Job hunting for international students can be complex and challenging. Some of the unique challenges they face include a lack of education for employers on CPT and OPT processes, a lack of opportunities in non-STEM fields, and networking in a different language and culture.

It’s important for international students to start preparing for their job search as early as possible in order to overcome these challenges and succeed in job hunting in the US. Below, Arizona State University staff share the importance of helping international students understand the competitive job market in the US and how it may differ from students’ home countries.

How is ASU supporting its job-seeking international students?

Full-time international students in the US are on an F-1 visa. This is a temporary visa that requires intent to leave the US after graduation. Our career center helps students understand the terms of their F-1 immigration status and align that with their long-term goals. We also help students fully understand how OPT and CPT work including how and why to avoid using their unemployment days. Although the priority for many students is to stay and work in the US, our team encourages them to explore other options such as employment opportunities outside the US.

It’s important to teach students to leverage their strengths and think outside the box. International students bring specific advantages to US employers including:

• Global perspective
• Language skills
• Adaptability
• Diversity and inclusion

At ASU, we use NACE’s recommended career competencies to guide students on which skills to focus on and demonstrate in their resume, cover letter, and employer interactions. They include self-development, critical thinking, and teamwork.

What university career services does ASU provide specifically for international students?

ASU’s career services center offers 1-on-1 career advising either in person or online, whichever the international student is most comfortable with. We also collaborate closely with ISSC on career fairs, networking events, workshops, conferences, and the Global Career Network student organization. 

Workshop topics we cover include but are not limited to:

• Career exploration
• Resume and cover letter help
• Job and internship search
• Informational interviewing
• Salary negotiation
• Personal statements
• Graduate school resources

How does ASU educate and engage employers who may hire international students and graduates?

We focus on increasing the quality and quantity of student/employer interactions. ASU’s ISSC works to educate students and employers on CPT, OPT, and immigration processes. This education occurs through email series, handbooks, information sessions, conferences, webinars, and tours. We focus particularly on OPT because it is more common among our international students than CPT. We drill to employers that OPT is not a work visa or sponsorship.

This year, ASU launched a new website for employers with resources including:

• CPT and OPT definitions and procedures
• Employer guidelines for hiring students on OPT or CPT
• Info on ASU’s international student population
• The top employers who hire ASU international students
• Employer Q&A

What accomplishments stand out in ASU’s efforts to support international students?

Because international students are highly motivated to attend career fairs and other types of employer interactions, we have increased how many of these we offer each year. We collect data on how many international students we are engaging with on each campus and adjust with more workshops where needed to improve student engagement. ASU’s Career Services also publicly recognizes the employers who hire students on OPT. 

Finally, we collect international students’ resumes and send them to staff and professors at ASU to be considered for volunteer positions at the school. This provides a unique opportunity for international students to gain hands-on experience without needing OPT or CPT because the work is through their school.

Employment outcomes for ASU’s international students

Numbers don’t lie. The efforts of ASU’s staff have paid off for their international students. The median annual salary for international undergraduates who remained in the US after graduation is $52,000. For international graduate students, the median salary is $97,000. When universities that have large populations of international students provide targeted job search support for these students and local employers, everybody wins! 

The post ASU’s tips for best supporting international students in their US job search appeared first on Interstride.

The University of Southern California (USC) is a prestigious private university in Los Angeles that has an international student population of almost 13,000 students. They launched their International Student Mentorship Program (ISMP) in January 2023, and now they are sharing their successes with the program so far.

Where did the idea to launch a mentorship program for international students come from?

To better support our international students at USC, we surveyed them in October 2022 on what USC resources, services, and events they have and haven’t used, and what they would like to see offered in the future. Some of the broader themes that emerged in international students’ responses to the latter question are below:

I realized that many of the needs and additional support requested by our international students in the survey could be addressed through alumni mentorship. Mentorship, particularly with international alumni, can help international students develop potential professional connections, adapt to life in the US, and build their job-search tool kits including resume writing, interview skills, and job-search strategies. Being mentored by someone who shares their international identity also fosters a sense of community and belonging which can benefit students’ overall mental health and wellbeing as they face the challenges of college life in the US.

How did you design and launch the mentorship program? 

We hope this step-by-step explanation of how we executed our International Student Mentorship Program (ISMP) may help other institutions that are looking for ways to increase support for their international students. 

1. Test: We reached out to alumni via email and the Trojan Network (our online networking and mentorship platform) to gauge interest in a mentorship program for international students.
2. Build: Using existing mentorship programs at USC as guides, we built a framework for our own program, including  program descriptions, mentor/mentee handbooks, best practice guides, and program goals.
3. Plan: We created a timeline and structure for the program that would last one semester. Then, we started planning the program orientation and monthly workshops.
4. Launch: We launched with an in-person launch event and orientation with an additional virtual option for mentors who could not attend in person. At orientation, we provided participants with program resources such as the mentee and mentor handbooks that included conversation starters and worksheets for goal setting.

How did you foster continued alumni engagement throughout the program?

There is always a lot of excitement at the beginning of the semester, but as the semester goes on, it’s common for engagement to drop. Here are some strategies that worked for us to keep alumni mentors engaged throughout the semester:

• Email check-ins with mentors
• Accessible events with virtual options
• Speaker opportunities for highly engaged mentors
• Follow-up survey and focus group after the semester ended

What feedback did you receive from participants of the first iteration of the mentorship program?

Because this was our first time running this program, we relied on participant feedback to gauge the program’s success and make improvements for the next year. Over the summer after the program had ended, we organized a focus group with the alumni mentors. Key feedback included setting clearer expectations for mentors and mentees, offering more training for mentors prior to the start of the program, easier access to the program managers, making monthly mentorship meetings mandatory, and training on resources for international students.  

How did you incorporate that feedback into version 2.0 of the mentorship program?

We implemented all of mentors’ feedback in the second year of the program, with separate orientations for mentors and mentees as well as separate bi-weekly open office hours; a pre-program training for mentors on “Mentoring Like a Coach”; a workshop on “Career Resources for International Students”, and stricter requirements for orientation and monthly mentor/mentee meetings.

To make the program more accessible to mentors living out of state or abroad, we also made all of our mentor trainings and meetings virtual. 

Our improvements paid off! We went from 68 mentors in 2023 to 103 mentors in 2024, and we were able to pair every one of our 112 mentees with a mentor this year. There are many current international students at USC interested in participating in this mentorship program, so we hope to continue growing alumni participation in order to give more students the opportunity to benefit from their mentorship.

Launch your own international student mentorship program with Interstride

Student ambassador programs are one way that institutions can provide support to current international students. These programs leverage current students and alumni to answer questions, reassure, and guide mentee students throughout their academic and career  journeys. Admissions professionals looking to engage more prospective international students may also benefit from a student ambassador program. Harness the power of high touch marketing and peer-to-peer engagement with Interstride for Admissions.

The post USC’s International Student Mentorship Program: a model for career and community development appeared first on Interstride.

John Hopkins University’s Carey Business School has a high international student population. Over 75% of the 1,077 full-time graduate students in the program are international. To meet the needs of this population, the school’s Career & Life Design Center tailors their services with international students in mind. This includes operating through a lens of equity and inclusion and toward the goal of helping international students feel like they belong in the Carey Business School.

Why Peer Career Advisors (PCAs)?

We decided to create the Peer Career Advisors (PCAs) program to increase student engagement in career services. We define an engaged student as one who has completed at least one of the following:

• Attended a career-related event
• Attended an appointment with a staff member (could be a PCA)
• Applied to a job 

In 2022, there was a high demand for career support. With only two full-time career coaches, the center was not able to meet the needs of all students. Through data collection, we found that the majority of appointments at the center were for document creation such as resumes and cover letters. The vision was that PCAs would help with these initial document creation appointments so that career coaches would have more time and capacity to provide workshops and higher-level coaching. 

Can you explain the PCA pilot program?

PCAs are paid student employees, so we had to submit a proposal for the program to the university in order to get approval. As outlined in our proposal, four PCAs worked 7-10 hours per week each. During the pilot program, PCAs were trained to help students with:

• Resumes
• Cover letters
• LinkedIn profile reviews
• 1:1 and email correspondences

Through this on-campus job, PCAs had the opportunity to develop the following skills:

• Leadership
• Communication
• Analytics
• Advising

What was the timeline for the pilot program?

The idea to use PCAs started in the fall of 2022. From there, it moved very quickly. We were able to write the proposal and get it approved that same semester. We hired our first four PCAs (two per campus) at the end of that semester to work during the spring 2023 semester. They completed a three-day virtual training in mid-January and then began working under our supervision. Training continued throughout the semester with dual appointments and shadowing. We provided ongoing support to the PCAs as needed.

How did you structure the PCA Program for the 2023-24 school year?

We were able to start recruitment a little earlier this semester. We started in July because that is when new international students enroll in classes and get access to the employment platform for on-campus jobs. In August, we chose candidates to interview. Our six new PCAs (three per campus) were onboarded and trained before classes began. 

This year, our PCAs were specifically chosen to:

• Represent multiple academic programs within the school
• Reflect the international student population
• Represent themselves in an ambassador-like capacity 

We looked for graduate students who have strong relationships with peers and faculty and are heavily involved on their campus. Furthermore, we chose to hire three native Mandarin speakers because many of our students are Mandarin speakers. 

What changes did you implement based on the pilot program?

This year, we added one more PCA per campus and added another supervisor so that there was one supervisor on each campus to provide in-person support for all PCAs. We also expanded services to offer additional training on LinkedIn presence and Chinese resume writing because many of our Chinese students return to China for work after graduation. Keeping track of the career outcomes of our international alumni has helped us better support current students.

We were happy to be able to provide professional development opportunities for PCAs this year. Lastly, based on data and feedback from the pilot program, we intentionally scheduled PCAs during highly requested times and gave them time off during exam weeks and holidays.

How did you leverage partnerships with faculty and staff to increase student engagement in the program?

Increased partnership with faculty and staff was another big change this year that has positively impacted the Career & Life Design Center. We partnered with the Director of Programs and Advising, and she invited us to join her weekly meetings with department leads. This plus hosting monthly stakeholder meetings helped us build relationships with other departments. 

We also started getting invites from faculty to visit classes to observe or share job search tips, events, and services including PCAs. We even had one professor incorporate PCAs into a class assignment. The assignment was to create an employment-ready resume for their field. Part of the requirement for this was that the students had to meet with a PCA to review their resumes. This program that included this course saw the highest rate of student engagement with career services!

How do you measure the outcomes and success of the program? 

We use Handshake to gather data throughout each semester. We regularly review data and use it to inform decisions. Overall, feedback on the program has been very positive. 100% of participants said the PCA service provided them with the help they were looking for, and 100% of participants would recommend the PCA service to other Carey Business School students. 

11.3% of students met with both a PCA and a supervisor for their document-creation appointments, and 5.9% of students met with a PCA and then met with a supervisor within 30 days for an additional document-creation appointment. All other new students who visited the Career & Life Design Center were able to get the support they needed from the meeting with just the PCA. 

Because PCAs were covering most initial document-related appointments, the two full-time coaches could focus on providing other types of appointments. Since we started utilizing PCAs, we have seen a:

• 100% increase in industry insight appointments
• 53% increase in self-discovery appointments
• 13% increase in job search strategy appointments

Key takeaways for supporting international students

With a high demand for document creation support, hiring Peer Career Advisors was a natural choice for Carey Business School’s Career & Life Design. Having access to PCAs, many of whom are international students themselves, helped international students feel comfortable seeking the support they needed from writing their resumes and cover letters to responding to email correspondences with a potential employer. It’s crucial to understand your international student population, their needs, and their long-term goals in order to provide the most relevant and helpful career services.

