With thousands of colleges and universities at home, few American students ever consider studying abroad. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Alan Sheptin to explain why he says the world is your oyster when you’re willing to explore international admissions.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
- What are the benefits and disadvantages of studying outside the U.S.?
- What is the cost of a non-US education?
- Can you decide what you want to study, or do you have to declare a major before entering school?
- What kind of student thrives when studying abroad?
- How does the application process differ from the United States?
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MEET OUR GUEST
Alan Sheptin is the owner of Sheptin Tutoring Group (STG). He has been a professional member of IECA since 2017 and became a Certified Educational Planner in 2020. He earned a BA in Computer Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA in Finance from Fordham University, and a Certificate in College Consulting from UCLA. Prior to establishing his company in 2007, Alan was an Assistant Vice President and Actuary with AXA, specializing in actuarial product development and management. He attained Associateship in the Society of Actuaries and has completed several exams toward Fellowship.
In addition to his college consulting expertise, Alan is a respected Mathematics tutor, successfully working with students at all levels of Math. He is most sought out for his expertise in Algebra II, Precalculus, and Calculus. He teaches both Precalculus and Calculus at Iona College. He has also undertaken long-term consulting assignments teaching BC Calculus and Precalculus at John Jay and Fox Lane High Schools in Westchester County.
Alan first became interested in college admissions when he was the NYC Secondary School Chairman of Alumni Interviewing for the University of Pennsylvania, training alumni interviewers and serving as a liaison between Penn’s admissions office, interviewers, and prospective freshmen. He has leveraged this expertise, plus his extensive knowledge of US and international colleges and universities, to counsel students on the optimal admissions strategy. To date, he has visited over 130 colleges and universities in seven countries.
Alan’s “alumni” are present at all of the top 50 US universities and colleges, as well as at universities in the UK and Canada.
Additionally, Alan has been preparing students for the SAT and ACT examinations for 30 years. He is widely respected for his in-depth expertise in maximizing test scores, as well as his ability to make intrinsically difficult concepts in all areas of Mathematics (from pre-Algebra through Calculus) easier to grasp. Many of Alan’s students have continued to work with him in college classes and as they prep for the GRE and GMAT exams. He and his outstanding team of 35 teachers and tutors can offer support in any academic area in middle or high school. He constantly revamps materials and lessons to ensure students receive the most up-to-date exam information.
Sheptin Tutoring Group maintains offices in Chappaqua, New York, and New York City. Its clients come from as close as the tri-state area to as far away as China, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.
Alan previously appeared on the podcast in episode 289 for an IEC Profile.
Alan can be reached at 914-232-3743 or alan@sheptin.com.
LINKS
Why Not Consider a Degree Outside of the US?
Degrees from the Start-Up Nation: A Guide to Israeli Universities – IECA
RELATED EPISODES
ATTENDING UNIVERSITY IN EUROPE
BEST COLLEGES FOR YOUR TUITION DOLLARS
STOP MAKING $EN$E: THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROBLEM
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Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. Get in touch with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, consulting, or anything podcast related through our contact page. We’d love to hear from you!