Press Release: Successful UStudy Education Fairs 2014 held in Rotterdam and Antwerp
(2 June, 2014) It was a weekend full of information and excitement as more than 400 visitors interacted with representatives of international schools at UStudy’s Education Fairs in Rotterdam and Antwerp. Organized by Netherlands-based educational consultancy UStudy in partnership with the American International School of Rotterdam and the Antwerp International School, the fairs were held on May 31 and June 1. The fairs were co-sponsored by Platinum Exhibitors The Hun School of Princeton and the USA Community College Consortium, and Silver Exhibitor Webster University.
“In the past couple of years we received a lot of queries about studying in the US from across Europe, especially Belgium, which is why we decided to take our annual Go USA Education Fair to multiple venues,” said UStudy Director Marina Meijer.
Over 30 great international schools were represented at both fairs. These included the Ivy Leagues such as Harvard, Yale and Cornell, community colleges such as Skagit Valley College and a range of state universities and liberal arts colleges as well as a college prep school. The Antwerp fair had a variety of European schools exhibiting as well, including Cambridge and Oxford Universities and the University College of Football Business. “We met a very diverse crowd at both fairs and there was a lot of genuine interest. In fact, at AIS we got a lot of in-depth questions,” said Andrew, the representative of Colorado State University. A number of special information sessions were held on topics ranging from varsity sports in the US to life for an international student at Cornell University.
“We had a lot of questions and all the exhibitors were really friendly and welcoming,” said Isabella Timmer, a 10th grade student of the European School of Bergen. Talking about the Rotterdam fair, her classmate Miryam Vermaat said, “A lot of the representatives spoke in Dutch, which was very helpful for the visitors.”
Visiting parents felt the fair gave them a better perspective on the road ahead. “I am very happy that this fair was organized because this is a very intense period for parents and this helps us understand that if your child wants to study abroad you have to start the process early,” said Erwin Sundahl whose daughter studies at the AISR.
“There is only so much you can understand about a college through the internet. Actually coming here and being able to ask so many questions made things much clearer for me,” said Alison Lim of the Karel De Grote Hogeschool in Antwerp.
UStudy is expecting quite a large number of the fair visitors to turn to them for guidance through the search and application process for their dream schools. “The fairs are only the start of the orientation process and things will only get more exciting for families once they move forward. We are available and ready to help make their dreams come true,” says Meijer.
