International student enrollment expected to increase over time
Lisa Ferguson
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: Campus Life
Kyung Hoon Kim says he always dreamed of attending college in the United States.
"I wanted to learn English since grade school," said Kim, junior in business from South Korea. "I had a good feeling. I wanted to come to America."
Kim, entering his third year at PSU, is among the 452 international students who chose PSU in the spring of 2008. Enrollment numbers for the summer semester have not yet been released.
"We have increased the number of immigration papers sent out," said Aaron Hurt, administrative specialist in the International Programs and Services office at Pittsburg State.
To get a visa, international students need a document called the I-20. Hurt says that PSU has issued 100 more I-20's than last year. Because of the increase in international students in recent years, PSU is hiring an international director whose job is to travel to foreign countries and recruit students.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the number of international students dropped to 330 in the following fall semester. Seven years later, the numbers are back to where they were. Hurt says that given time, the number of foreign students will continue to rise.
One international program bringing many students from China is called 1+2+1. Zhriuo Lio is among the students enrolled in the program.
"1+2+1 equals a ration of study. One year in China, two years in Pittsburg and one year in China. When finished I will have earned a master's in chemistry and environmental engineering," said Lio. He will soon travel home to finish his degree.
Many students also come to PSU for the technological programs.
"Technology is born in America. I want to be in the place technology is born," Rohan Ratnapol, graduate student from India, said. Ratnapol is the vice president of the International Student Association and has no worries of another terrorist attack. His parents, on the other hand, may disagree.
"They want me to come home," he said, "but I study here for the family, not for me. I study here to make our lives better."
"I wanted to learn English since grade school," said Kim, junior in business from South Korea. "I had a good feeling. I wanted to come to America."
Kim, entering his third year at PSU, is among the 452 international students who chose PSU in the spring of 2008. Enrollment numbers for the summer semester have not yet been released.
"We have increased the number of immigration papers sent out," said Aaron Hurt, administrative specialist in the International Programs and Services office at Pittsburg State.
To get a visa, international students need a document called the I-20. Hurt says that PSU has issued 100 more I-20's than last year. Because of the increase in international students in recent years, PSU is hiring an international director whose job is to travel to foreign countries and recruit students.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the number of international students dropped to 330 in the following fall semester. Seven years later, the numbers are back to where they were. Hurt says that given time, the number of foreign students will continue to rise.
One international program bringing many students from China is called 1+2+1. Zhriuo Lio is among the students enrolled in the program.
"1+2+1 equals a ration of study. One year in China, two years in Pittsburg and one year in China. When finished I will have earned a master's in chemistry and environmental engineering," said Lio. He will soon travel home to finish his degree.
Many students also come to PSU for the technological programs.
"Technology is born in America. I want to be in the place technology is born," Rohan Ratnapol, graduate student from India, said. Ratnapol is the vice president of the International Student Association and has no worries of another terrorist attack. His parents, on the other hand, may disagree.
"They want me to come home," he said, "but I study here for the family, not for me. I study here to make our lives better."
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