The post A student-led approach to career success at John Hopkins Carey Business School appeared first on Interstride.

Effective outreach and engagement for international undergraduate students look different than they do for domestic students. Global differentiated strategies are needed to reach international students. This guide is valuable for higher education professionals who are new to international marketing and recruitment or are looking to build on their international student population in new ways.

Important international student enrollment trends to know

New international student enrollment increased by 14% for the 2022-23 school year to a level higher than pre-pandemic numbers. Graduate student enrollment increased the most, by 21%, but undergraduate enrollment also grew for the first time in five years. 53% of international students come from China and India, so keep that in mind when you are doing outreach and engagement. You may want to have information on your admissions web pages that are specifically catered to students and families from these countries.

While international student enrollment in the US is increasing, there is also increasing competition from other countries including the UK, Australia, and Canada. For some potential international students, it has become harder to see the value of a US education due to a variety of factors:

• Rising cost of attendance in the US
• Challenges in getting a visa after graduation
• Political climate
• Economic downturn

Meeting prospective students where they are

A QS international student survey from 2022 asked international undergraduate students in the US about their experiences with the college admissions process. The following survey questions and results reveal key strategies for international student engagement and outreach:

1. What influences where students decide to apply and attend university? 

• High-quality teaching (strong academic program)
• Openness to international students (large international student community and support systems)
• The culture/lifestyle
• Good reputation as a place to study
• Well-ranked universities

Recommendation: To appeal to international students, highlight your institution’s academic programs, culture, and reputation including what sets them apart from other schools. To show that new international students will be welcomed at your institution, showcase current international students, alumni, and professors from other countries.  

2. What resources did you find most helpful during the admissions process?

• University website – 60%
• General internet research – 48%
• Admissions office – 47%
• Email and other communication from the university – 45%
• Friends and family – 36%

Recommendation: Most international students will not visit campus before their first semester, so they rely heavily on online information to gain a sense of what the school is really like. Your institution’s web pages should be up-to-date and accessible to students in other countries.

3. Who were the key players in the decision-making process?

• 63% of prospective international students want to ask current international students questions
• 67% of international prospects will talk to their parents to help them choose where to study in the US 

Recommendation: Prospective students are going to connect with current students no matter what whether it’s via family, friends, social media, etc. If you want students to get the most accurate info, you can help facilitate these connections through virtual events and student ambassador programs.

Marketing strategy tips

The marketing plan you use for domestic students will not necessarily work for international students. Create a differentiated marketing and recruitment strategy focused on the international prospects that you want to reach. When building your outreach plan, consider the following:

• Audience – Who are you trying to reach?
• Platforms – How will you reach them?
• Messaging – What will you say?

When creating your messaging, look at global and institutional data and play to your strengths. For example, math, computer science, and engineering programs are most popular for international students, so market those programs and highlight how your STEM programs stand out from other institutions. You should also coordinate marketing efforts with other campus offices such as career centers. They have helpful data on students’ career outcomes that could be appealing to prospective students.

Key takeaways

It’s more important than ever to revamp your approach to international student outreach and engagement. There are many steps you can take. The most valuable include understanding the current national and international trends, having a clear plan, and differentiating it as much as possible for international students. Think about what prospective students really need and want, talking to current students for insight. Finally, focus on what makes your school different, and leverage student ambassadors as much as possible to communicate information to prospects. 

The post International undergraduate student outreach and engagement 101 appeared first on Interstride.

Importance of admissions and career centers collaboration

Career services is a useful and underutilized tool for student recruitment and retention. According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey report from 2020, college students in the US are placing a greater emphasis on career services and career development to prove the value of a degree from a higher education institution, and career support is especially important for international applicants. 

A report from Interstride and NAGAP shows that the majority of students cited a better understanding of career outcomes as a factor that would affect their choice of institution. Career centers track the career outcomes of current students and alumni, so they will be able to share up-to-date, relevant data and information with admissions offices.

Shifting the ways admissions and career centers collaborate

Traditionally, at many colleges and universities in the US, admissions and career services offices work completely separately. Admissions offices interact with students during the recruitment and enrollment phases while career services interact with students who are already enrolled. 

When admissions and career centers work together, they can drive enrollment and career success for their students and alumni. This can increase the number of notable graduates from the school and the amount of donations they receive from alumni (because there will ideally be more highly paid graduates who are happy with their degree program). This benefits the school overall, can increase the admissions and career center budgets, and drive even more student recruitment. 

Benefits of admissions and career center collaboration for international students

Here are some ways an admissions and career center partnership benefits current and future international students:

• It demonstrates the return on investment (ROI) of education: Sharing career outcomes during the recruitment process helps prospective international students and their parents calculate the ROI of a US college degree. ROI shows prospective students that the school is committed to not just providing quality education but to helping students translate that education into real-world experience.
• It ensures staff throughout campus are better able to support international students’ needs: Admissions staff will be better equipped to answer questions on career-related topics, such as visa restrictions and internships instead of referring candidates to other offices for answers.
• It helps prospective international students find the best-fit school(s) for them: Collaborating can help admissions representatives paint a more vivid student journey and tell a story for prospective students about how they’ll grow personally, academically, and professionally.
• It ensures international students feel supported from admissions through graduation and beyond: Highlighting the career center shows students that they are going to have personalized guidance throughout their time at your school. This is particularly important for international students, who face unique challenges in a new country and an unfamiliar educational system and job market. 

How admissions and career centers can partner to drive international student enrollment

Below are the top strategies we recommend for admissions and career services collaboration:

Focus on career readiness

Illinois Tech increased its first-year student enrollment by 25% by focusing on career readiness and engaging students through hands-on experiences and personalized mentorship. If your school uses internships or experiential learning programs as an integral part of its academic programs, make sure to highlight them in marketing materials and presentations to prospective students to help them see a direct pathway between their education and career goals.

