FINDING THE RIGHT

UNIVERSITY FOR YOU

© Getty Images - sshepard
Table of Contents

04 HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CAN BEGIN A U.S. COLLEGE SEARCH

06 COLLEGE VS. UNIVERSITY IN THE U.S.: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

09 HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CAN GAUGE U.S. COLLEGE FIT

12 USE A SPREADSHEET TO COMPARE U.S. COLLEGES

14 RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES’ INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER SERVICES

17 30 QUESTIONS TO ASK AT AN EDUCATION FAIR

21 HOW TO MAKE A FINAL U.S. COLLEGE DECISION

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

2
 Advertisement

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

3
Advertisement
 How International Students Can
Begin a U.S. College Search
Prospective international students don’t have to navigate the college search process alone.

KELLY MAE ROSS | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT students can take to begin an effective U.S. college
search from anywhere in the world.

1. Learn about the U.S. higher education

system in general: This will give students a
sense of the variety of U.S. school options,
from community colleges to liberal arts
institutions to large research universities,
says John Wood senior associate vice provost
for international education at University at
Buffalo—SUNY.

The U.S. has “an institution for everyone or every

© Getty Images - Nicola Katie

interest, and really, every ability level as well,”

Chinese national Kexin Zhen says she
first learned about U.S. liberal arts
colleges during a meeting with her high
school counselor.
From then on, Zhen focused her college search
on this type of school, which offers a more general
education for undergraduates in the humanities,
sciences and social sciences, as opposed to having
a professional or technical emphasis.
“I didn’t really know my major and my career
direction, so I preferred to go to a liberal arts
college,” she says.
Now she’s a rising junior at Wheaton College, a
liberal arts school in Massachusetts.
Narrowing the scope of a college search is
important because in 2015-2016, there were more
than 4,500 colleges and universities in the U.S.,
according to the National Center for Education
Statistics. That’s a lot of schools to choose from.
Here are some steps prospective international
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
Wood says. “That’s one of the reasons the U.S. is so
attractive, because there is something
for everyone.”
Students can ask high school counselors for
information about the types of study opportunities
in the U.S., like Zhen did. There are also helpful
online resources, such as the College Board
website, experts say.
2. Connect with people who can help: In
addition to counselors, there are other
people who can offer information and
support to international students as they
research U.S. colleges.
For example, EducationUSA advisers are available
in more than 170 countries. Education USA is a
network of advising centers supported by the U.S.
Department of State that offer free assistance to
international students interested in studying in
the U.S.
Students can visit the centers in person, or they
can connect with advisers via phone, email or
Skype, says Umair Khan, country coordinator for
EducationUSA Pakistan.
Current international students are another good
resource. Prospective students who don’t have
(Continued on page 5)
4
 How International Students Can
Begin a U.S. College Search

friends or family on a U.S. campus can reach out
to a college’s admissions office and ask to be
connected with an international student there,
says Khan.
Prospective students can also attend an education
fair to meet with representatives from U.S. colleges
and universities. These events, also known as
college fairs, offer a way to learn more about U.S.
higher education in general, as well as get an
introduction to some specific schools.
“I think it’s a very good place to build a foundation
of understanding for how the higher education
system works in the United States,” says Joshua
Stevens, director of admissions at Earlham College
in Indiana.
3. Determine what you’re looking for in a
school: There are many factors prospective
international students can consider when
searching for a school in the U.S., such as
their budget and intended major.
information about the schools’ location,
cost, financial aid availability, standardized
test score requirements and the academic
programs that interest them, Khan says.
Many websites offer information about U.S.
colleges and universities, including rankings
websites and college search engines.
After completing their research, Khan says the
students in Pakistan work with an EducationUSA
adviser or their counselor to narrow down the
list to the five to 10 schools they’ll apply to based
on the criteria the students believe are most
important.
“I always tell the students, ‘You’ve got to ask the
question to yourself: What kind of school fits for
you?’” Khan says.
Originally published by U.S. News & World Report

Admissions experts say one commonly overlooked

but important factor is a school’s location. “That’s a
big one,” says Stevens, “because the United States
is such a massive country.”
Clara Colas, a rising junior at Wheaton who hails
from Paris, says she limited her U.S. school search
to areas on the East Coast where she has family. “I
didn’t want to be completely alone,” she says.
Experts say students will also want to consider
whether they want to study in a big city versus a
smaller town as well as what type of climate most
suits them.

