It all began at ANC after O/Levels…
Elizabeth Fernandesz receives an International Excellence Scholarship from Northern Arizona University (NAU) for fall 2018!
2000+ local students have transferred to top U.S. universities through ANC’s 2+2 U.S. University Transfer program, and this trend of starting the first two years at ANC is growing for obvious reasons: affordability, the convenience of studying for world- class qualifications at home, transferability of the General Education courses, and ANC’s reputation as the number 1 U.S. education provider in Sri Lanka. Since its inception in 2002, ANC has worked with many U.S. universities of high repute and ensured that deserving students are accepted to top schools and rewarded for their accomplishments.
Elizabeth Fernandesz joined ANC in fall 2016 after her O levels completed in Stafford International School. It didn’t take long for this aspiring teenager to adapt to college life, for ANC helps every student make a smooth transition from O levels to college life. After all, Elizabeth was determined to succeed: “I knew if I work hard and get better grades and test scores, while enjoying new opportunities in and out of the classroom, there’s very likely a place in the best schools for me,” says Elizabeth who has received a meritbased scholarship of $10,000 to Northern Arizona University. She’s grateful to ANC for directing her in the correct path and looking forward to major in education at NAU, which is ranked highest among the “Best Education Schools in the U.S.”.
Elizabeth discusses her unrivalled student experience at
ANC with the perfect balance of studies and student life:
Q: Why did you opt for ANC’s U.S. transfer program right after O levels?
A: I knew I wanted to become a teacher from the age of ten after a wonderful experience I had at the Sacred Heart Church, where I got the opportunity to teach English to underprivileged children. My family helped me set my expectations higher and ANC had a clear path already designed for me to reach my career goals: I wanted to major in education, but the majority of advanced level courses were unrelated to a major in education. The good news was that U.S. colleges accept O levels for admission, and ANC had an impressive record of successful student placements and continued to gain stature as the only place where you could have access to the same standard of education as practiced in America. I was enrolled on U.S. transfer program in fall 2016 without a second thought.
Q: How do you describe your learning experience at ANC?
A: U.S. colleges require you to take a wide variety of General Education classes. It was at ANC I completed my General Education program designed for all undergraduate students regardless of major. We had classes in several subjects, such as, Maths, English Composition, History, IT, Natural Sciences, Sociology, World Literature, etc., so by the time students are prepared to transfer they have already been exposed to the U.S. education system, learned about U.S. culture, and improved several skills including writing and critical thinking skills, presentation skills, computing and quantitative skills necessary to succeed in college. All these courses are delivered by dynamic faculty in an interactive setting. It’s thanks to this motivating learning environment that I could maintain a GPA of 3.6 throughout my academic career at ANC. I’m also a peer tutor for ESL students who need remedial help with English Composition and Speech.
Q: In addition to academics, what are the other opportunities for advancement and growth?
A: ANC student life offers a blend of learning and fun. There are several student clubs offering a full calendar of activities throughout the year. Extracurricular activities include the student council; academic clubs such as Business Club, Hospitality Club, and Psychology Club; community service through Charity club and Rotaract club; the performing arts; and sports. I served as the president of the Charity Club as well as the assistant secretary and community service director of the Rotaract Club. This enabled me to get involved in the community, organizing various projects including “Diriyata Athwelak” thorough which we donated school supplies and cash to a few schools to ensure a meaningful learning experience for children most in need. We have also visited orphanages and elders’ homes and learned that we have the potential to make a difference in the lives of others. When it was time for me to apply for scholarships, my early interest in community service projects helped me to stand out from the crowd as universities look for well-rounded students who extend their learning beyond the classroom.
Q: Why did you want to transfer to Northern Arizona University?
A: ANC’s U.S. university Placement division is committed to working with students on a one-onone basis to help us with everything from researching universities, preparing applications, to organizing meetings with university representatives and visa officers. I was very convinced that the education degree program offered at NAU falls in line with my career goals. After all, NAU’s education degree programs are highly respected in terms of academic excellence, course offerings, faculty strengths, and reputation: it’s among the top 100 “Best Colleges for Education” in America. A number of past students too have transferred to NAU as ANC has a very close partnership with the university. I’m getting almost all the credits earned at ANC transferred, and they offered me a generous scholarship in recognition of my academic performance and community service and involvement. I really couldn’t ask for more!