Many
millennials check websites and social media for information and commentary
about colleges and universities before deciding where to apply. However, international
students planning to study in the U.S. are even more likely than their American
counterparts to seek out—and be influenced by—online sources while researching
schools.
World
Education Services, a New York City-based not-for-profit organization that
evaluates foreign academic credentials, surveyed 4,852 foreign nationals aged
17-36 who wanted to come to the U.S. to obtain a degree. Those students already
tended to use electronic media more for reading and information-gathering than
for posting content of their own, according to the survey report.
In
researching U.S. schools, 91% of survey participants accessed online
information via a computer, 56% used a smartphone, and 26% employed a tablet.
They looked at websites, social media, blogs, and discussion forums. It turns
out that information put out by an institution’s network (faculty, admissions
counselors, alumni, and current students) often carried more weight with
students than the preferences of their families.
Bachelor’s
degree candidates typically were concerned with details about cost: tuition,
fees, and living expenses. They also wanted to know about student services available
to help them if needed. Those considering a master’s program often probed
online discussion forums to learn what current enrollees had to say.
The survey
report noted that usage of mobile devices is rising overseas and advised U.S.
colleges and universities to ensure their online communications are
mobile-friendly.
