Adviser Omer Bashir had a busy April – he represented EducationUSA Pakistan at the annual NAGAP conference in Louisville, Kentucky, from April 24 to April 27, participated in campus visits before and after the conference, and was also invited to tour Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Focusing on graduate admissions
NAGAP, formerly known as the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals and now as the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management, is a non-profit organization devoted solely to the concerns of individuals working on graduate admissions. Each year, thousands of educationists attend the conference to take part in informative sessions and learn from one another. This year, Bashir talked about Pakistan during a panel discussion titled ‘From Prospective Students to Successful Alumni: Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining International Graduate Students’. Along with advisers from Kuwait, Brazil, Serbia, and Nigeria, he was able to shed light on country-specific trends for recruitment and alumni engagement.
Campus visits
Pre- and post-conference, Bashir visited various universities in Kentucky and Nebraska, including the University of Kentucky, Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Iowa Western Community College. At these institutions, he explored available funding opportunities for Pakistani students, housing and dining options, and campus life. Bashir also met with 30 Pakistani teachers at the University of Nebraska Omaha who were there as a part of the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program.
Texas calling
Because of his work and networking at EducationUSA, Rice University representatives invited Bashir to discuss different collaboration possibilities and opportunities for international applicants. During the visit, he met key figures in the administration, talked to Pakistani students enrolled at the institution, and explored Rice University’s holistic admissions approach.
