2008 Woodie Awards
International applications increase 281 percent
By: Jessica Adams
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: News
The number of international students on DePauw's campus has increased, and officials are expecting there to be an even greater increase next year.
"At this point we have 217 completed international applications, which is 281 [percent] more than we had last year at this time, but I expect that number will continue to rise in the coming weeks," said Stephanie Niles via e-mail, vice president of admission and financial aid.
Niles attributes this increased interest to the efforts put forth by the DePauw admissions staff.
"Three admission staff members spent time in 28 countries working with students and their families, which certainly has had an impact," she said. "When we have the opportunity, we bring counselors representing international schools to visit the campus, and we take advantage of networking opportunities at conferences to spread the word to counselors about DePauw."
Alumni help in this process as well, Niles said. Many live in various international cities, such as Beijing, and are able to help out in the recruitment process.
A Bangladesh school in which freshman Abir Rahman was enrolled had sent a student to DePauw in the past, and Rahman learned of his experience through a teacher.
"A teacher of mine told me about DePauw," Rahman said. "So I decided to try it out."
International students have applied to DePauw from over 40 countries, including China, India, Japan, Honduras and New Zealand, as well as many others, Niles said. Different DePauw connections within these foreign countries will allow the University to recruit more students in the future.
"We work with an organization in China which specifically markets DePauw on our behalf to students who are interested in the experience we can provide," she said, adding that alumni connections in India and Japan have also aided the recruitment process.
"In Japan, alumni connections have enabled us to become affiliated with the Grew-Bancroft Foundation," Niles said. "[It] awards scholarships each year to strong Japanese students to study in the United States."
Once students arrive on campus, the International Center provides a common ground for incoming students. Rahman said that he stayed there over Fall Break with other international students who couldn't go home.
"I liked it," Rahman said. "Everyone stays together at the same place and it's kind of fun."
During the school year, the International House hosts events for students, such as movie nights and making paper cranes for a peace rally, he said.
Although the International Center has helped unite the students, Rahman bases his comfortable integration into the University on the rest of the students in his freshman class.
"It's more about the people that are in this school than anything DePauw does for us," he said. "I'm just comfortable because of them."
As the number of applications increase, DePauw will continue to strengthen its international programs and outreach.
"At this point we have 217 completed international applications, which is 281 [percent] more than we had last year at this time, but I expect that number will continue to rise in the coming weeks," said Stephanie Niles via e-mail, vice president of admission and financial aid.
Niles attributes this increased interest to the efforts put forth by the DePauw admissions staff.
"Three admission staff members spent time in 28 countries working with students and their families, which certainly has had an impact," she said. "When we have the opportunity, we bring counselors representing international schools to visit the campus, and we take advantage of networking opportunities at conferences to spread the word to counselors about DePauw."
Alumni help in this process as well, Niles said. Many live in various international cities, such as Beijing, and are able to help out in the recruitment process.
A Bangladesh school in which freshman Abir Rahman was enrolled had sent a student to DePauw in the past, and Rahman learned of his experience through a teacher.
"A teacher of mine told me about DePauw," Rahman said. "So I decided to try it out."
International students have applied to DePauw from over 40 countries, including China, India, Japan, Honduras and New Zealand, as well as many others, Niles said. Different DePauw connections within these foreign countries will allow the University to recruit more students in the future.
"We work with an organization in China which specifically markets DePauw on our behalf to students who are interested in the experience we can provide," she said, adding that alumni connections in India and Japan have also aided the recruitment process.
"In Japan, alumni connections have enabled us to become affiliated with the Grew-Bancroft Foundation," Niles said. "[It] awards scholarships each year to strong Japanese students to study in the United States."
Once students arrive on campus, the International Center provides a common ground for incoming students. Rahman said that he stayed there over Fall Break with other international students who couldn't go home.
"I liked it," Rahman said. "Everyone stays together at the same place and it's kind of fun."
During the school year, the International House hosts events for students, such as movie nights and making paper cranes for a peace rally, he said.
Although the International Center has helped unite the students, Rahman bases his comfortable integration into the University on the rest of the students in his freshman class.
"It's more about the people that are in this school than anything DePauw does for us," he said. "I'm just comfortable because of them."
As the number of applications increase, DePauw will continue to strengthen its international programs and outreach.
Be the first to comment on this story