What lies ahead regarding the postsecondary education landscape in the United States? Part 2.

Lumina Scholastic's college counselor Peter Petit reflects on the key concerns circulating within the international student community regarding their plans to pursue education in the U.S. and how current policies and other factors may impact them.

International students in USA

There are two things of particular concern for international students. 

As for what goes on inside the classroom, the changes that are taking place there are not stemming from policies, but rather the advent of AI, a technology that has inserted all sorts of confusion and uncertainties into how professors will conduct classes and grade, the kinds of assignments they will require of students, and so on. Something formerly as standard as written assignments, a short paper or a larger research paper, has become particularly fraught as to how to proceed. While some schools may be staying ahead of the curve in this situation, my guess is many, if not most, are reacting and trying to play catch-up. This needs to be taken into serious consideration by international students. As AI and policies regarding plagiarism and cheating continue to be in a state of flux, international students must do all they can to avoid even the least suggestion of cheating or plagiarism. This should involve ongoing conversations with professors and department administrators; do not rely solely on what other students say for guidance in these matters. A domestic student who gets caught cheating or plagiarizing may be suspended or even expelled. An international student must face the added possibility of losing F1 student status and being ordered to leave the country, casting the student’s educational future into disarray and doubt. Being granted an FI visa at some point in the future could happen, but it would be much easier to avoid this kind of situation altogether. 

A related concern, particularly for international students, is the decline in students’ ability to read. This does not refer to basic literacy, but rather the needed patience, focus, stamina, and willingness to engage and wrestle with words on a page, that is, printed material between the covers of a book. As a result, the temptation to depend on wrongful “helps” may increase in order to work through assignments, thus entering into the murky, changing, yet very real world of academic discipline. In a world of screens and scrolling, those students, international or domestic, who have grown up in a culture, a larger culture or a household, in which reading books has been a significant part of their lives will be at an advantage. Certainly, their professors will be particularly grateful to have them in their classes. For international students who are having difficulty with reading assignments – any assignments, really – do not take shortcuts. Instead, use this difficulty as an opportunity to work closely with professors or teaching assistants. Make use of student support services. Do not act out of desperation. This can invariably lead to even greater trouble.