The Upsurge in International Applications

Let’s begin this month’s column with some data. First, the sheer volume of applications to undergraduate programs continues to skyrocket.

In the last 30 years Brown University has gone from 12,638 applicants to a staggering 30,423 for the class of 2018. In 2009 USC received 35,753 applications; this year that number jumped to well over 50,000.

Public universities such as UC Davis, just outside of Sacramento, California, are not immune to this trend. Davis, a wonderful institution that lacks the panache of its more famous cousins UCLA and UC Berkeley, received 60,500 applications to fill a class of 5,100.

For many universities, international applications are the driving force behind this huge surge. Twenty years ago international applications represented only eight percent of Brown’s entire pool; this year 17 percent of Brown’s entire undergraduate application pool will come from countries outside the USA. Even Santa Clara University, a mid-sized Jesuit institution still in the early stages of recruiting international students, witnessed a 20 percent increase in international applications.

Two countries, China and India, have played a definitive role in changing the landscape of college admissions. For many of the universities I spoke with, China alone represented 25 to 33 percent of the entire international application pool.

This upsurge in international applications can be attributed to a variety of factors. Clearly, many undergraduate admission offices have ramped up their recruiting efforts. Additionally, international high schools are committing more funding to the college counseling office in order to make certain that students are working with committed and trained professionals who are prepared to guide applicants through the confusing maze that is the American college application process.

Finally, it is not uncommon for students and parents to hire admission consultants, who excel at packaging students for admission to U.S. colleges. And, herein lies the dark side of the international application boom. Universities are increasingly concerned about the veracity of applications coming from overseas.

A student getting needed help or guidance on an application is certainly acceptable. But, students who outsource their applications to “hired guns” who write (and perhaps even falsify) the documents represent a real and growing problem for international admissions officers.

As one admissions dean stressed, admission fraud is not a “victimless crime.” International students who show up ill-prepared for academic expectations, or undergraduates who lack the language skills to survive in the classroom will quickly find themselves overwhelmed at an American—or Canadian—university. These factors increase the likelihood of deeper, more troubling issues like the onset of depression.

Additionally, cheaters take away seats from deserving students—American and international alike. Therefore, it is important for counselors and students to understand that admissions officers are on the lookout for even the slightest “red flag” from the international applicant pool.

As a representative from Dartmouth explained, “with international applicant pools as deep as they are, it does not take much to push a file into the deny pile.”

It is not always difficult for a seasoned admissions officer to identify a student who has received a little too much coaching. For example, an application that lacks a consistent writing skill level across the entire file is often problematic. If the personal statement reads like something from a Ph.D. student but other, shorter sections of the common application are littered with errors in grammar or structure, the admissions officer will undoubtedly question the authorship of the application essay.

Significant discrepancies in the language used in the essay and SAT/ACT or TOEFL scores will also raise the suspicions of the admissions office. Becky Konowicz, Santa Clara University’s Director of International Admissions mentioned that she often saves emails from students, in order to see if the writing skill exhibited in the less formal communication is similar to the style and sophistication found in the application.

Additionally, international applicants who claim to have done something special, like making a documentary on illegal abortions in Thailand, or leading re-forestation efforts in inner Mongolia, can certainly expect follow-up from a university official. As Rachel Toyen, an international student recruiter at the University of British Columbia explained, “Applicants who claim to have done something super extraordinary in their personal profile can expect that we will contact a reference to verify.”

Impressive stories of enterprising-but-fictitious extracurricular projects are among the more common red flags that admissions officers deal with. Just ask Tufts, where 25 percent of the applicants from Thailand were thrown out for suspected cheating.

The problem, of course, is that these red flags are the very things that many of the less professional and ethical independent counseling companies sell to students. As you can imagine, perfect essays and amazing extra-curricular activities might very well be the path to a denial, and not an offer of admission.

So what policies can international counselors embrace, in order to save students from outside influences that might do more harm than good?

First, I encourage all college counselors to share this information with parents and students. Certainly there are some great independent counseling agencies out there; but do all you can to make certain that your parents are informed consumers. If they decide that they want to use an independent counselor or agency, please try to be part of the conversation. I even know of some high school counseling offices that provide a list of approved outside counselors to any parents intent on getting additional help.

Next, develop a college counseling program that is thorough and professional. Take away the concerns many parents might have that their son or daughter is not getting enough help. Working hand in hand with the administration, develop a system that allows you to focus on counseling—not coaching or teaching.

From one-on-one meetings with students to hosting parent nights to communicating with admissions offices, this is a full-time job, not something to be split with other duties.

Also, I strongly encourage counselors to develop relationships with universities. When a university admissions officer trusts the college counselor they will be far more likely to trust the applicant. A great step in establishing this relationship is by attending the OACAC and NACAC conferences. These yearly gatherings provide counselors with a wonderful chance to expand their professional skill set, as well as establish meaningful relationships with the officers working on the other side of the desk.

Moreover, if and when you have strong evidence that the applicant’s work may not be his or her own, communicate with the colleges. In the long run, this policy will help ensure that your name and the work of your other students will remain above reproach.

Finally, the school profile plays a huge role in helping an admissions officer determine a school’s professionalism. Admissions officers will look for clear contact information, truthful guidance on programs and testing, and a counseling office staffed by admissions professionals.

Padding college applications is as old as higher education itself, but I do think international applications to Canadian and American universities are under a slightly more intense spotlight. I encourage all international school counselors to embrace policies that will ensure their students get a thorough and unbiased read.

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