For the last twenty years, the U.S. has been one of the most popular places for foreign students to go to school. However, there are many obstacles a student faces when he or she decides to apply to a school in America: from paperwork to visa issues to cultural differences and the sheer amount of information out there.
This is why there are international education agencies and consultants — they serve as a bridge between universities in the United States and those students applying from outside the U.S. — providing one-on-one support that can have a major impact on the number of students who actually end up attending a U.S. college or university.
Here is How International Education Agencies Influence U.S. Student Enrolment:
1. How They’re Helping to Make the Application Process Easier
The American university admission process can be overwhelming for international students. Each college or university has its own set of requirements for applying, as well as its own online system and deadlines. The education agencies and consultants give students the following services:
- Help students choose a university or college based on their budget, academic qualifications, and career aspirations.
- Work with students to help them develop their personal statements and applications.
- Assist students with translating documentation, evaluating credentials, and preparing for standardized tests.
By working closely with students, educational consultants reduce the confusion that many students encounter while attempting to navigate the application process. As a result of receiving this type of assistance, thousands of students successfully submitted applications that they would have otherwise abandoned. This has helped universities receive higher-quality and more complete applications, increasing the number of international students who enroll at their institutions.
2. Increasing access to higher education in the United States
Higher education agencies are an essential intermediary between higher education institutions and students seeking educational opportunities. They help to democratize access to higher education in the United States by connecting potential international students to higher education institutions through the following activities:
- Information sessions and school visits.
- Partnerships with local schools and language schools.
- Online consultations and webinars about studying in the United States.
Through these activities, higher education agencies increase the visibility of American higher education institutions to a larger pool of international students, including students who may not have previously thought of studying abroad.
3. Reducing the Administrative Burden on the Universities
Working with International education agencies gives a university a significant competitive advantage. Agencies serve as local representatives by pre-qualifying students, verifying that they have the necessary documentation to attend a U.S. college or university, and improving conversion rates from initial inquiry to enrollment.
Therefore, the university admissions staff can concentrate on evaluating the high-quality applications instead of spending time dealing with incomplete applications or applications submitted by students not qualified to attend college in the United States.
Many times, universities credit their agents with assisting them in meeting specific enrollment goals, especially in regions such as South Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
4. Building Trust and Cultural Bridges
While your primary goal during your time abroad will be academic, there are also many emotional and financial factors involved in your decision to study abroad. Families may choose to invest in their child’s education based on how trustworthy and supportive their family feels about sending their student abroad. Local education consultants act as the “human connection” to build trust between families and their students by:
- Communicating with families in their family’s primary language;Â
- Clearly explaining details regarding visas and immigration; housing options; scholarships; etc.;Â
- Acting on behalf of the students/parents/families to represent their best interests with the university.
All of the above factors contribute significantly towards building trust with potential students, as students often rely heavily on personal recommendations from their friends and family when choosing to enroll in a university, especially in nations where Internet-based advertisements are not as powerful as word-of-mouth referrals.
5. The Data: Correlation Between Agencies and Enrollment Growth
A direct correlation between increased student enrollment growth and International education agencies can be confirmed by looking at enrollment statistics published by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The increase in international students attending universities in the U.S. appears to coincide with the increase in the international education agency’s growth. Currently, in nations such as China, India, Vietnam, and Nigeria, approximately 60 percent of international students are applying to study abroad through an intermediary agency. Further evidence can be found in the statistics published by universities that work with reputable international education agencies. Those universities are consistently reporting greater than 50 percent conversion rates from inquiries to accepted students and a wider variety of international student demographics.
6. Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While many international students are assisted by educational agencies when they intend to attend an American university, the increased participation by these agencies has created various issues. As an example, some agencies are overly commercialised (such as those who are more focused on making a profit rather than providing students with proper matches to institutions) and lack the transparency necessary to avoid providing students with misrepresentations of their eligibility for a visa or scholarship due to the commission structure from which they operate.
As a consequence, U.S. institutions of higher education have become very selective when determining which agencies they partner with for recruiting. In particular, most institutions will only work with vetted, professional, and trustworthy agencies that demonstrate a commitment to ethical recruitment practices.
Among such reliable and reputable agencies are:
- IDP Education – one of the largest global student placement organizations, co-owner of IELTS, and a certified AIRC member;
- ApplyBoard –delivers a digital recruitment solution for international students that connects them to universities worldwide using a data-driven approach and an ethical approach to recruitment;
- Shorelight Education –provides support for international students to prepare for success at American universities through a partnership between Shorelight and American universities;
- INTO University Partnerships – works with major American universities to develop on-campus pathway programs that help international students transition into their new environments;
- Kaplan International Pathways – works closely with higher education institutions in the U.S., UK, and other countries, focusing on academic readiness and student integration;
- SMAPSE Education – an international education consulting firm with a primary focus on Europe assists students around the world in choosing and applying to their favourite institutions and universities.
7. Future: AI, Automation and Data Driven Recruitment
As the evolution of the International education agencies’ role continues. Increasingly many educational institutions/agencies use Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered platforms to match students with programs based on the student’s academic profile and personal preferences.
Predictive analytics and chatbot support (AI agents) continue to allow both agencies and universities to streamline the admissions process and provide students with 24/7 access to support thus minimizing the timeframe from inquiry to enrollment and providing a better experience to all students.
Therefore, intermediaries will continue to play an important role in international education by combining Intermediary Technology and a relationship-based approach to attract even more international student talent to the United States.
Conclusion
International Education agencies have established themselves as an integral part of the international student recruitment network by streamlining complicated procedures, providing greater access, and fostering trust — directly translating into having more international students enroll at American colleges and universities.
Now, as we move into the future, there will be an increasing emphasis on collaboration between colleges/universities and responsible intermediaries in developing a global education network as technology continues to become more personalized and advanced and helps many students realize their ambitions to study in the United States.
