26 May 2006

EducationUSA Advisers Can Help Foreign Students Navigate Choices

Possibility for “endless growth” abound in U.S. higher education, advisers say

By Anthony Kujawa
File Staff Writer

Montreal -- U.S. colleges and universities remain the premier destination for the world’s students and a dedicated global network of more than 600 EducationUSA advisers works to aid prospective students in selecting suitable schools that meet their needs, the advisers say.

“Don’t be afraid of the unknown.  We are here to lend you a hand and guide you through the process [of applying to a U.S. school],” says Maria H. Salman, an EducationUSA adviser in Ecuador, reflecting on the message she and the 80 State Department-affiliated experts bring to the May 23-26 meeting in Montreal of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

NAFSA is a professional organization that promotes the exchange of students and scholars to and from the United States.  More than 7,300 educators, administrators and government officials from 95 countries attended the 2006 conference.

In a Washington File interview before the opening of the conference, Mary Thompson-Jones, a branch chief of the State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), outlined two U.S. initiatives -- the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) and the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education -- through which the U.S. government is working with schools to increase the flow of American students to other countries and of foreign students to the United States.

President Bush unveiled the National Security Language Initiative in January, a plan to increase dramatically the number of Americans mastering critical-need foreign languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Farsi and Russian.  U.S. higher-education institutions are partnering with schools in other countries through the NSLI to provide language training for Americans overseas.  (See related article.)

At the U.S. university presidents summit on January 5, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States has “never been more eager” to welcome foreign students and to send more Americans to study abroad. (See related article.)

The main thrust of the State Department presence at the 2006 NAFSA conference, according Thompson-Jones, are the 80 EducationUSA advisers who actively are promoting the services they offer to prospective students interested in studying in the United States and developing contacts with higher education admissions officials to increase the flow of foreign students to the United States.

Thompson-Jones’ office supports the network of 450 EducationUSA advising centers in 170 countries.  The centers offer accurate, comprehensive, objective and up-to-date information on education opportunities in the United States, assisting roughly 25 million prospective students each year, either in person, by telephone, through e-mail or on the Internet.

In one conference session, Vicktar Khotsim, an EducationUSA adviser from Belarus, described a new multilingual “virtual consulting” service launched by EducationUSA advisers to respond to questions from prospective students and their parents about studying in the United States in their native language.  (See related article.)

The Web site, called the EducationUSA Virtual Consulting Office (VCO), includes general information on higher education in the United States, an online question-and-answer service and a discussion forum.  The service is available in Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and English versions.  For additional information, see the EducationUSA Virtual Consulting Office Web Site.

In a separate session, Rebecca Zeigler Mano, an EducationUSA adviser based in Zimbabwe, provided information on the innovative United States Achievers Program (USAP), which has enabled more than 100 “economically disadvantaged” students from 13 countries to study at top U.S. colleges and universities since 1999.  (See related article.)

Asked about lingering perceptions that the United States does not welcome foreign students or that it is impossible to obtain a student visa, Thompson-Jones said, “We are working exhaustively and tirelessly to convince people of the contrary.”

Sardar Haider Hyat Khan, an EducationUSA adviser based in Islamabad, Pakistan, said U.S. Embassy officials routinely participate in outreach activities for prospective students, answering all questions students might have on the visa process.

“Our EducationUSA advisers walk [prospective students] through the whole process.  They demystify the visa process, they explain testing, they help applicants register online for the various tests that they need, they help them interpret their scores, they help them apply for a U.S. university.  … help make sure the admissions office at the U.S. university or college has the best possible picture of the foreign student applicant … so they can make an accurate and well-informed admission decision,” Thompson-Jones said.

"If you knock on the door, the door will open,” Andriy Hatalyak, an EducationUSA adviser from Ukraine told the Washington File.

“Experiencing education in the United States is allowing yourself the possibility for endless growth -- professionally, as well as personally.  Dare to take the challenge, and conquer new horizons,” adds Maya Dafinova, an adviser from Chile.

Asked for her message to prospective students interested in studying in the United States, Thompson-Jones replied: “I know that every student has many options and that it is no longer a question of the best, but a question of the best fit.  I would urge each prospective student to investigate as much and fully as possible to ensure that the institution is a good fit and that the program is a good fit for them.”

Additional information on studying in the United States is available from an EducationUSA advising center or on the State Department’s EducationUSA Web site.