Students
RNG International Educational Consultants LLC
has worked with students in all of the countries
shown in dark blue and more!
Domestic Students
What does RNG mean by domestic students? By this, we mean American students who have attended their local public high school, independent school, or boarding school in the United States. While there are many kids with an international background served by this practice, NOT ALL of our students have this.
Rebecca Grappo, the founder, had one daughter go to boarding school, and two children graduate from the local public school. Though her own kids grew up overseas, they also kept their house in northern Virginia and went “home” between assignments. Therefore, when her own kids were in high school, their house had a swinging door with kids going in and out – neighborhood kids, kids from school, and kids whom her family had known since they were in preschool. Life was filled with car washes, sporting events, school concerts, PTA meetings, prom excitement, getting driver’s licenses, piles of homework, and sweating through the college application process. So she also understands the typical American high school student’s life.
If there was one observation she made, it was that her children’s friends seemed to follow the crowd when it came to college options, and therefore limited themselves. Few ventured far from the norm, and certainly not far from home. Many categorically eliminated thoughts of private colleges without realizing how merit money, scholarships and financial aid works. No one ever talked to them about fit and match, gave them a personality or learning style assessment, helped them think about possible majors, or about what makes a learning environment just right for them. The high school counseling department was well-intentioned, but limited in time and resources. Teens and parents needed a lot more college advising than they could get.
Wherever you are, RNG can help any student navigate the huge array of college options and the application process so that the student will find the right fit and match for his/her individual needs. College is the time to step out and find one’s self, and not the time to follow the crowd!
International Students
WOOOOOOOOOW!! =D
Miaaaami, oh my god, the plane didn’t even land and i was looking down the window with a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge smile stretched with happiness and excitement! I’m never going to forget that moment.
America is sooooo beatiful becky. XXXXX is soo new and calm. and the best thing of all, are the people, i have never in my life met people that could be SO kind. I think I’m going to LOVE it here! =)
-freshman Omani student’s Blackberry email to Rebecca upon arriving in the U.S. to attend university
Studying in the United States is the opportunity of a lifetime. It is not just the academic education, which is arguably among the best in the world. But the United States strives to be an inclusive society that welcomes students from around the world. In fact, American boarding schools and universities are actively looking for and recruiting qualified international students to come to their campuses. Why?
American boarding schools and universities value diversity – that means not only socio-economic or racial diversity. It also means diversity of thought, perspectives, and ways of looking at the world. International students add value to any campus through classroom interaction. But lifetime friendships are also made through residential life, clubs, sports, activities, and casual encounters in the campus community. International students help bring the world to Americana students who have not had the chance to travel abroad yet.
What do American boarding schools and universities have to offer international students? For one thing, a world class education in every realm of study imaginable. At the university level, it also allows freedom and flexibility to design your own major, earn a dual degree, or double major. Imagine majoring in art and chemistry – that is possible in an American university. In addition to learning academic subjects, American boarding school and university students are taught to think critically, analyze, write well, and speak to various audiences.
Relationships are also a cornerstone of American education. The student’s experience on the campus is as important as what happens in the classroom. Interaction between students and professors leads to more investment and excitement in learning. Professors should take an interest in a student so that more doors are open to the student, whether it be in customized study, research opportunities, or recommendations for internships. American teachers, professors, and staff at all levels are known for caring deeply about their students.
Students in American boarding schools and universities are also expected to do more than just go to class and take tests. They are expected to invest in their own learning. They are expected to invest themselves in the student community. Students who study in the United States usually go back to their homelands changed forever in positive ways. They become leaders in their professional fields, their communities, and their countries.
American boarding schools and universities are diverse themselves. They can be very large or very small, liberal or conservative, single sex or co-ed, and the list goes on. Some universities are public, while others are privately funded. Many offer international scholarships, but not all. There is a boarding school and university for every kind of learner, with different standards of admission. But with several hundred boarding schools, and over 4,000 universities to choose from, how does a student know where to begin the search? This is why so many students just apply to the few names they recognize even when it’s not the right school for them.
One important note – there are agents working to recruit international students overseas. These agents are paid to find students for schools and universities, and are paid per student recruited. Students who don’t know this may not realize they are being recruited without much regard for fit and match according to their personality and abilities. When working with a reputable consultant, such as one who belongs to IECA, the priority will always be on the student and what’s right for them.
RNG International Educational Consultants combines both cultural sensitivity and professional expertise so that the international student will have a unique and rewarding American boarding school or university experience.
Third Culture Kids
"A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, a sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background." David Pollack and Ruth Van Reken, authors of The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing Up Between Worlds.
These are the questions we ask kids when talking to them about their backgrounds as a TCK.
- Are you someone who has moved a lot?
- Are you living in a country outside of what your passport says you are?
- Do you think or know that someday you’ll be going back to your home country?
- Where is home? Do you have an answer for this, or does it depend on who does the asking?
Many TCKs have positive attributes such as:
- Resilience - ability to bounce back quickly
- Flexibility - can get used to new situations
- Appreciation for cultural differences and diversity
- Ability to make friends easily
- A 3-Dimensional view of the world
- Curiosity about the world
- Passion for global causes
- Thirst for adventure and travel
But the down side is that the life of a TCK, or Global Nomad, is not always easy. Some of the negative features include:
- Frequent moves - even if the TCK doesn't move, others around him/her do, and they are often left behind
- Rootlessness and wondering where the TCK belongs
- Restlessness and the urge to pick up and move on
- Lots of goodbyes and loss in life
- Wondering where home is
- Fitting in when returning to the country of passport
Rebecca Grappo, founder of RNG International, understands these issues on a very personal level. Her own three children are young adult TCKs. The students she taught are TCKs. Most of the students she guides in her practice are TCKs. Growing up in an internationally mobile family profoundly affects many facets of a young person's life. Awareness of the issues is paramount in order to be able to navigate the sometimes choppy waters.
Awareness is also key in school placements, whether it be a boarding, therapeutic, or college. When working with a TCK, RNG also weaves these themes into the discussions. Maybe the world won't to be more receptive to TCK needs, but TCKs can learn better how to cope and adapt to the world.
Rebecca Grappo also gives presentations for parents, students, schools, civic, and professional groups about Third Culture Kids and has written several articles about transitions and resiliency for TCK families, and about college and university for TCK students.
See videos about Third Culture Kids.