4. Research specific schools: Khan says

when Pakistani students meet with an
EducationUSA adviser for the first time, they
are often encouraged to research colleges
and universities and create a spreadsheet
of 20 to 25 they like. Students gather
© Getty Images - andresr

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

5
 College vs. University in the U.S.:
What’s the Difference?
Don’t let confusion about these terms affect your school search as an international student.

KELLY MAE ROSS | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT themselves colleges and those that identify as
universities.

College

Oftentimes schools with “college” in their name are

smaller institutions that emphasize undergraduate
education, Johanna Fishbein, head of university
advising at the United World College of South East
Asia’s Dover Campus, an international school, said
by email. This is not a strict rule, since there are a
number of exceptions. Some colleges, known as
liberal arts colleges, give students an education
© Getty Images - Thinkstock

in a broad range of academic areas as opposed

The word “college” doesn’t have the
same meaning in every country, which
can create confusion for prospective
international students interested in
studying in the U.S.
“In Spanish, ‘colegio’ means high school,” says
George DaPonte, director of international
admissions at the University of Tampa in Florida,
citing one example.
For this and other reasons, some prospective
students may pass over U.S. schools that have
“college” instead of “university” in their name,
admissions experts say. By doing so, students
could miss out on a school that may have been a
good fit.
While some four-year postsecondary institutions
in the U.S. have “college” in their name and others
have “university,” both types grant undergraduate
degrees. Here are some things to keep in mind
when researching U.S. institutions that call
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
to having them specialize early in one particular
subject.
Since liberal arts colleges are uncommon outside
the U.S., prospective international students aren’t
always familiar with them, says Carly Mankus,
senior assistant dean of international admission at
Franklin and Marshall College, a liberal arts school
in Pennsylvania.
Prospective students may also sometimes
mistakenly believe liberal arts institutions only
focus on the humanities, admissions experts say.
But many of these schools offer degrees in science
fields too.
Another common misconception is that schools
with “college” in their name don’t offer much in
the way of research opportunities, said Fishbein,
who serves as president of the International
Association for College Admission Counseling. But,
for example, 65 percent of Franklin and Marshall
students participate in research before they
graduate, Mankus says.
Another type of school in the U.S. with “college” in
its name is a community college. These are two-
year schools that grant associate degrees and
career-related certificates. Community colleges
vary in enrollment size – some are large, despite
(Continued on page 8)
6
 Advertisement

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

7
Advertisement
 College vs. University in the U.S.:
What’s the Difference?

having “college” in their name. Some students

begin their education at a community college and
then transfer to a four-year college or university to
complete a bachelor’s degree.

University

Many schools with “university” in their name are

larger institutions that offer a variety of both
undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Public universities are some of the most sizable
schools, sometimes enrolling tens of thousands of
students. These schools are also highly committed
to producing research.
But it is a misconception that all schools with
“university” in their name are big, says Chelsea
Keeney, assistant director of international student
recruitment at the University of Minnesota—
© Getty Images - dwhob

Twin Cities.
Some are relatively small, such as Marymount
California University, which had a total enrollment
of 985 students in fall 2016, per U.S. News data.
Also, not all universities are public. Private
universities include, among many institutions,
some of the Ivy League schools, like Princeton
University.
Sometimes adding to the confusion for
international students, Keeney says, is the fact that
large universities are often made up of smaller
divisions called colleges. Each of these colleges
has a specific academic focus, such as business,
engineering or social work.
And liberal arts-type study is not exclusive to small
colleges. Some, but not all, universities have a core
curriculum for undergraduates, meaning students
take a variety of general education courses before
focusing on their major.
By nature of their size, large universities tend
to offer a wider array of research opportunities
than small colleges. “But undergraduate students
may need to compete with graduate students for
resources and opportunities,” Fishbein said.
Which Type of School Is Right for You?
Mankus from Franklin and Marshall says
prospective international students may want to
keep their options open by applying to different
types of institutions in the U.S. She says students
often learn new things about themselves and their
options later in the application process.
“If some place really interests you or some place
just sounds so tantalizing, even if it’s not that same
type that you think you might want when you start
out, keep it in the mix,” Mankus says. “What harm
could it do?”
Originally published by U.S. News & World Report