Helping students gain awareness of career resources and opportunities in the US early in their academic journey is also key to career readiness. Make sure the career services office is available during new student orientation and that incoming students receive information about it before they step foot on campus. This is especially important for international students as they take advantage of career centers less than domestic students due to unfamiliarity with the service, according to research from 2016. 

Use career outcomes data as a selling point for recruitment 

Job and internship outcomes can be a powerful selling point for a school, so providing prospective students and their families with career outcomes data in marketing materials is crucial. When possible, share overall outcomes but also parse out data for non-US citizens or permanent residents. Relevant data could include:

• What percentage of students had internships? How many internships did they complete on average? Where did they complete internships?
• How many students had jobs during their studies?
• What percentage of students were employed full-time after graduation? Who were the top employers who hired them?
• What are the average salaries for recent alumni in different disciplines?

Promote career development opportunities and relevant job market information

Many international student prospects are completely unfamiliar with the US job markets, as well as restrictions on working and interning while in the US. This partnership can help admissions teams answer questions about on-campus and/or off-campus employment while on an F-1 student visa and address other top concerns for international students regarding career services and working in the US.

• Stay up-to-date on the school’s career resources for international students so that you can proactively share them with prospects.
• Promote career development events that the career center hosts such as workshops, networking events, and job fairs. 
• Inquire with career center professionals about what questions international students ask most so that you can share trendy information with prospects. 

Share student success stories 

Recruitment and marketing strategies need to include a personal element to be effective. According to the 2022 QS International Student Survey, hearing stories from current international students can play a major role in the college selection process. If you partner with the career center, you get to tap into a whole host of international student and alumni stories about how their experience at your university helped them land an internship or get a full-time position somewhere in the US. 

You might want to feature international student stories on the admissions website or brochures. The school’s marketing team can also use quotes, photos, and video or audio clips that you collect from students and alumni in their digital recruitment content.

Final thoughts on admissions and career centers collaboration

Through an admissions and career centers partnership, both entities can gain a more holistic understanding of the needs of students in their institutions and help bolster student success.

Interstride can help your institution’s admissions and career centers collaborate and support international students. Our admissions platform easily connects prospective students from anywhere in the world with student ambassadors and admissions representatives. Current students can use Interstride’s seamlessly integrated career services to build a professional network, find international-friendly jobs and internships, and learn about visa options. 

Interstride designed these platforms specifically with international students in mind. Let us help you effectively attract, engage, and retain more international students and increase your institution’s reputation and career outcomes. 

The post How admissions and career centers can work together to drive recruitment and enrollment appeared first on Interstride.

What is an admissions student ambassador?

As an ambassador, you represent your university or alma mater and serve as an authentic voice for prospective students. This is a wonderful chance to showcase the school’s offerings and diversity, and instill excitement in prospects considering attending the institution.

Admissions ambassadors are reliable advocates that international prospects can turn to for information and guidance. Whether prospects have questions about the application process or university life – you have firsthand experience that you can share. Something as simple as having conversations can actually be quite impactful. As an ambassador, you can help potential students feel embraced and supported while helping your institution attract more international students.

Joining your university’s ambassador program is a great opportunity to:

• Connect and inspire potential students
• Give prospects an insider scoop on the international student experience
• Gain volunteer experience and develop leadership and communication skills

5 ways to be an amazing ambassador

With the right preparation and expectations, you can serve your school well. Below are six ways to be a great digital student ambassador at your college or university:

1) Be sincere and build trust

It is crucial to provide honest and genuine peer-to-peer interaction with prospects. They want to know that you are being sincere when you answer their questions and when you share about your experiences at that school. You know firsthand that navigating the admissions and application process as an international student can be challenging and intimidating. Considering the pivotal role that college plays in shaping their future, international applicants may experience feelings of being overwhelmed and under pressure throughout the application and admissions period.

Therefore, as an admissions ambassador, it is important to check-in consistently and purposefully to signal support. These small actions will let prospects know that you care about their success and that you are here to ease any concerns they may have about applying to and attending the institution. Always be sincere when interacting with prospective students and their families. Having a trusted peer to lean on during this process can also increase a prospective student’s trust in the institution.

2) Be proactive and nurture relationships

Building meaningful relationships takes time and active effort. Take the initiative to reach out to prospective students before they have questions. When you do get questions, respond as promptly as possible. According to the QS International Survey, 94% of international prospects say they don’t want to wait long to hear back. Considering how busy admission officers can be, ambassadors can fill in the gaps and check-in with students more casually and regularly.

As an ambassador, you’re also uniquely positioned to share applicants’ most pressing issues and questions with staff so they can better understand and support prospects. This enables admissions teams to be proactive rather than reactive about meeting the needs of prospective international students.

3) Use strong communication skills

All communication with prospects and their families should be clear and concise. Whether you are responding to an email, chat request, or connecting virtually over video, you should also be calm, open, and welcoming.  When possible, relate to the emotional challenges international prospects face, but remember that you are representing your university. While you want to be relatable and personal, you should also remain professional. Strike the right balance between formal and informal communication.

4) Embrace a positive attitude

International students come from a variety of different cultures with different beliefs, customs, and communication norms. Having a positive attitude as a student ambassador can enhance your ability to build rapport with prospects and leave a favorable impression. Your energy can motivate prospects to feel excited, confident, and welcome, making it more likely for them to consider applying and attending. Ultimately, as an admissions ambassador, your attitude reflects not only on yourself but your school. A positive attitude helps to strengthen the institution’s reputation, attract more prospective students, and contribute to a vibrant and thriving international community.

5) Manage your time well

We know college students often have busy schedules. Good time management and organization is essential. To balance your course load, student ambassador responsibilities, and other extracurricular activities, set aside specific times for each activity just as you would for class time. Reach out to prospective students regularly to ensure you are building genuine relationships and providing adequate support.

