Top US Schools for International Students Seeking Financial Aid

U.S. News & World Report has a breakdown on the 15 U.S. colleges offering the most financial aid for international students. International students, the article notes, often face high costs: “Not only are there expenses for tuition, housing, meal plans, books and supplies, but international students also have to pay for travel costs, including airline…

Foreign Enrollment Jumps at US Graduate Programs

U.S. graduate programs are seeing a surge in foreign enrollment. So says ICEF Monitor, which describes itself as “a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry.” It finds that Indian students, particularly master’s students, are driving the surge. Read the full story here. (June 2023)  …

US on Track to Issue Most Student Visas Since 2016

U.S. State Department officials and a recent report by ApplyBoard, a Canadian-based international student recruitment platform, indicate the United States is set to issue the most student visas in a year since fiscal 2016. The tally of visas issued in fiscal 2023 has passed 392,000 to date. In fiscal 2016, a total 471,728 F1 visas…

Should College Presidents Criticize Political Candidates?

Higher education is under deep scrutiny from America’s 2024 presidential contenders. For example, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has tried to defund all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in Florida’s public universities. Many college leaders feel that academic freedom is under threat, and that they have to speak out to save it. But many others…

What Can a Hit Netflix Show Teach Us About Elite College Admissions?

The show Never Have I Ever follows an Indian American girl growing up in Los Angeles, and a major plot point in its final season is her attempts to get into Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. The show explores the difficulties of getting a good recommendation letter, and the agonizing choice of whether to…

Scholarships Help Afghan Students Find Homes at Universities Across US

DALLAS — As the Taliban swept back into power in Afghanistan, in the summer of 2021, Fahima Sultani and her fellow university students tried for days to get into the Kabul airport, only to be turned away by gun-wielding extremists. “No education, just go back home,” she recalled one shouting. Nearly two years later, Sultani,…

More International Students Eligible for US STEM Work Program

The United States will add eight new fields of study for international students looking to acquire practical work experience in the country, the Department of Homeland Security announced last week. The eight new fields of study include: landscape architecture; institutional research; mechatronics, robotics and automation engineering technology/technician; composite materials technology/technician; linguistics and computer science; developmental…

Can Higher Ed Convince the Public That Sciences and Humanities Are Worthwhile?

In the United States, degrees are usually split between academic ones (English, math, physics, dance) and professional ones (law, nursing, business). The public can often be skeptical of academic degrees because they seemingly don’t lead directly to a career. But Rick Van Kooten, the dean of arts and sciences at Indiana University, writes in The…

How Are ‘Talent Visas’ Used to Lure International Students to the US?

Foreign students educated in the United States are often bright, hardworking and eager to land a job. But the backlog for U.S. work visas has created an opportunity for other countries to snag talented workers. Britain, Canada and Australia offer streamlined visas for graduates with in-demand skills or prestigious degrees. As one immigration lawyer in…

North Carolina Arts School Answers Common International Student Questions

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts wants to make attendance as easy as possible for its international students. It has put together a series of frequently asked questions, along with details about entering the U.S., campus resources for international students and F-1 student visa compliance requirements. Check it out here. (June 2023) …

What Will Biden’s New Plan Mean for Borrowers Set to Begin Paying Back Their Student Loans?

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to effectively kill Biden’s earlier student debt forgiveness proposal, the White House is trying again to ease the burden on those carrying student loans using a different legal approach. Biden’s original plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million people. Of those, 20 million…

International Students Can Face Special Problems After Graduation

For international students, getting to and through a U.S. college or university is only part of the challenge. The students face additional hurdles once they graduate, says Idaho Ed News. It talks about those challenges, and some of the students facing them, here. (June 2023)   …

Founder of Student Aid Startup Frank Appears in Court

The founder of student aid startup Frank shook her head repeatedly Thursday as a prosecutor claimed that she tricked J.P. Morgan Chase into paying $175 million for her business by lying about its client base. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Fergenson described criminal charges against Frank founder Charlie Javice and codefendant Olivier Amar, the company’s chief…

Help for International Students Aiming for Athletic Scholarships

Telangana Today looks at athletic scholarships in the U.S. and offers international students a guide to finding and getting them. “Athletic scholarships in the United States offer opportunities for talented student-athletes to fund their education while pursuing their sports careers,” the story notes. (June 2023)     …

Chinese Student Hurt in Campus Shooting to Sue Michigan State U.

A Chinese student injured at a shooting at Michigan State University intends to sue, MLive.com reports. Yukai “John” Hao alleges that the school “acted with gross negligence and failed to take reasonable steps to protect students and visitors on its campus from harm,” the site reports. The shooting left him paralyzed from the chest down,…

Applying to US Universities: What You Need to Know

The Teen Mag has a guide for international students considering applying to U.S. schools. The article says it “aims to provide a comprehensive overview of key considerations for international students applying to U.S. universities.” Topics covered include scholarships, safety on campus and immigration and visa regulations. Read it here. (June 2023)    …

Are the Humanities Really Dying?

The U.S. media has run several stories recently on the “death of the humanities,” with undergraduate enrollments dropping by more than 50% at some schools. But Karin Beck, an associate dean at Lehman College in New York City, says this is misleading. Elite schools’ humanities programs are declining – but her school, which mostly serves…

Will a ‘Side Hustle’ Help Me Through My International Degree?

Students can pay tuition, build their resumes and pursue their passions with “passive income” generated without a formal job. (Work requirements vary by country, so double-check before you start.) Ashreena Kaur of Study International lays out several options, from freelance translation to stock photography. (June 2023) …

Can Technology Connect International Students Across Campuses?

That’s the bet global education group INTO University Partnerships is making. The company is rolling out an online platform for students at its member schools to talk to one another, meet faculty from other institutions and get personalized help with visas and housing. Arrman Kyaw of Diverse Issues in Higher Education has more. (June 2023) …

What’s It Like to Find a Job Using OPT?

The United States gives international students the option to work for a year after graduating, without receiving a work visa. But the process to apply is long, difficult and carries risks. Sarah Dittenber of Idaho Ed News profiled undergraduates who are beginning new jobs and contributing to Idaho’s economy, using the Optional Practical Training (OPT)…

US Refusing More Student Visas, Report Says

ICEF Monitor, a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry, has worrying news for international students seeking visas to study in the U.S. It says student visa refusals soared for 2022, with more than 1 in 3 students failing to get a visa. “This is both a notable increase in the overall refusal…

Nigerian Student in New York Joins Ocean Expedition Near Greenland

A Nigerian student working toward a doctorate in geological sciences at the State University of New York, Binghamton, has joined an ocean expedition near Greenland and Iceland. “I was captivated by the potential for groundbreaking research and knew immediately that I wanted to be part of such a significant scientific endeavor,” Halima Ibrahim told BingUNews.…

Examining International Student Loan Options for African Students

After School Africa offers an in-depth look at the best international student loans for African students and details the ins and outs of getting them. In the U.S., federal student loans are often touted as the best option. But many foreign students find they’re not eligible and end up looking at private student loans. Read…

International Students Worry AI Detectors Wrongly Flag Them as Cheaters

Some universities are using AI detectors to root out cheating. But international students worry that they’ll be wrongly targeted by the algorithms. A recent study from Stanford University underscores the concern, finding that AI detectors can be “unreliable and biased against non-native English writers,” the Financial Express reports. Among other things, the study found that…

Can US Reverse College Enrollment Declines?

Due to a shrinking youth population, the dislocations of the pandemic and rising tuition costs, fewer Americans are choosing college. However, it remains a good choice – graduates earn more and even live longer. Katharine Meyer of the Brookings Institution offers recommendations, such as financial aid for older people and partnerships with local businesses and…