In addition to determining your field of study (major and/or minor), you will need to decide what kind of university or college you would like to attend. The US higher education system includes more than 4,500 institutions, which provides a lot of choices and flexibility. There are many factors to think about when making your decision, including your comfort levels and budget. Here are some things to consider when determining which university or college you would like to attend.
Which type of university or college you choose will depend on many factors:
- Your comfort level with the institution including class sizes, course intensity, student-instructor ratios
- What you can afford, including travel expenses. Keep in mind that scholarships may be available
- Your field of study and whether it is available at each institution
Be sure to talk to your counsellor or tutor about these considerations so you can start planning your path to university. If possible, try to visit the university of your choice before making a commitment to attend—either in person or you can have a “virtual visit” online. Researching institutions will help you visualize yourself on the university campus and will give you a better idea about whether it’s the right choice for you.
For more information, be sure to check out EducationUSA, a great resource from the US Department of State specifically designed for students looking to study in the United States.
GAC Student Earns Top Honors
Congratulations to Jiahan Wang!
ACT recognizes the outstanding achievement of Jiahan Wang, 2019 GAC Student Merit Award Winner from the Shanxi GAC Center at Taiyuan University of Technology in China. Jiahan earned a perfect Global Assessment Certificate GPA of 4.0, an ACT® test score of 30, and a TOEFL score of 100. Her achievements have resulted in offers of admission from Ohio State University, University of Georgia, Bard College, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has accepted the offer from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she will pursue a degree in journalism. Congratulations, Jiahan!
Jiahan Wang
Pathway University News
ACT Exhibits at the NAFSA Conference
From May 28–31 in Washington, DC, USA, GAC representatives exhibited at the annual conference of NAFSA—The Association of International Educators. The team’s primary focus was to promote the GAC program and to encourage higher education institutions to become GAC Pathway Universities.
The GAC Pathway University Network is Growing
ACT is pleased to welcome the following schools into the GAC Pathway University network.
College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, USA, is a small (enrollment: 2,000), comprehensive liberal arts college that is nationally recognized for its commitment to mentored research and its international focus. The College of Wooster has an outstanding record as a springboard to graduate-level study.
Duta Wacana Christian University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is a medium-sized (enrollment: 4,500) coeducational private university. GAC graduates who wish to continue their study at UKDW Yogyakarta can enroll at the university without having to take the entrance test and may be granted scholarship (terms & conditions apply).
Mercu Buana University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is a medium-sized (enrollment: 7,000) coeducational private university. GAC graduates who wish to continue their study at Mercu Buana can enroll at the university without having to take the entrance test (terms and conditions apply).
Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, is one of the top universities in Australia, ranked among the top 100 in the world. GAC graduates can now be accepted for direct entry into Monash University undergraduate degrees.
Petra Christian University in East Java, Indonesia, is the oldest private Christian university in Indonesia. GAC graduates who wish to continue their study at PCU will be exempted from the obligation to pay the university registration fee (terms and conditions apply).
Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Florida, USA, is the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in Florida and one of the top universities in Central Florida.
PPPK Petra schools in Surabaya, Indonesia, have joined the GAC community. The largest Christian group of schools in Surabaya, PPPK Petra has an outstanding record of academic achievement and will adopt a comprehensive, multi-level approach to college preparation, beginning with ACT’s English Proficiency Program (EPP) at the junior high school level. The program will culminate with the Global Assessment Certificate at the high school level. This five-year contract will include thousands of students from multiple schools benefiting from the program. Welcome, PPPK Petra!
Escuela Sierra Nevada,
Mexico City, Mexico
High school affiliated with Harbin Normal University
BPK Penabur Bogar, Sentul City,
West Java, Indonesia
Kenneth Doucet, MBA—Program Director, GAC
Ken is responsible for oversight of the strategy, direction and execution of the day-to-day coordination, development, management, service, and operational aspects of the GAC program. Ken brings more than 20 years of experience in international education, professional certification, and workforce development to the position.
Changhua Rich, PhD—Principal Scientist, GAC Research and Curriculum
Changhua serves as lead on all GAC research- and curriculum-related initiatives and works collaboratively with the GAC Program Director, the Global Academic Director, and the Academic Coordinators from ACT and regional offices to bring innovation to the GAC program. She comes to GAC with almost 20 years of experience as a Research Scientist in the education assessment industry, as well as a strong international focus.