In this first installment of our series for international students interested in studying in the United States, college finance expert Robyn Stewart identifies what offices on American college campuses can help a student navigate the application and enrollment processes. For more information, check out our website at getintocollege.com.

Many international students strive to attend a university in the United States, but end up confused by the U.S. admissions process, which tends to be less straightforward than admissions processes elsewhere. One question we often get is how an international transcript will translate in the U.S. system. Former MIT and Caltech admissions officer, Zaragoza Guerra, answers this question in the latest installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert.

In another in our series of stories from our team, Sai Somboon will share his decision to apply to and attend college in the United States despite growing up in Thailand. We’re also offering tips for the Georgetown application essays and previewing the FAFSA and CSS Profiles so that you can pull together the information you’ll need to complete these when they become available this fall.

Guest post by Dr. Steven Tolman, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Georgia Southern University

International students help our college communities achieve globalization, preparing all students for a future that knows no boundaries between countries, cultures, and the differences between people that make them unique. As a college professor, I have had the pleasure and privilege to teach and mentor international students, and conduct academic research on their transitions into U.S. colleges and universities. Based on these experiences and those my students have shared with me, here are my suggestions for international students as they adjust to studying at colleges in the U.S.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

As we talk to families, a version of the same question keeps popping up over and over again:

“What will the impact be on the class of 2021 if a high number of the class of 2020 takes a gap year?”

A “gap year” involves delaying enrollment at a college for one year, oftentimes for travel, volunteer, or employment experiences. Students must ask their enrolling college for permission to use this option, and generally students are not permitted to take courses at another college during their gap year. Annually, about 3% of American college students opt for a gap year, but recent articles have touted that the number of gap years will skyrocket in the age of coronavirus. If 30% of the incoming class didn’t enroll this fall and held off until next year, it would certainly mean that colleges would have 30% less spots for next year’s applicants, right?

Years ago I worked as an International Student Advisor at an independent English language school in Boston. Our students ranged in their language skills and abilities; some simply hoped to improve their conversational English while other students, university-bound hopefuls, studied hard to improve their TOEFL scores. Their goal was to enroll at one of the many universities in the area. If you’re considering an intensive English program, it takes time to narrow down options and do your research. For many international students who want to pursue a degree in the United States, an English language school (ELS) is often the first step.

COVID-19 has turned the world on its head for most of us, but its associated cancellations and closures pose particular concerns for international students, both prospective and current. We’ve put together this brief Q&A, outlining tips and resources to help international students and their families navigate these uncharted waters.

Applying to US colleges can be complicated. The process can be even more difficult if you are coming from another country. We have advice designed specifically for international students who hope to attend college in the US. In Office Hours, we are answering your college admissions and finance questions.

How to Research US Universities When You Can’t Visit

There’s no doubt about it: If international students have the time and ability to visit campuses in the U.S., do it!  But that certainly isn’t always a realistic option.

Today we’re going to tackle a selection of questions frequently asked by “international” students, the answer to all of which could be: “It depends.” In fact, I put the word international in quotation marks because the answer to, “Who do colleges consider an international applicant?” is often, “It depends.”  That’s how diverse the range of responses from different colleges can be. But before I answer the questions below, as best as I can, let me tell you two things about international admissions that I know for sure: