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Solve 4 Myths About International Student Recruitment Agents

By WTOP Staff

Students interested in studying in the U.S. who come from other countries may not be able to visit campuses, or even know where to begin when it comes to finding and applying to colleges in the States.

Professional agents, however, can help international students seeking admission to schools in the U.S. They charge a fee for their services, which can include a variety of parts of the process including facilitating applications, helping to prepare visa documents, arranging being picked up at the airport and more. Some countries, like China, even license agents. Students and parents usually have an idea about what they’ll get when employing an agent, but there are a few common misconceptions about how working with an agent will benefit a student.

Myth 1: With the agent’s help, I can go to the top universities that I want: It is possible that agents might help students realize they can apply for higher-ranking universities and colleges than they might have expected. However, a good agent will not allow students to blindly follow rank.

He or she will first learn more about you and your interests then suggest the institutions he or she thinks could fit you better. They should also be experts in providing detailed information about the institutions that you are interested in, including location, academic strengths, safety issues, scholarships and fellowships.

Recruitment agents are consultants, not life decision makers, and frequent communication should go betweenagents, students and parents.

[Understand what international students should know about U.S. college life.]

Myth 2: After I signing on with an agent, all I have to do is wait for an admission letter. Remember that you are the main character of the application. This is about your life and you should take the leading role in the process.

Agents will ask for many application documents such as a personal statement, resume, transcripts and recommendation letters. If you are not familiar with these documents, they might have good samples.

A good agent will sort these documents, send them out in the most effective way and keep you updated. A really good one will even provide a detailed schedule and a spreadsheet of listed documents. He or she might able to provide feedback from the admissions office as well.

[Here are four tasks to complete while waiting for a U.S. college admissions decision.]

It will ultimately work better for you if you carefully prepare these documents and provide them in a timely manner. Meanwhile, learn a bit about the major and the university you are going to, rather than throw everything to the agent.

If there is a weak part in your application, what you really need to do is to sit down with the agent and discuss an honest and reasonable solution. Never, never provide false or misleading information.

Myth 3: I should be able to contact my agent at any time. International students might be very earnest to learn about the status of their college applications and be tempted to bombard their agent with phone calls, emails and or other messages.

Keep in mind that these people are professionals and have a life. Refrain from the desire of hearing from them whenever you want.

[Learn how U.S. colleges gauge applicants’ English skills.]

Myth 4: My agent cannot provide more help once I am admitted. Once you receive the admission letter via the help of the agent, you will need to consider more things like visa applications, tuition deposit and housing accommodations, to name a few. Most agents can also help with the above issues.

Sometimes their follow-up service also includes English classes and airport pick-up in the U.S. You can also ask your agent if he or she can introduce classmates or alumni to you. You will be able to adjust to the new environment faster with someone you know before arrival.

On the other hand, typically the contract between you and the agent ends after a certain period. So after a year or two, if you need more help from the agent, you should sign a new one with him or her, or another agent, rather than keep going back and asking for more.

More from U.S. News

Contrast Need-Blind, Need-Based Aid Policies in U.S. College Search

5 Questions to Ask the International Students Office at U.S. Colleges

5 Must-Do Tasks for New International Students Headed to the U.S.

Solve 4 Myths About International Student Recruitment Agents originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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