Be the best student ambassador you can be

Being a great student ambassador means providing great advice and guidance to prospective students, sharing your authentic experiences, and positively representing the school. If you follow the tips above, you will surely excel in your school’s student ambassador program. The cherry on top? You’ll gain invaluable leadership and professional experience while giving back to your international student community.

The post How to be a great student ambassador appeared first on Interstride.

Being a student ambassador not only enables you to provide tailored support to fellow international prospects but it also grants you valuable leadership experience. In this blog, we’ll dive into an ambassador’s key responsibilities so you can give back to your university in a meaningful capacity and enhance your professional skills.

What are the duties of a student ambassador?

The ultimate role of an admissions ambassador is to help prospects feel more comfortable and confident in the admissions and application process. By doing so, ambassadors can influence prospects to feel motivated and excited to apply for and potentially attend the institution. If your school partners with Interstride, your duties as a student ambassador will exist primarily online on the admissions portal. While your specific responsibilities may vary depending on your college or university, the general admissions ambassador duties are outlined below.

1) Provide mentorship to prospective students

As a student ambassador, you provide the peer-to-peer interactions that international prospects desire. Your impact extends beyond merely answering questions; you offer guidance that can significantly influence a student’s decision regarding where to apply to college in the US or whether to apply at all.

Since an international student’s admission journey is filled with many challenges, helping someone overcome an obstacle or clarify confusing details can go a long way. Whether a prospective student is seeking feedback on their application or has a question about campus life or the student immigration process, you’re in the best position to educate them.

To create a positive and supportive environment, it is essential for student ambassadors to proactively engage with prospective students on a regular basis. Initiating dialogue and maintaining consistent communication shows prospects you want to see them succeed. By taking an active approach in reaching out to potential students, you contribute to building a supportive network and nurturing a lasting positive impression of your institution.

2) Share from your own personal experiences

Prospective students want to hear from current students rather than admissions staff because they want to know what the school is like from their peers. Prepare to be a great student ambassador by thinking back to when you applied to the school and how it felt. Reflect on traveling to the US for the first time and what valuable experiences you had. Get vulnerable and share those experiences and feelings with potential students to show you can relate to how they might be feeling. Try to share stories that include positive endings, advice, or important lessons learned.

3) Foster community

As a student ambassador on Interstride, you may also be asked to foster connections between prospective students, admissions officers, and other student ambassadors through online groups. This provides additional opportunities for prospects to build a wider support system at your school. Depending on the different groups, you can connect with more than one prospect to share your relevant experiences and insights. Prospects and families may have questions about:

• Transitioning to living in the US for international students
• Specific academic programs and interests
• Living on-campus
• Financial aid and work opportunities
• How to find on-campus services for new students

4) Support incoming students in transitioning to US university life

The positive impact of student ambassadors goes beyond the admissions process to helping new students feel welcome and supported when they finally arrive on campus. This is especially valuable for international students because moving to another country to live and study can be very overwhelming. As an ambassador, you can continue to chat online with students and give advice even after they have enrolled in the school. This gives new international students someone to lean on during this major life transition and reflects well on the university or college’s reputation.

Represent your school as a digital student ambassador

You can see from the duties of student ambassadors that they are essential to actively engaging and supporting prospective students. Student ambassadors are relatable and approachable. Compared to admissions staff, ambassadors can speak from personal experience rather than reading off a script. Prospective international students want to chat with current students in the US, and digital student ambassadors fill that role. You may have an impact on their choice to apply to the school and make them feel excited to attend as an international student!

The post What does an admissions student ambassador do? appeared first on Interstride.

According to research from the National Student Clearinghouse, 27.6% of full-time students in 2020 chose not to continue their studies at their current college for the next academic year. While that number is slightly lower for international students, every student that drops out or transfers to another university represents lost revenue for the school. With the decrease in enrollment in the U.S., focusing on international student retention is more important than ever.

What is student retention and why it matters?

Student retention refers to keeping students enrolled in their current institution until they graduate. Low student retention caused by students leaving school for the workforce, dropping out for other reasons, or transferring to a different school can lead to loss of revenue for the university, and a lost opportunity to recuperate recruiting costs. On the other hand, high retention rates are a signal of student satisfaction and a sign of prosperity and stability for the university as a whole. By implementing the correct student retention strategies, you can boost your school’s reputation and increase both enrollment and retention rates.

According to NAFSA, Elizabeth Matthews, Assistant Director of the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State University, states that it is ‘a misstep to fail to recognize the impact that international student attrition has on the reputation of the institution abroad.’ If current students and alumni voice negative experiences, that could deter international prospects and their families from considering higher education at your institution or even in the U.S. at all. Therefore, keeping active students happy and satisfied is crucial to fostering a positive reputation locally and abroad, and attracting top talent from around the world to study in the U.S.

Top barriers to student retention

In order to implement effective student retention strategies, you should first understand the challenges that cause students to drop out or transfer to another university or college. For international students, these can include:

• Culture shock or difficulties acclimating to a new environment
• Lack of university support to ease transitioning into American life
• High cost of education and living in the U.S.

1) Lack of Support or Guidance

Once international students are enrolled, universities often fail to provide the academic, career, and immigration support they desperately need which can lead to poor retention and reputation. At some universities in the U.S., departments operate completely separate from each other. When each department has their own leadership, resources, processes, and systems with little to no collaboration across other departments, an active international student may feel disconnected and ill informed.

Many colleges in the U.S. also have complex and archaic websites that students must navigate regularly to find information and complete essential tasks like registering for classes. These websites are usually designed for professors, university staff, and domestic students, so international students may struggle to find the crucial information and resources they need. Regardless of whether an international student is looking for academic or immigration support, the lack of university guidance can leave students feeling confused and overwhelmed in a completely new environment.