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

8
 How International Students Can
Gauge U.S. College Fit
Academics are just one factor to consider to find a good school match.
KELLY MAE ROSS | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
© Getty Images - kokouu
Studying overseas in a new place can
be intimidating. But there are things an
international student can look for in a
U.S. college or university to make the
transition more comfortable and the
experience more beneficial.
It’s all about finding a good fit, admissions
experts say.
“Fit encompasses a lot of things,” says Lindsay
Addington, associate director of international
initiatives at the National Association for College
Admission Counseling. She says a school that’s a
good fit will meet a student’s expectations with
regard to academics, extracurricular activities,
post-graduation plans and more.
U.S. News asked admissions experts and others to
explain, more specifically, the criteria prospective
international students should consider to
determine whether a U.S. school is a good match.
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
• Does this school have what I’m looking
for academically? The first thing students
need to look into when researching colleges
and universities is whether a school offers the
major they’re interested in.
“That’s the No. 1 key because you’re about
to spend a lot of money and a lot of years
working toward a degree,” says Djuana Young,
associate vice president for enrollment at Texas
Wesleyan University.
Students should also think early on about whether
they are interested in a liberal arts program or a
more narrowly focused degree program, says Gail
Berson, vice president for enrollment and dean
of admission and financial aid at Mount Holyoke
College in Massachusetts. Liberal arts programs
provide undergraduates with a more general
education in the humanities, sciences and social
sciences, as opposed to having a professional or
technical emphasis.
Addington says students should try to identify
the type of learning environment in which they
perform best – for example, does a student feel
more comfortable in smaller classes? This can help
them determine whether they would be more likely
to succeed at a small, mid-size or large school.
Additionally, students should make sure they meet,
or come close to meeting, the academic criteria for
international student applicants at the institutions
they are considering, says Stephen Lazowski, vice
president for enrollment management at Marietta
College in Ohio. To do this, prospective students
can check school websites to see if their own high
school grades and standardized test scores – such
as IELTS or TOEFL scores – are within the range of
what the school is looking for.
(Continued on page 10)
9
 How International Students Can
Gauge U.S. College Fit

• Will my needs be met outside of the
classroom? Experts advise students to think
about the type of location they’ll be most
comfortable in – such as a big city versus a
small town since the U.S. is a large and
geographically diverse country. The culture of
a campus and the surrounding community is
a further consideration.
Another factor is whether a student has friends or
family in the area. Such connections can provide
additional support during a student’s time in the
States.
Other types of support services to look for include
tutoring and a strong international student office.
An additional way to gauge how supportive a
school is of its international students is to talk
with current students about their experiences on
campus, experts say. Addington, of NACAC, says it
might be particularly helpful if students can speak
with someone from their home country.
Admissions offices can often help connect
prospective and current international students.
Schools often provide data on how many of
their students are employed after graduation.
Addington says prospective students can ask
institutions to show them employment data
specifically for their international student
graduates.
As prospective students research U.S. schools,
it’s likely that they’ll have questions. The schools
themselves are often willing and able to provide
the answers.
“Engage with the college,” says Lazowski. “You have
the opportunity to reach out at a small school or at
a big school and talk to an admissions counselor
or director of international recruitment.”
Originally published by U.S. News & World Report

• Can I afford this school? Cost is another

major component of fit. Studying in the U.S. is
expensive, and students need to be realistic
about what they can afford, experts say.

International students sometimes have to pay

additional fees at U.S. schools. Lazowski, of
Marietta College, says prospective students should
research these fees, which can sometimes total
thousands of dollars, in advance. “Make sure it
doesn’t become too over-burdensome,” he says.
Some schools offer financial aid to international
students, but many do not.

