While stricter foreign policy makes it harder for students overseas to study in the United States, UB has been one of the few schools this year to see an increase in the number of applications from international students.
In fact, UB has bucked the trend so much that it's made national headlines. According to one recent article in the New York Times, international interest in studying at U.S. graduate schools has declined nationally, but international applications to UB's grad programs are up 15 percent.
Influenced by UB's recruiting process, low tuition cost, and competitive academic reputation, international students have been coming to UB in surprising numbers and at a steady rate over the past five years, according to officials. Over 3,000 international students are currently enrolled this semester, and last year the Princeton Review named UB one of the top 10 diverse universities in the country.
Joseph Hindrawan, vice provost for international education, described the office of international admissions as aggressive in the application process.
"The international admissions office is able to process applications quickly and make fast decisions," Hindrawan said. "The office's alacrity allows their acceptance letters to be the first to reach the students overseas before any other school."
According to Hindrawan, the office has had amazing growth during the last five years, but that may soon change.
"I predict it will slow down because it is harder to obtain visas," he said.
The new U.S. policy has forced potential foreign-exchange students to turn to countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, where visas are easier to acquire. Hindrawan said he believes visas are a large factor in the deceasing trend in international applications across the United States.
UB has managed to dodge this obstacle by continually traveling across the globe with university representatives to participate in international school fairs. UB representatives travel to Turkey, Canada, Qatar, Lebanon, Singapore and Malaysia in hopes of recruiting international students, according to Hindrawan.
"The impression in India is that UB has a lot of international students," said Natasha Luthra, a graduate architecture student from India. "UB seemed to have a decent program and it was cheap. Those were two major motivations."
Another student from India, sophomore business major Keya Sheth, was also attracted to UB because of academic reasons.
"The (United States) has great programs as far as the school of management," Sheth said. "UB is cheap and the school of management is better at UB compared to other schools."
The athletic department is another factor that attracts many international students.
Sabrina Carmona, a freshman media study major, scouted out UB herself from her home country of Brazil. UB was one of ten schools she wanted to play tennis for.
"I had e-mailed the coach, explained my situation, and she responded," Carmona said. "Only five of the ten coaches I e-mailed got in contact with me. I came to UB because they offered me a scholarship. Also, they offered my major here, which is not offered in Brazil."
Aleks Bykowska, a Poland national and freshman nutrition major, said that though she is on the track team, her main reason for coming to UB was the academics.
"I was looking for a good level of education and thought it would be here at UB," Bykowska said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
