The Practical Side of College Life

What Types of Scholarships are Available for International Students?

The tuition and fees at Wayland are some of the most reasonable in the U.S., especially when you consider the excellent education and individual attention you will receive. International students compete for the same scholarships as domestic students. The best, renewable scholarship is the Pioneer Scholar Award. It is based on ACT/SAT scores and is renewed when the student’s GPA is maintained at a specific level. Below is a table of the monetary awards associated with this scholarship.

Pioneer Scholar Award

LEVEL	SAT SCORE	ACT SCORE	AMOUNT	GPA FOR RENEWAL
Trustees’	1410-1600	33-36	Full Tuition	3.7
President’s	1220-1400	29-32	Two-Thirds Tuition	3.5
Dean’s	1100-1210	25-28	One-Third Tuition	3.25

There are many other types of scholarships available. Each has its own criteria. However, they tend to be small in amount and vary in duration. They can only be a supplement to your personal financial support.

Can I Work While I am Going to School?
Immigration regulations restrict where and when an international student can work. International students may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during a regular semester and over 20 hours during school breaks when the offices are open. Off-campus work is not allowed during the first year and is highly restricted after that time.

If I am Having Trouble with A Course, What Type of Assistance is Available?

First, ask your professor or instructor for assistance. They welcome the opportunity to help you have a better understanding of the courses. However, if you need help with reading and writing assignments or would like continuous help throughout a semester, free tutoring is available for all students through the Dean of Students office.

What Type of Vaccinations Do I Need?

All students are required to submit medical history forms and shot records. A number of vaccinations are required. These are listed below:

 

Vaccination	Comment
Diphtheria and Tetanus (DPT)	Within the last 10 years
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)	Students born after January 1957 must show proof of one MMR & one Booster MMR
Tuberculin skin test

 

If I am Having Trouble with A Course, What type of Assistance is Available?
First, ask your professor or instructor for assistance. They welcome the opportunity to help you have a better understanding of the courses. However, if you need help with reading and writing assignments or would like continuous help throughout a semester, free tutoring is available for all students through the Dean of Students office.

 

What Do I Do If I Cannot Go Home During a School Break?

International students who are unable to return home during school breaks can remain on the campus or travel to visit friends or relatives who are in the U.S. The housing director makes every effort to assign internationals to dorms that remain open during school breaks so they do not have to find another place to stay.

During some breaks, the cafeteria is either closed or has very limited hours. When the cafeteria is closed, international students must be prepared to go off-campus for meals or utilize the kitchens in the dorms that have these facilities. Therefore, it is very important for you to have extra money available to pay for your meals during these times. Following is a table outlining the school breaks, their approximate dates, and comments about the breaks.

School Break	When	Comment
Fall Break	Late October	Cafeteria closed.  All residence halls open.
Thanksgiving	Last Wednesday, Thursday & Friday in November	Cafeteria and some residence halls are closed.
Christmas	Last two weeks of the year	Cafeteria and some residence halls are closed.
Spring Break	Middle of March	Cafeteria and some residence halls are closed.
Summer	Early May through Mid August	There are four short summer sessions.  Some residence halls remain open all summer.  The cafeteria hours are varied based on the summer term in session.

 

What is the Geography and Climate of the Area?

Plainview is located in what is known as the South Plains of Texas. This is in the portion of the state that, on the map, looks like the handle of a cooking pan. Thus, it is also called the “Panhandle” region of Texas. The terrain is very flat, with few trees. However, it is excellent farming land and, during the summer, there are lush green fields of plants such as cotton, wheat, and corn.

The South Plains region of Texas has four distinct seasons. There is an average of 320 days of sunshine. The average annual rainfall is 18” (46 centimeters), so the region is semi-arid in climate. Temperatures vary widely from the hot summer months (highs to 38º Celsius) to the cold winter months (0º Celsius and below). This area is also known for its wind, which can be very gentle, or blow quite hard.

What are Texas People Like?

The word “tejas,” from which the state name of Texas is derived, means “friend.” People in the Panhandle of Texas are very friendly. They are quick to introduce themselves to people they don’t know and are also quick to tell others what they think. To cultures that are more reserved, this can be unsettling.

People on the South Plains tend to be politically conservative and can have strong religious beliefs. Because Plainview is a rural community, people have a very strong work ethic and are known for their honesty and trustworthiness. They love sports, music, and other pursuits where they can gather with family and friends. They are extremely generous. You will feel welcomed from the moment you arrive.

Will I Like the Food?
Food in the U.S. is plentiful and comes in a wide variety of types due to the many different cultures that have immigrated here. The town of Plainview has a wide variety of different restaurants, from Mexican to Japanese to regular American fare. The food in the central school cafeteria has to satisfy a lot of different tastes and the cafeteria manager makes every effort to serve meals that meet general nutrition requirements. However, you will miss your native foods. A lot of international students purchase a small refrigerator to place in their dorm rooms so they can store those perishable foods that may not be served in the cafeteria. The women’s dorms have kitchens where students can occasionally cook their own meals.

Travel to Plainview:
The U. S. is a very large country. The State of Texas is extremely large, too. The largest major airport near Plainview is in Lubbock, Texas. When you are making travel plans to come to Plainview, the airline may want to book you only to Dallas or Houston. However, both of these cities are 6 and 12 hours driving distance, respectively, from Plainview. In order for someone from Wayland to meet you at an airport to bring you to the campus, you must book your flight all the way to Lubbock. American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all fly into Lubbock. We will work with you to make sure that your travel to Plainview is as direct as possible, but it is your responsibility to make sure you book a flight all the way to Lubbock, Texas.