• Will this school help me achieve my career

goals? Students might also want to consider
how well a school will prepare them for life
after graduation – either graduate school or
work.
© Getty Images - PeopleImages

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

10
 Advertisement

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

11
Advertisement
 Use a Spreadsheet
to Compare U.S. Colleges
Prospective international students can download a template from U.S. News to begin their comparisons.

KELLY MAE ROSS | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT Ultimately, having data about many schools
in one place can help you determine which
institutions are a good fit, says Umair Khan,
country coordinator for EducationUSA Pakistan.
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State-
supported network of advising centers that offers
free assistance to international students who want
to study in the U.S.

Researching and Compiling the List

Before you begin collecting data, do a bit of self-

reflection, says Jennifer Ann Aquino, an author
and independent educational consultant. She
© Getty Images - fstop123

recommends first thinking about the factors

that are most important to you in a school, such
as academic offerings, cost and the size of the
international student population, to name a few.
Having a sense of what you’re looking for will help
you narrow down options.
With thousands of U.S. colleges
and universities to choose from, Experts say researching schools online is a good
way for international students to begin learning
organization is critical for prospective
about U.S. institutions.
international students during their
As you research colleges, visit multiple websites,
college search process.
Hyde advises, because each online resource offers
Experts say using a spreadsheet to catalog different types of valuable information. “Research
information about various schools is a great way to is not one-stop shopping,” he says. Some online
achieve this goal. college information resources experts recommend
include the College Board, CollegeView, Peterson’s
“You’re going to be bombarded with so much
and colleges’ own websites.
information that if you don’t organize it, if you try
to just keep it in your head or if you try to maintain When you come across a school that interests
it sort of piecemeal in these different places, you – perhaps because it’s a good academic fit or it
you’re going to lose track of everything,” says offers scholarships to international students – add
Erick Hyde, college counselor for the University of its name to your spreadsheet. Then fill in details
Pennsylvania’s English Language Programs. about the school, its application process and the
academic profile of its students, experts say.
By creating a college spreadsheet, you can quickly
and easily compare schools you are interested
in. This tool can also help you keep track of
application requirements and deadlines, which
vary by school.
(Continued on page 13)
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
12
 Use a Spreadsheet
to Compare U.S. Colleges

However, during the search process, Aquino

cautions students not to disregard too many
schools too soon. Exploring a range of institutions
– particularly in terms of school type, location and
size – will help you better understand how U.S.
schools actually differ and inspire further reflection
about what would be the best fit, she says.
Strive for some variety in your college list, Aquino
says. For example, even if you’re interested in
liberal arts colleges, be sure to include a few larger
national universities too.
Khan, of EducationUSA, also encourages students
to keep an open mind during the research
process. He says students should consider lots of
factors when looking at schools instead of looking
only at a single data point such as a school’s rank
or tuition price. “Have a more holistic approach
where you’re thinking about multiple things,” he
says.
Experts recommend students aim to have around
20 schools on their initial list. However, they don’t
recommend applying to all 20 schools. Instead, talk
with a counselor after creating your list and choose
six to 10 schools to submit applications to.
The start of students’ second-to-last year of high
school is a good time to begin putting together a
college list, Aquino says. And the list may continue
to evolve over time, as you realize new things
about higher education in the U.S. and what
actually matters most to you in a school – it’s okay
to change your mind, she says.
Aquino says when she talks with students about
their initial college list, she tells them, “You may
apply to two of those universities, you may apply to
seven, you may apply to none of them. But it gets
you moving into the research phase.”
Originally published by U.S. News & World Report
© Getty Images - kali9

