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Counselor Toolkit: A Resource for Counselors of International Students Attending High school in the US
This toolkit has been produced by the NACAC International Advisory Committee and the NEACAC Ad Hoc Committee on Resources for Counselors of International Students. It has two primary purposes: 1) To assist counselors in advising international students attending high school in the US on the college admission process. 2) To provide secondary schools who enroll or are considering enrolling international students with critical areas of consideration to ensure the school is prepared to successfully support these students.
High School Admission
International students undertake study at US high schools through various means including exchange programs and agency agreements.
Supporting International Students at High School
Ensuring effective processes are in place to support international students' academic and social development is important.
College Counseling for International Students
Counseling international students varies in significant ways from counseling domestic students.
Transitioning to College
Once an international student has been accepted to a college, transitioning to that institution often includes additional processes.
Toolkit Highlights
Percent Increase in the Number of Exchange Students Between Fall 2004 and Fall 2013
Percent of Diploma-Seeking students at US high schools from China in 2013
Percent of International Students on Cultural Exchange Programs who are from Europe in 2013
Who is an International Student?
Governments and organizations have different ways of defining who is an international student. Citizenship is the most commonly used characteristic. In the United States, “foreign students” typically mean students who are not US citizens or permanent residents and who have entered the country on one of several different kinds of nonimmigrant visas. Residency is another characteristic that can be used to define international students. Organizations interested in student mobility include students who leave one country for another for the purpose of study, regardless of citizenship. This includes US citizens who have lived overseas and are now attending school in the United States. While their passport eliminates the need for a visa, these students may have had limited-to-no experience living in the US and could require English language support and help with cultural adjustment.