ChatGPT Isn’t a Good Research Assistant, Yet

In the Chronicle of Higher Education, Maggie Hicks writes that ChatGPT frequently invents sources, causing headaches for librarians asked to find them, and getting students in trouble when they don’t learn how to track down information themselves. With scholars willing to cut corners to get papers published faster, academia could fall prey to a “complicated…

Biden Administration Releases Official Guidelines on Affirmative Action

The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down race-based affirmative action, but colleges have struggled to implement the ban. The new guidelines stress that affirmative action is now illegal but that there are other ways for schools to diversify their student bodies. Read the explainer from Liam Knox of Inside Higher Ed. (August 2023) …

Check Out These Lesser-known Scholarships Available to International Students 

Most students looking to study in the United States are already familiar with prospects for financial aid, but there are some lesser-known scholarships available. The Times of India has compiled a listing of scholarships — many offered by individual schools — that can benefit students from other countries. (August 2023). …

Despite Challenges, Afghan Refugee Students in the US Are Thriving

Two years after the Taliban took Kabul, Karin Fischer of the Chronicle of Higher Education profiles a group of Afghan women at the University of Delaware who fled Kabul. After learning English, mastering U.S. cultural norms and surviving the trauma of separation from their families, these students are now mentoring other new arrivals. (August 2023)…

Know the Details, and Risks, of Student Loans

After School Africa takes a look at student loans and international students. “Normally, many people do not like the idea of loans, and it is not the first option in the minds of many people,” the article notes. “However, student loans can be the only option for some students who want to actualize their goals.”…

Want an MBA from a US School? Here’s How One Man Made It from Indonesia to Wharton

A student from Indonesia writes about his path to studying for an MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Among his suggestions: apply to a range of schools and craft a compelling personal essay. Read more here. (August 2023)  …

Academic Integrity in the US: What International Students Need to Know

International students have many things to learn about the U.S. when they arrive on American campuses. U.S. News & World Report delves into a less-common topic: academic integrity. The magazine explores basic expectations at many U.S. schools, including how to use quotes and citations in papers, how to avoid plagiarism and navigating artificial intelligence pitfalls.…

Chinese Interest Grows for US Study Tours

A surge in inquiries from China for overseas study tours to the U.S. suggests that parents of children from primary to high school are willing to pay the big money so their offspring can have an American classroom experience during their summer vacations. Yvonne Shi, director of Offer Education Consulting in El Monte, California, said…

Congress Could Stall a Landmark Research Funding Bill

The CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law a year ago and promised billions of dollars in funding for science at U.S. colleges and universities. However, Congress is already falling short of the funding targets called for by the legislation, instead focusing on investments in America’s semiconductor industry. Katherine Knott explains the situation for…

One Professor’s Homework? Make a Friend

Martha Mulally, a biotechnology professor in Canada, urges each of her students to make a friend in the course. She noticed that students seemed disengaged and lonely, not knowing how to interact with each other after years of virtual instruction during the pandemic. So, she insists they work together outside of class in groups of…

Northwestern University Has Tips for International Students

The Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper at Northwestern University, has advice for international students bound for the U.S. The tips include:  Familiarizing yourself with the restrictions that come with an F-1 visa holder. Tapping on-campus resources like the Office of International Students for support. Read the full story here. (August 2023)  …

Want to Study STEM in the US? Here’s What You Need to Know

Programs focusing on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) are popular among foreign students looking to study in the U.S. After School Africa takes a look at some of the reasons why these paths are popular and gives a rundown of study options. Read more here. (August 2023)  …

Health Check: Vaccinations International Students Need for the US

Telangana Today, an Indian news outlet, has a rundown on the immunizations international students must receive to study in the U.S. “Vaccination is mandatory for students of all levels, including undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral candidates, regardless of their residential status,” the story notes. Get the full list here. (August 2023)  …

How International Students Can Feel More at Home in US

Indian news outlet Telangana Today has some tips on how international students can acclimate to life in the United States. They include: Attending welcome-week events organized by the university. Taking advantage of support services offered by the school’s international student office. Joining clubs and organizations. Read the full article here. (August 2023) …