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

13
 Research Universities’
International Student Career Services
Prospective international students should explore ways U.S. colleges help them achieve their career goals.
ANAYAT DURRANI | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
© Getty Images - baona
Ghanaian national Owura K. Kuffuor,
a political science graduate student at
Eastern Illinois University, wants to work
in the U.S. after graduation. To achieve
that goal, Kuffuor has frequented the
university’s career center, which he says
advises students on everything from
proper job attire to expectations in U.S. job
interviews.
“I have seen a career center counselor a couple
of times to get my resume updated to the U.S.
standards,” says Kuffuor. “The center was very
helpful.”
U.S. university career centers can be useful to
international students who are looking for internships
and volunteer or post-graduation job opportunities.
Prospective international students who plan to
remain in the U.S. and work following their studies
may want to evaluate schools’ career centers and the
resources devoted to assisting international students.
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
Here are three factors to consider.
1. I nternational career services: Many university
career centers, like at Eastern Illinois, serve
all students with a range of support services,
while others have dedicated staff to directly
assess and address job seeking international
students’ needs.
Jing Han, a career counselor for international students
at the University of California—Berkeley, provides
one-on-one career counseling. She says the school
also offers “tailored workshops and events supporting
international students every semester,” such as
providing an understanding of the U.S. job search
landscape, including recruitment and visa regulations.
Other universities, like Ohio State University—
Columbus, have discipline-specific career services
for international students, which may have more
industry-focused connections and resources than
typical career centers.
OSU’s Engineering Career Services helped Indian
national Md Fahad secure internships at an
automotive company during his sophomore and
junior years. “Mock interviews with ECS helped me
strengthen my interview skills,” says Fahad and led to
internships and then a full-time job.
“I am currently working as a manufacturing engineer
at Hirschvogel Automotive in Columbus, Ohio,” says
Fahad, who graduated in May with a Bachelor of
Science in mechanical engineering.
Universitywide, discipline-specific and international-
student-focused career centers can all provide useful
job-related information for international students.
But Indian national Sushruth Venkatesh, a 2015
chemical engineering graduate of the University of
Minnesota—Twin Cities, says a career center with
international-student-focused staff may be more
beneficial.
(Continued on page 16)
14
 Advertisement

YOU BELONG
Western New England University welcomes students from 32 countries
and across the United States. Our students excel in a supportive learning
environment that offers nearly 50 undergraduate programs. We are ranked

AT A GREAT in the top tier for Universities in the Northeast and Our College of Engineering
is ranked in the top 100 undergraduate programs by US News and World
Report. We offer generous merit scholarships that range from $8,000 to

UNIVERSITY $21,000 depending on your prior academic success. Learn more about all
that Western New England University can offer you at wne.edu.

wne.edu

Arts and Sciences • Business • Engineering • Law • Pharmacy and Health Sciences

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

15
Advertisement
 Research Universities’
International Student Career Services

“Several times during my job search, I found
companies that had fantastic positions but were not
able to hire international students to those positions,”
says Venkatesh.
He believes career centers with staff devoted to
international students may be more equipped to
guide them toward companies that hire international
students. Christine Bautista, career counselor for
international students at San Jose State University,
says during the school’s recent Just in Time career
fair, staff “redirected students to employers who were
open to hiring international talent.”
2. I nternational career services webpages:
Prospective international students can visit
each school’s career services webpage to
determine the types of services it offers to
prep students for working in the U.S.
For example, St. John’s University in New York has a
career services page for international students that
lists workshops for them on topics like small talk and
networking through informational interviews.
The University of Kansas’ career center similarly has
a separate webpage for international students and
provides information on everything from career
exploration to Western resumes and interviewing.
“The University Career Center offers a variety of
services that we tailor to the career development
needs of international students, including one-on-one
counseling, group workshops, and print and
online resources,” says Rachel K. Davis, the center’s
assistant director.
While a website can give prospective international
students a comprehensive look at available career
services, Venkatesh encourages students “ to
actually use the career center” and visit periodically,
once enrolled.
Angela Froistad, assistant director of the University
of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering’s
career center, says international students often use
the university’s International Student and Scholar
Services in conjunction with the career center when
job searching. She says ISSS “specializes in visa
issues as well as more of the cultural expectations
associated with a U.S. job search.”
At the University of Miami, Anna Kenney, Toppel
Career Center’s assistant director of internships,
says the center offers sessions each semester
with the school’s ISSS on the curricular practical
training and optional practical training processes.
CPT allows international students to work in a job
before graduation for training either required for a
student’s degree or to receive academic credit, and
OPT provides a 12-month work period for students to
complete before or after graduation.
Allison Frees-Williams, interim director of career
services at Eastern Illinois University, says the career
center works with the Office of International Students
and Scholars “to assist with the preparation of
required visas to be eligible to work in the state both
during school and after graduation.”
Kuffuor is currently working at the Eastern Illinois
University ISS office as a summer intern. Following
plans to pursue a doctorate, he hopes to work in the
U.S. higher education field.
“I think the career center will equip me with the skills
needed to get a job in the U.S.,” says Kuffuor.
Originally published by U.S. News & World Report

3. I nternational student services that partner

© Getty Images - PeopleImages

with career services: At some universities,

international services and career services
offices work together to ensure international
students have everything they need to work in
the U.S.
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
16
 30 Questions
to Ask at an Education Fair
These events help prospective international students learn how U.S. colleges and universities differ.

