The effects of COVID-19 are indisputable, and international college applications were impacted as well. The Pandemic led to a financial crisis for many families as some sectors were closed which caused loss of income or even loss of jobs. Seeking admission with financial aid normally makes it more competitive, however, this year it became even more challenging due to the increase in applications and the strained budgets of many universities, since they also suffered financial losses due to the pandemic. As a result, this year students from Turkey started looking for more affordable options and considered sending more applications to universities in Europe. For those students who applied to the US, the numbers who needed financial aid eventually increased. As I had also underlined due to the strained budget of universities, it became harder for students to receive the aid that they could have received in a normal pandemic free year.
Beyond the economic impact, international student enrollment is a vital component of higher education around the world. Attracting the best and the brightest from throughout the world contributes immeasurably to the country’s preeminence in academic research and scientific innovation. The best thing that a student can do to succeed in this process is to plan early and make the best decisions on where to apply. Allowing plenty of time to conduct research is as important as getting high grades and having strong extracurriculars. That is why the students need to become a team with their college counselor and ask any questions they have. I strongly believe that the students who has been successful in the pandemic era- with all its negative effects- will become more successful and stronger individuals. They not only learned how to take care of their mental and physical health, but also continued with the academic responsibilities that an international college application requires.
Even though the applicants of the pandemic year did not have the chance to benefit from in person university fairs or personal meetings , they were able to benefit from the online webinars that universities from around the world organized. I completely understand that this is a hard journey to take especially with the effects of the pandemic, however, with all the benefits of technology, success will never be impossible if there is patience, persistence and effort. I always wish the best for all of our students and want them to remember that there is always a university that will fit their future plans and dreams. It is just a matter of time and commitment.
Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik
