Are international students' preferences for study in the U.S.A. declining?

The U.S. association, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, is meeting and one of the areas of concern the members are exploring is the prospect of maintaining what has been a growing number of international students studying in the U.S.A. Those assembled identified concerns raised by prospective international students such as the cost of U.S. institutions, decline of government subsidies, visa restrictions, violence on campus and adjoining towns, and competition from better options emerging in their home countries. While these decision criteria may not have easy solutions, one concern about studying in the U.S.A. is unique to the 2016 race for the U.S. Presidency. International students have seen the political discourse and don't like what they see - xenophobia, vilification, and marginalization by the Trump campaign.

In addition to exploring prospective international students' concerns, the admission counselors revisited the stance they took at their last meeting allowing private placement agents to assist candidates in their admission transactions. Two new clauses were added to NACAC's Statement of Principles of Best Practice. The first recommends that paid recruitment staff disclose to prospects any institution that is compensating them. The second recommendation is that institutions offer to verify the agents they employ to represent them. The combination of these measures will at least offer more transparency about who is involved and what their motivations might be.