Education, Continued

On 11/25, my study-tour group visited the College Preparatory Program at Saudi Aramco. The purpose of the program is to prepare select Saudi Arabian high school graduates for admission to universities and to help them succeed in their post-secondary schools. This is a very generous program because Saudi Aramco pays the students' tuition, and as long as the student graduates from university the student has a guaranteed position with Saudi Aramco!

The College Prep. Program lasts 9 to 10 months, and the students are expected to speak English at all times while in the program. The students are enrolled in the following classes: computer, science lab, library skills, time management, critical thinking and problem solving, and community service. There are approximately 300 students in the program; 75% are male, 25% are female. 23% of the students plan to enter a business program, while the remaining 77% are engineering program prospects.