2) Financing

As the costs of higher education in the U.S. continue to rise, financing remains a key factor in international student retention. International students face higher tuition and fees and have to pay for travel to and from the U.S., as well as living accommodations. They may also experience financial uncertainty due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. International students and their families want to make sure they are getting a high return on investment. The student should feel confident that their career opportunities upon graduation will be equally or more valuable than the cost of the degree. That means not only implementing creative pricing strategies and offering financial aid, but showing students how valuable a degree from your university is.

3) Lack of Community

International students may struggle to fit in at their new school while being far from home and away from their support system. If students don’t find a meaningful connection to their university or develop strong social ties with other students, they may feel isolated and dissatisfied. This could lead them to drop out, return to their home country, or transfer to a different school in search of a sense of belonging. Retention strategies in higher education should include addressing cultural differences and language barriers that prevent international students from connecting to their school and other students.

Retention Strategies for Higher Education

1) Engage early on and creatively

Ensuring that international students have a good and accurate first impression of the school is key to long-term retention. This is especially true for international students who likely will not be able to visit the school in person before they enroll. Excellent student retention strategies start engaging students before they even enroll at the university or arrive on campus. Supporting international students in the admissions process with long term retention in mind sets both parties up for success. It sends the message to prospective students that the school cares about them and will support them from day one through graduation. If you wait until a student is struggling or dissatisfied in some way to provide support, it may be too late.

International students may also be hesitant to reach out and ask for help. The university should proactively show students that it cares about their well-being and success, and educate them on how to access services and resources on-campus that may be relevant to them. Some ways to implement this retention strategy include regularly checking in with international students and leveraging student ambassadors to increase engagement. Student ambassadors can be available online or in-person to answer international students’ questions and share resources.

2) Provide tailored support and resources for academic success

Colleges and universities need to provide individualized support and guidance for each international student. Retention strategies for students in their first year of school should be more hands-on and include actively connecting students to resources that they likely would not seek out on their own. Academic and career advisors should meet with first-year students regularly, and work with them to create a tailored support plan.

For international students in the middle of their studies or in their last academic year, advisors must actively engage and inform students of their options to work and stay in the U.S. upon graduation. This includes providing them with the proper career development and immigration resources and opening doors to possible job opportunities.

To design and carry out effective higher education retention strategies for all stages of the international student journey, Admissions Offices, Career Services, International Student Offices, Offices of Retention, and Community Life need to collaboratively engage with international students. One office working in isolation cannot fully support a student.

Here are some suggested supports for fostering international students’ academic success:

• Online and in-person tutoring
• English language classes
• Virtual office hours with professors
• Academic writing workshops
• Online and in-person social events
• Workshops and webinars on U.S. culture, immigration pathways, and work authorization
• Networking events with alumni
• Job fairs with companies that sponsor international students
• 1-on-1 advising on graduation requirements and career options

3) Create connection and build community

A sense of belonging is key for international student retention. International students who feel isolated are likely to drop out or transfer elsewhere. With the increase of online classes, international students may also feel more disconnected from their peers even if they are living on or near campus. To foster positive social encounters among students, it’s important to meet them where they are – online.

An effective way to increase student interactions is through a digital university ambassador program. These programs invite prospective and new students to engage with current students and alumni online, and allows them to ask questions and get advice from their peers. Research shows that digital messaging and engagement platforms foster social immediacy which increases students’ feelings of connectedness. “Online immediacy, such as instant feedback and timely responses on a chat group or email, replicates the social cues that are present in a real time interaction.” By facilitating positive and authentic interactions digitally, student ambassador programs can help new American and international students feel welcomed and connected to the school in their first year to ensure their return.

A better way to improve international student retention

While admissions offices work hard to keep student enrollment numbers up, getting students in the door isn’t enough. You must also be proactive in implementing strategies to improve international student retention. Students want to know that their college will support them throughout their higher education journey and set them up for future success. Interstride’s dynamic tool helps you better engage and support prospective and current international students, and supplements existing international college student retention efforts. University admissions will find it valuable for increasing international student satisfaction, boosting the school’s reputation, and improving overall student retention.

The post Retention strategies for international college students appeared first on Interstride.

Alumni represent an underutilized resource for university admissions offices. They have more to offer their alma mater than just financial donations. Alumni are uniquely positioned to engage with prospective and current international students. They can share first-hand experiences, provide insight and guidance, and help admissions teams support students in the admissions process and throughout their entire academic journey.

When leveraged effectively, alumni can also have a positive impact on the university’s reputation, enrollment rates, and student retention rates. This blog explains how alumni help with student retention and provides concrete ways to engage alumni to boost international student enrollment.

Who are alumni?

University alumni are former students who have graduated from the school. Former students of the university include those who have:

• Completed an undergraduate degree
• Completed a graduate degree
• Completed a non-degree program
• Earned a certificate or credential

Alumni often have access to certain benefits and resources through their alma mater’s alumni association. An alumni association is an essential part of any growing or established institution to keep alumni connected to the university. These associations can organize events and networking opportunities for former and current students, as well as manage fundraising through alumni donations.

Why is alumni engagement important for universities?

Not only does engaging alumni provide a means for fundraising, it also offers incredible value for the university’s brand. Consistently engaging with alumni in positive ways can boost the university’s reputation globally. Proper alumni engagement can ultimately lead to more efficient support for international students throughout their entire student journey, from admissions to graduation. 

1) Recruitment

The evolving state of international student recruitment is becoming more competitive, and recruitment costs are increasing. International students and their families have voiced that they want to connect with existing students and alumni to help them understand and weigh whether a US college degree is worth the high tuition costs, immigration challenges, and career outcomes. In other words, does an American education provide a high return on investment?

Alumni can take an active role in the international student recruitment process to help prospects and families see the value of choosing a university in the US. They are uniquely positioned to resonate profoundly with students and to make a positive impact on their experiences. However, universities must actively engage alumni and identify the best representatives to include in the admissions process.

Learn more recruitment strategies for increasing international student enrollment from Interstride’s blog.