Road to Grad School for 1 Afghan Student Has Been Far From Simple

Amena Sadat, a political science Ph.D. student at the University of California, Riverside, fled Afghanistan with only the clothes on her back after the Taliban took over. Her educational journey has been harrowing. Many of her family members did not want her to study, and one, a local politician, even canceled a scholarship rather than…

Affirmative Action Ban Affects Elite Hiring, Not Just Elite Admissions

While the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling eliminating affirmative action in college admissions only applies to higher education, many elite industries, such as consulting and investment banking, that hire students right out of college may struggle to meet their own diversity goals, according to an article in Forbes. While firms have promised to broaden their search,…

North Carolina School Will Offer Early Admissions for First-Generation Students

Many selective universities in the U.S. offer “early action,” which can boost a student’s chances of getting in if they apply early. These programs have been criticized, since underprivileged students are often unfamiliar with the deadlines and unable to get their applications in on time. Now, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, plans to…

How to Make Money While Studying in Another Country  

Life as an international student brings its own set of financial challenges, and unless you are independently wealthy, you’ll need a plan to stay afloat while studying abroad. While different countries have different restrictions, Investor Times has some suggestions to help you make money while going to school. (August 2023)  …

Could ‘Google Effect’ Make You Less Smart?

A 2011 study claimed that information learned from Googling is less valuable because we don’t remember it. There was academic controversy over the findings, but new follow-up research suggests the “Google Effect” is real. The easier it is to find information, the less likely you are to retain it. Jill Barshay summarizes the research for…

Want to Stay in the US and Work After School? Here’s What You Need to Know 

A lot of international students enjoy studying in the United States so much that they want to work there after graduation. There are different paths and strategies for getting a job in the U.S. after getting a degree. Liberty Okechukwu from After School Africa explains what you need to know to work in the U.S. when your classes…

Student Visa Denials Are Rising, and African and South American Applicants Bear the Brunt

From 2015 to 2022, visa denials for South American students rose sharply (from 10% to 24%), and African students were the most likely to be denied overall. However, demand remains stronger than ever, with the U.S. State Department setting a new record for student visas in 2022. Emi Tuyetnhi Tran examines the research for NBC.…

High School Career Adviser, Once Deported From US, Helps Star Student Win Full Scholarship

Ashley Villareal grew up in rural Kansas. Her parents didn’t have college degrees or know much English. Despite her outstanding grades, she seemed unlikely to make it to college – until a college counselor with a similar background stepped in to help. Read the inspiring story from Nick Fouriezos in USA Today. (July 2023) …

How to Plan Finances if You Want to Study Medicine in the US  

If you plan to study medicine in the United States, you need to plan your finances first.   Even schools that don’t carry the prestige of universities like Harvard or Stanford will require fees, tuition, books and materials, and you’ll need to cover living expenses for the eight years it takes to get an undergraduate and medical degree.   The Education Desk of The…

Colleges Respond to US Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling With Bans of Their Own

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has forbidden the use of “race, sex, color and ethnicity” in admissions, in response to a Supreme Court decision that banned affirmative action there and at Harvard. However, the school will be free for all applicants whose families make less than $80,000. The Associated Press has the story. (July…

Indiana Students Practice Public Speaking Skills in Virtual Reality

All students at Indiana University are required to take a public speaking course. Now, they can practice their oratory in front of a simulated audience using a headset. The software judges the student’s skills, and the “audience” responds accordingly with boredom or interest. Ashley Mowreader breaks down the program in Inside Higher Ed. (July 2023) …

Students Transform Their Drab Dorm Rooms Into Comfy Living Spaces

From $300 studded headboards and $100 coffee table books to custom-made cabinets to disguise your mini-fridge, students are spending big bucks to decorate their dorm rooms, adding yet another layer to the soaring costs of college. Some are even going so far as to hire interior designers to beautify their 12 feet by 20 feet…