KELLY MAE ROSS | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT which got me really interested in them,” Rupani says.
So interested, in fact, that he recently completed a
bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering at
the school.
Before attending an education fair, sometimes
called a college fair, students should create a list of
“vital questions” they want to ask, says Cesar Flores,
director of international recruitment at Arizona State
University—Tempe. Students can seek input from
their parents when creating the list, he says, since
Mom and Dad will probably have questions too.
© Getty Images - Steve Debenport

To help prospective international students

begin their list of questions, U.S. News spoke
with admissions and recruitment officers from
several U.S. schools – Arizona State, Embry-Riddle,
Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and the
University at Buffalo—SUNY – as well as experts
from organizations that host fairs – the Council of
International Schools and EducationUSA.
As part of their recruitment efforts,
Here are 30 smart questions these experts say
some U.S. colleges and universities send students can consider asking at an education fair.
representatives abroad to meet with This list doesn’t contain all the questions students
prospective international students at can ask – it’s just meant to help them get started.
education fairs.
Academics
These events give students and families the (Students can fill in the [blank] with the academic
opportunity to learn about both the U.S. higher subject of their choice.)
education system in general and about specific
colleges and universities, says Alfred Boll, branch • What opportunities would I have if I majored in
chief for EducationUSA, a global network of [blank] at your institution?
international student advising centers supported by
• What differentiates your program in
the U.S. Department of State.
[blank] from programs offered at other U.S.
Yash Rupani only applied to one U.S. school – Embry- universities?
Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida – and he
• My favorite subject in school is [blank]. How can
first learned about the institution at an education fair
that translate into a major at your school?
when he was in high school in India.
• What happens if I want to change my major?
The Embry-Riddle representative at the fair “tried to
explain a lot of stuff to me regarding the programs, • What happens if I need to return home for
regarding what they do, how many campuses they a semester? Can I suspend my studies for a
have, how their programs work and everything, period of time and then come back?
(Continued on page 18)
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
17
 30 Questions
to Ask at an Education Fair
Cost and Financial Aid
• How much am I going to pay each year to
attend your school?
• Can you tell me about other fees and costs in
addition to tuition?
• What kinds of scholarships for international
students do you offer?
• Are there separate deadlines for admission and
scholarship applications?
• What percentage of the annual cost to attend
your school can be covered by scholarships?
© Getty Images - vm
• What percentage of international students
receive financial aid, and what is the average
aid amount?
• What opportunities are there for
on-campus employment?
| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
Applying
• What kinds of qualifications do international
students who are admitted to your school
have?
• Can you give me an idea of how the visa and
I-20 processes work?
Career Preparation
• What are some examples of internships held by
students majoring in [blank] at your school?
• Is there someone at your school who will help
me find an internship?
• How will your program in [blank] help me
achieve my career goals?
• What career services are available for
international students at your school?
(Continued on page 19)
18
 30 Questions
to Ask at an Education Fair

English Language Support It’s also okay for students to approach

representatives from colleges or universities they
• Are English as a second language, or ESL, aren’t familiar with and ask for a basic overview, says
courses offered at your school? Katryna Snow, assistant director of higher education
• I’ve already taken an English language services at the Council of International Schools.
exam such as the TOEFL or the IELTS. Are there She says, “A student shouldn’t be afraid to say, ‘I’ve
any programs at your school that will accept never heard of you. Tell me more.’”
my score? Originally published by U.S. News & World Report
• Does your school offer an intensive
English program?

Additional International
Student Resources

• How many international students are there at

your school, and where do they come from?
• What kind of support services and
programming are offered to international
students at your school?
• What kind of academic advising is available for
international students?
• Is tutoring available?