2) Representation

Diversity and inclusion are becoming more prominent selling points for prospective university students. Engaging alumni is a powerful tool to showcase your university’s diversity, but if you don’t stay connected with alumni, you won’t have much to show! One of the biggest challenges for international students studying in the US is lacking a sense of belonging. Alumni can represent the best references and most relatable people for international students to connect with. They can demonstrate the career outcomes of studying at your institution to convey the true value and quality of your university in a real way.

3) Retention

Low retention rates due to dropouts and transfers to other institutions decrease revenue for a university and damage its reputation. Engaging and leveraging alumni to support international students throughout their student journey can be very impactful. Alumni can provide mentorship and guidance on acclimating to American university life, offer advice on their academic journey, and even provide professional connections or opportunities in the future. By keeping alumni engaged, you can ensure that they will be available and willing to support current students when they need it. This can prevent international students from leaving your university when challenges arise.

How alumni can help international students

Admissions offices need to work with alumni associations to be actively in touch with the school’s alumni network. When alumni are engaged, they can take action to support international students in various ways depending on where students are in their higher education journey.

Prospective Students (Admissions Stage)

We already know that prospective international students want to connect with existing students and alumni. When universities do not effectively facilitate those connections, prospective students will seek out information themselves through informal or personal networks (e.g. friends, family, classmates) and social media (i.e. LinkedIn). With these methods, students may have a difficult time getting the accurate information they need or even come across negative reviews of your university.

Additionally, admissions teams miss out on key insights regarding what prospects are asking about. Having this information available to you can help you tailor a more effective recruitment strategy. Admissions offices can bridge these gaps by actively connecting alumni with international prospects. Focus on opportunities for authentic interactions through student ambassador programs and online messaging and engagement platforms.

Here are some ways that alumni can help prospective international students:

• Provide advice on how to prepare a strong application
• Share about their own experiences as international students
• Speak honestly about the challenges of being an international student and how to overcome them
• Share information about specific degree programs
• Share their positive career outcomes as a result of studying at your institution

Existing and Graduating Students

Existing international students often need support navigating university services and adjusting to life in a new country. Alumni can share practical recommendations for housing, insurance, building community, and more to help ease the transition of coming to the US for the first time. Alumni can also support international students academically by sharing useful resources and services on- or off-campus.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and Career Centers at the university should work collaboratively and help connect current international students to alumni who work in the industry they are interested in. Alumni are valuable sources of job market information. They may have insight into how international students can leverage their US education to gain more career opportunities, and even help them build their professional networks by introducing them to their colleagues. In the best case scenario, alumni can potentially refer current and graduating international students to internships and job opportunities.

Leverage alumni more effectively with Interstride

Interstride’s engagement tool helps you leverage alumni to boost recruitment and retention of international students. The platform provides prospects with opportunities to connect with alumni ambassadors, ask questions, and access expertly-crafted resources. International students can choose to speak to alumni from their home country, ones who majored in a field of study they are interested in, or speak directly with admissions officers. Contact Interstride today for a demo to learn how you can engage alumni to help international students through their higher education journey from admissions to graduation.

The post How can alumni help international students? appeared first on Interstride.

Prospective international college students and their families want to ensure that they make the best decision when choosing a university. They are interested in learning and evaluating schools based on a wide range of criteria including cost, quality of education, community, post-graduation employability, and more. International students who are coming from across the world want to guarantee they’re going to a reputable university in the US.

Because international prospects face unique challenges when applying to colleges in the US, more universities are starting to use student ambassadors in the admissions process to represent schools. University ambassadors can share first-hand experiences and unique insight for those considering their university. Student ambassadors can advocate for the school to potential international students making them a powerful asset for increasing student enrollment.

What are student ambassadors?

University ambassadors are current students who serve as the voice of their school to prospective students and their families. These student volunteers provide an authentic glimpse into what being a student at that school is really like from academics to social life. They can answer questions, reassure, and guide students throughout their entire admissions journey. University ambassadors can even share details such as how to build community as an international student and the best restaurants near campus. This helps ease international students in their preparation for and transition to college and makes them feel welcome before they even arrive.

What do student ambassadors do?

The responsibilities of a student ambassador vary depending on the program and the time of year. Common tasks of university ambassadors include:

• Giving presentations to prospective students and families
• Contacting prospective students
• Responding to questions from prospective students and families
• Leading campus tours
• Assisting with orientation for new students

Benefits of a student ambassador program

Now more than ever, prospective international students want to connect with current international students to learn about the school and determine if it’s the right fit for them. Admissions offices looking to increase international student enrollment will find a university ambassador program beneficial. Ambassador programs have numerous benefits for current and prospective students as well.

1) Build trust and nurture relationships

Student ambassador programs are effective because they provide opportunities for honest and genuine peer-to-peer interaction in person or online. Unlike traditional marketers, ambassadors are not reading from a script. They are speaking from their own lived experiences. Student ambassadors go beyond simply answering questions. They provide realness about what it’s like on campus each day to help prospective international students feel more connected to the university.

University ambassadors who take the time to engage consistently with international students and their parents can help them feel more connected to the university. Throughout the application and orientation process, a university ambassador can check in regularly with students and provide support as needed. This is especially important for international students because the admissions process for US schools can be unclear and intimidating.

2) Showcase diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are becoming more prominent selling points for prospective university students, and with good reason. Research shows that diversity in higher education promotes critical thinking, innovation, and growth. University ambassador programs are an excellent opportunity to highlight the diversity of the student body rather than just talking about it.

Furthermore, international students want to know they will be welcomed at their university of choice. Admissions offices can help with this by matching student ambassadors with prospective international students from their home country. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred animosity towards foreigners in the US, and the number of new international students, particularly those from China, is decreasing. Having student ambassadors from the student’s home country can ease the fears that prospective students and their families have around belonging and safety at their US university.

