Week c/m 24th April 2023

With May around the corner, it’s approaching that time of year where university reps, students and schools are collectively working hard to get everything in order for the next academic year.

In a new report, Common App conducted a study that gave first-hand insight into the breakdown of international student applicants coming through the app.

Whilst not all international student applications to the US go through Common app, it's clear to see the popularity of the app has climbed significantly.

Unsurprisingly, China and India remain the home of the largest international pool for Common App applicants. However, this international student demographic is not specific to the Common App; other reports from OpenDoors, Studyportals and our own data have highlighted that the largest international student populations are from these countries.?

Whilst it’s great to lean into the already high demand from India and China, US universities need to be thinking about how they can improve recruitment and demand from other countries and regions.?

Whilst China and India dominate the international student market due to their sheer size and population, there has been a rising interest from other countries within Asia, something we’ve seen within our own data. So, as the saying goes, don’t put all your recruitment eggs into one regional basket!

Another interesting take away from the report was application differences in regional behaviours. Applicants from China were more likely to apply for ED (early decision) than other regions such as Nigeria, which highlighted a split in the familiarity with the nuances of the US admissions process.?

It’s clear to see that the application process needs to be more accessible for less popular regions. We’ve found in and outside of our own schools that students value accessibility & security, so it’s important that US universities drive this in their application systems, especially for those less familiar with it. What’s more, our counsellors tell us that a perceived lack of accessibility is sometimes what leads international applicants to consider other countries.?

The Common App report is yet another example of why US universities need to take the nuances of the international student community more seriously. Understanding these nuances is key to making application systems more accessible and streamlined for the next generation of students.

Something that caught our eye this week

• You can read the full Common app report on their website. We’d also recommend reading their other white papers.?
• Highered dive published this article on how low enrolment in US College towns are threatening their survival.
• This interesting article from The Chronicle highlighting the stress enrolment leaders face in their roles.?

What’s new at BridgeU

• Sign up for our upcoming webinar with IHE on May 9th on how to build a diverse international enrollment portfolio… and get a sneak peek at our US apps report!
• After two years, our platform has finally launched a counsellor community! This is a place where counsellors can network, share resources and discuss industry trends.