Other

• What is the trip like to get to campus from my

home country? Will someone be there to pick
me up at the airport?
• How would you assess safety on campus, and
where can I get more information?
• What student clubs are available?
© Getty Images - Steve Debenport

• Would it be possible for me to create my own

student organization? What is that process like?
• What housing and meal plan options
are available?

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

19
 Advertisement

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

20
Advertisement
 How to Make a
Final U.S. College Decision
Postgraduation plans are one factor for prospective international students to consider before enrolling, experts say.

KELLY MAE ROSS | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
educational advising coordinator for Southeast Asia
for EducationUSA, said via email.
That was the case for Farah AlHaddad, a recent
graduate of Macalester College in Minnesota who
hails from Syria. AlHaddad needed – and received –
financial aid to help fund her education.
Among other things, AlHaddad says international
students have to think about currency conversion,
“which might make someone’s education even more
expensive if they’re from a country where perhaps
their currency is weaker than the dollar.”

2. Career goals
© Getty Images - andresr

Prospective students should make sure the college

As U.S. colleges and universities
begin sending out acceptance letters,
prospective international students who
applied and gained admission to more
than one school will have a big decision to
make.
Kexin Zhen, a junior at Wheaton College in
Massachusetts who is from China, says after
applying to 13 schools, choosing among the eight or
nine she was accepted to was a difficult process.
Here are four key factors prospective
international students should consider when
deciding which U.S. college to attend.
1. Price
“The biggest factor for most students and families
usually comes down to the cost of tuition and
additional cost of living,” Charles Hornstra, regional
they choose offers a program in the field they want
to study, such as business or engineering.
“Most U.S. institutions don’t have every major
and every program,” says Mandee Heller
Adler, founder and president of Florida-based
International College Counselors.
Students should also think about where they want to
live and work after graduation, says Monica Gallego
Rude, a director at Collegewise, an admissions
consulting company. If students want to try to stay
in the U.S. to work, they will want to pay attention to
a potential college’s U.S. job placement numbers for
international students, she says.
Admissions offices might be able to provide or
direct prospective students to this type of
information. If not, students can reach out to the
institution’s career services office, says Gallego
Rude, which may have a counselor dedicated to
working with international students.
On the other hand, prospective international
students and their families often have questions
about how a degree from a particular school will be
viewed abroad, experts say.
“If students are returning to their home country, it

(Continued on page 22)

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
21
 How to Make a
Final U.S. College Decision

can be true that employment then hinges more on Patrick Parnell, director of international services
the name of the university,” says Gallego Rude. at Missouri State University, says talking with
Gallego Rude says talking with the school’s current students is a good way to get a real picture
recent international graduates who have found of a college environment, in terms of safety and
employment in their home country can be a helpful otherwise. Many schools, including Missouri State,
way to gauge this. Colleges can sometimes make can connect prospective international students with
alumni introductions. current international students willing to answer
questions about campus life.
3. Support services “Whenever you know somebody who’s had the
experience themselves or is currently living it, that’s
Students will also want to consider available always going to be your best bet,” Parnell says.
support options before making a final decision. In
Originally published by U.S. News & World Report
addition to career services, some U.S. colleges and
universities offer other types of resources to help
international students adjust to a new country and
a new school, such as tutoring centers. A college’s
international student services office can usually
provide information about available programs and
services, experts say.
Support can also come from international peers, so
prospective students should consider the size and
makeup of a school’s international student body.
“For the most part, I feel like my international
students are happiest when there’s a community
of international students that they can rely on
and make friends with and feel comfortable with,”
says Adler.

4. Location

Gallego Rude says students should also consider

the logistics of travel from their home country to
a particular college campus. Sometimes students
© Getty Images - Stígur Már Karlsson/Heimsmyndir

and families are more comfortable knowing a direct

flight is available in case of emergencies or if the
student wants to come home during breaks.
Zhen, the Wheaton student, says one of the most
important aspects of a school’s location – for her
parents too – was safety. Once she narrowed her
options down to three schools, she says she did
some online research on crime rates in each of the
areas she was considering.

| FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

22