By Steven Rodas
The newly established National Student Exchange (N.S.E) program at NJCU allows students to study, for a semester, at another college in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and Canada. Although spending a semester in another country may seem enticing, some students find studying abroad overwhelming.
National exchanges are helpful for students worrying about the language, culture and currency issues of international relations.
Matt Lahm, NSE coordinator and admissions counselor for the office of undergraduate admissions, understands university students’ capability to positively spread the word about NSE.
“I hope NSE students will come to Jersey City and help raise awareness about how valuable the real estate of this school really is,” said Lahm.
As a non-profit organization, NSE endorsed approximately 200 universities nationwide. Launched in 1968, NSE has offered affordable national exchanges for over a hundred- thousand students.
With those credentials, as a part of the NSE program, NJCU’s accessibility to New York’s job market remains priceless.
“We’re from here so it is easy to overlook its value. To other students, in Iowa and Montana [for example], New York represents something entirely different and they’ re enthusiastic about exploring what’s here because they know what the job potential is.”
Students like Derek Roberge, from Plymouth State University, believe the vast ethnicities and cultures spread throughout the United States can make national exchanges as prominent as international ones.
“NSE opens your mind to other cultures and helps you become more tolerant, patient, and accepting,” said Roberge who in the past completed an exchange program at the University of the Virgin Islands in Saint Croix.
Payment for NSE students comes in two options. Plan A allows students to pay the host- school instate tuition, but Tuition Aid Grants (TAG) may not be applicable. Through Plan B, students pay the home-school tuition and use any grants normally received. Housing payments are made directly through the host school. On- campus residencies are the recommended option for living arrangements. Payments will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
The application deadline for NSE is Friday, Feb. 14, 2014. The website requires a $150 application fee in order to distinguish serious candidates. The qualifications include having a G.P.A of 2.5 or higher and no disciplinary problems. The application requires students to list the top 5 institutions they wish to attend. Lahm estimated about 97 percent of students are assigned to their first choice. Once students are accepted for the program, they are assigned to an advisor to create a degree based schedule, arrange housing and payment options.
“If it’s just a matter of students taking an extra student loan to pay for housing for a semester do it. Get the experience,” added Lahm. “When you’re a college student you’re investing in yourself. That’s why you’re here. You have to consider yourself to be a worthwhile investment and participating in programs like [NSE] to enhance your degree really will increase your marketability when you leave here.”
Now that NJCU is part of NSE, college students around the United States have the opportunity to use the university’s academic facilities.
“We are six miles from Manhattan and students around the country are really interested in that opportunity. For example, we have a student coming here from Iowa State University who graduated high school valedictorian of her class. She will be here for the spring semester,” said Lahm.
Danielle Hernandez, 21, currently a junior in Graphic Design with a minor in Digital Media at Iowa State University has studied abroad in both Japan and Australia. Hernandez’s latest endeavor has been to choose NJCU for her NSE experience.
“New Jersey City University offers me the small town feel I’m used to from my hometown with a population of only five thou- sand. However, it also offers close proximity to New York City and a plethora of resources,” said Hernandez after revealing that she plans to pay her home school tuition, which allows her to use merit scholarships and federal Pell grants.
“On top of allowing me to explore courses not offered at Iowa State, NJCU also offers courses in Graphic Design and Digital Media so I can stay on track to graduate when I head back home. In short, I believe this school is perfect for me and I’m looking forward to arriving on campus in January and not only growing as an individual but making all sorts of new friends and memories.”
NSE will pay homage to the range of opportunities NJCU has as an institution.
“It’s going to do wonders for our institution because we’ re going to have students who are going to be visiting this school every year from outside the area who are going to bring back their experiences of NJCU to their school and that’s going to increase our visibility as an institution,” said Lahm. “We have so much to offer at our school and our location is so preferable in terms of our proximity to New York that it’s going to raise national awareness about this institution and that’s just a fringe benefit of being in the program.”
Students are encouraged to visit nse.org, [email protected], and njcu.edu/nse to learn more about the program. NSE coordinator Matt Lahm is happy to answer any question at [email protected].