Dan Withanage of Lyceum Nugegoda gets placement in Indian Hills Community College, Iowa

Friday, 3 October 2014 04:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“My biggest dream was to study in US but mediocre results at both O-Ls and A-Ls (my focus was on sports) made me hesitant. Also it had to be a school fitting a tight budget. A family friend encouraged me to contact Scholarships for USA who had helped many Lyceumers and that’s when my dream came true. Instead of just one school they introduced me to two schools and with both making equally attractive offers; the problem was which to pick up!” “When SUSA accepts a student they devote their entire time on him to the very end ensuring a smooth and fast journey. Their commitment, professionalism, passion and care is amazing. It’s the best personal service I had experienced and very much value for money. I shall gladly recommend them to anyone seeking admissions to a US school.” So said Dan Withanage of Lyceum Nugegoda who recently became SUSA’s latest to Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. A past vice-captain of Badminton at Lyceum Nugegoda Dan plans to major in Business. SUSA has helped many Lyceumers in the past (including many Head Prefects) with admissions and scholarships to many US colleges and universities.

Scholarships for USA Ltd launched by two parents over a decade ago inspired by US liberal arts education and since then passionately committed to making US education increasingly affordable to Lankan youth. Their strategy has been to visit many hidden gems across the US each summer introducing and promoting Sri Lanka to schools (some of whom had no knowledge of its existence) and persuading them to accept its academic stars not only with highest scholarships but also with maximum credit transfers for A-Ls, part-time work and summer internships. Up to date, in collaboration with nearly 30 schools, they have placed over 300 students from across the island and from all communities at schools from Montana to Hawai’i and from North Dakota to New York. The company’s biggest pride is their collection of hundreds of success stories some of which are absolute proof of the ‘American Dream’. Indian Hills Community College is another school introduced by SUSA (as recently as January this year) which has already received two outstanding academics who are very pleased with their experiences so far at Ottumwa (Iowa). IHCC provides an excellent education at an unbelievable cost with transferability to many four year universities in Iowa with 100% credits. It also awards two 100% scholarships (full rides) to two students based on their application and essay. IHCC also provides guidance to its International students desirous of working for one year under optional practical training upon graduation (before transferring out to a four year school to complete the four year bachelors degree). Waiting to proceed to Ottumwa to join the winter classes Dan was introduced to Dinesh Mendis an alumnus of St.Thomas’ Mt Lavinia, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and the University of Texas. Dinesh is a Director Aitken Spence Group Ltd, Vice President American Alumni Association and a Director of American Chamber of Commerce SL. His advice to Dan was to go to US with an open mind and not be scared to ask questions; make friends with Americans and other internationals and gain as much hands on experience as possible as it would help immensely once you return. He concluded by urging Dan to return upon completing education as Sri Lanka offers far better opportunities for a US educated youth.