3) Improve your digital marketing and engagement strategy

Student ambassadors have gone through the admissions process themselves and may have valuable insights on what can be improved. They can also provide university staff with direct feedback from international prospects and the questions applicants are asking in order to optimize the university’s marketing and engagement strategy.

Charlotte Cripps, Head of Video at IDP Connect, says: “’Having students from specific markets talk about their university experiences can be an extremely powerful tool. Not only can other students from relevant markets relate to their experiences, but they are also able to easily gather insightful information.”

Traditionally, student ambassadors connected with prospective students in-person through college fairs and tours. Now, there are more opportunities for student ambassadors to engage with potential students online. They can create social media content, lead virtual tours, and have conversations with prospective students in different countries. This is especially valuable for prospective undergraduate students as Gen Z spend much of their time online and seek authenticity in their digital interactions. Leveraging student ambassador programs is an untapped tool that should be a part of your university’s digital marketing plan.

4) Provide leadership opportunities for existing students

Student ambassador programs are mutually beneficial to the university and the participating students. The program adds value to the student ambassador’s own college experience and helps to boost their resume.

By participating in the program, university ambassadors gain:

• Leadership experience
• Communication skills
• Experience representing a brand
• An opportunity to give back to new students
• Connections to other international students

A new solution for boosting international student enrollment

With a student ambassador program, prospective international students can connect with current students from different programs or graduation years, and they can even connect with people from their home country. University ambassadors act as guides for new students, helping them navigate their new school and build a sense of belonging. As a leader in the international student space, Interstride can help you engage and convert the international student prospects into enrolled students. We make it easy to guide international students through every part of their admissions journey and show them that they are valued and cared for at your school.

The post What is a student ambassador? appeared first on Interstride.

Most international students hope to work in the US after graduation. However, unlike domestic students, international students face immigration hurdles and employer biases that require them to be a lot more strategic in their job hunt.

As a career advisor, you are in a unique position to help international students.

With a little planning and research, you can guide students to fulfilling careers in the US or other developed countries with comparable economies and opportunities. Here are some tips to get you started.

1) Start career counseling upon arrival

Imagine the competition for jobs as a marathon. The problem for international students is that they are starting the race an extra two miles behind domestic students.

That’s because a lot of employers are hesitant to hire international students. To overcome this bias, international students must outhustle domestic students to make themselves as marketable as possible. They need to identify career goals and then work on developing the industry knowledge, functional experience, professional experience, and cultural competencies to appeal to employers.

Developing that knowledge and experience takes time. It requires students to pursue the right degree programs, engage in meaningful projects, land relevant internships, and develop a professional network.

Many international students, however, don’t realize the future obstacles they will face and aren’t thinking about their careers in their freshman year or even their first year of graduate school.

It’s your job to prepare them as soon as possible. Neither of you can afford to wait. So, why not develop a workshop or program for international students as soon as they arrive on campus to help close that opportunity gap quickly?

2) Check in periodically

Remember what we said about starting the marathon early?

Well, starting early doesn’t matter if a student gets off course. Keep open communication lines with your international students and check in on them periodically. Make sure they are hitting their milestones and doing the things they need to be doing to reach their full potential, graduate on time, and achieve their career goals.

3) Use Data and Insights to Guide Students

International students cannot afford to take a shotgun approach to their job search. Many of them waste valuable time and resources applying for jobs at employers who will not sponsor work visas.

Unfortunately, most traditional jobs boards do not indicate whether or not they hire international students. Still, there are ways that students can be more strategic. They can do that by using data and insights to steer their search toward the best job leads. 

So, how is an international student supposed to know where to begin?

Fortunately, there are resources out there that allow you to better identify target companies. This is where Interstride can really help.

Our Visa Insights page allows you to job hunt for companies willing to sponsor international students. You can tailor your search based on visa type, the industry you want to work in, the state you want to work in, your work experience, and more. 

Get rid of the shotgun and adopt a laser focus instead. 

4) Prepare them for failure

80 percent of international students would stay in the US to start their careers after graduating. Unfortunately, the truth is that the same 80 percent end up returning home mainly because of immigration hurdles and inability to find work.

Returning home can be a big disappointment for international students. Many of them come from developing countries where wages are relatively low. These highly skilled graduates often end up working jobs where they are underpaid and struggle to pay back their student loans.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though.

As a career counselor, you should prepare your international students for the possibility that they might not find work in the US Encourage them to develop a Plan B that still keeps them on track to meet their long-term goals.

 A Plan B could include:

• Considering H-1B alternatives in the US like working for H-1B cap-exempt employers
• Taking a job in an international office of a US company. After working abroad for a year, you may be able to return to the US on an L visa
• Pursuing more education in the US

5) Build your own network across campus to better serve students

Supporting international students is not a one-man job. The more connected you are to resources across campus, the more prepared you are to serve your international students.

This is especially important with international students. Some domestic students may be able to navigate the web of campus resources on their own. But for international students, cultural and language differences can make an already difficult task even more burdensome. You may need to act as their guide, directing them to the people on campus who can meet their needs.

To do that, though, you have to know those people.

• Build relationships with as many support services as possible – This includes the international student office, tutoring programs, advising, your multicultural center, your alumni association, student services, and more.
• Leverage the alumni network – Creating and maintaining a solid network is one of the most important things an international student can do. As many as 85 percent of all available jobs are filled through networks. Alumni groups are a great place for international students to start building their network and engage in mentorship programs that connect students and young alumni with older, more connected international alumni.
• Expand your social, professional and information network beyond campus – Get to know the organizations that work directly with international students and with administrators who work on their behalf. Follow them on social media, sign up for their newsletters, and stay in contact with them to keep up to date on the ever changing landscape in education and immigration. 

Interstride is here to help

Just as there is help out there for international students, help also exists for those who counsel them on their career options. At Interstride, we know all about the obstacles international students face as they transition to their careers, and we know how to overcome them, too.

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The post 5 essential tips to better support international students appeared first on Interstride.