The quarantine period was a difficult time for many, but also an opportunity for prospective students to start thinking about their plans for higher education in the United States. EducationUSA and USEFP held a series of webinars with higher education institute representatives to keep students informed and up to date while also being mindful of the social distancing regulations.
We conducted more than 50 webinars with HEI representatives, reaching almost 50,000 students nationwide. The Get to Know series, ongoing from March, introduces students to different U.S. universities and their academic programs. The Let’s Talk StudyinUSA series explains one aspect of the U.S. college application process using the knowledge of HEI representatives. The annual Ramadan Speaker Series was also shifted to a virtual space, discussing professional degrees in business, art & design, public health, law and etc.
A recent addition to the webinars is the Speaker Series which began in July 2020, and featured Speaker Series with a Fulbrighter, and Speaker Series with a U.S. Diplomat, which was held in collaboration with the U.S. embassy and consulates, along with the Speaker Series with an F-1 student alum. These cover topics for students from different backgrounds and also those who are interested in applying for the Fulbright program. These series have reached more than 400 students through the 17 sessions conducted on our Zoom and social media platforms.
Online session with Kent University on resume writing and college interviews
The webinars were also an opportunity for admissions officers to present on topics that are a little different from their day to day activities. Jamaeela Abdullah, Senior International Admissions Counselor at Kent University conducted a session on resume writing and college interviews. “I enjoyed presenting about a topic that is very relevant to prospective applicants and sharing advice with them,” she said.
Yaruby Petit-Frere, Director of the Office of International Programs at Felicia University sat on a panel for our session on liberal arts colleges. She found the session to be interactive and helpful in connecting with aspiring students. “The students that I was hoping to speak to were present and interactive which was shown by the informed questions they were asking. The program not only helped potential students understand the US institution process, but I too learn more about the needs and concerns about Pakistani students. It was a win-win for both parties,” she said.
Our webinars with HEI representatives were our attempt to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and to not obstruct students’ access to information about pursuing an education in the United States. We hope this initiative will continue with more series and university representatives sharing their information.
If you are interested in pursuing higher education in the U.S., email advising@usefp.org for your 5 Steps to U.S. Study plan or visit our website for more information on USEFP’s scholarship and exchange programs.
