5 Things International Students Need to Consider in 2020
Elton Lin
Current international college students and international applicants alike have been thrown into limbo in the wake of COVID-19, unsure of how they should navigate their college career in the face of the global pandemic. Travel restrictions, college closures, altered application processes—things seem to be shifting every other week to adapt to the changing pandemic. What can international students do to regain their footing and navigate all of this uncertainty? Here are five things international students should consider as they carefully move forward in 2020:
The tighter visa process. Before the pandemic, international students would get the Form I-20 necessary for a student visa in April or May, apply soon after for the visa, and then have months afterwards to prepare for the move abroad. Today, however, international students are unfortunately not given as much leeway. Many newly admitted international students this year were informed by colleges that their I-20s wouldn’t be processed and ready until as late as August, pushing the timing of their visas even later. U.S. embassies may or may not prioritize processing student visa applications, giving students a very small window between finally getting an approved visa and moving to the U.S. for college. Be ready to apply for your student visa as soon as you can after you finally get your I-20, and prepare yourself in case you need to move to the U.S. very quickly afterwards.
In addition, the visa situation for international students has proven itself unpredictable, if the Harvard/MIT lawsuit against short-lived ICE regulations—that international students on F-1 student visas would be unable to study in the U.S. if taking all classes online—is any indication. Keep yourself updated on the latest visa-related news.
Travel restrictions. These are already in place for domestic travel, so international travel restrictions are unavoidable. Aside from navigating international flights and quarantine requirements, international students should also keep in mind the high likelihood that schools will shut down after they arrive on U.S. soil. In this scenario, while some schools may keep campus housing open for international students (as they did in the spring earlier this year, when schools first started moving to remote learning), others may not be as flexible. Make sure to have a backup plan. It’s good to know your off-campus housing options, whether that be an open apartment rental or a very generous friend, in the case that your room and board situation is thrown for a loop. Travel restrictions go both ways, and returning home simply may not be on the table for you.
Online classes. With schools reopening in the fall either fully remote or under a hybrid model, local and international students alike must come to terms with the idea that attending their “dream school” may look a lot less like the quintessential campus experience of the past, and more like a computer screen in your living room. Students face a largely online courseload—as well as online extracurriculars and an online social scene—as the pandemic continues. If one of the make-or-break deals in your list of potential college criteria is the physical campus life, it may be good to reconsider what your "dream school" may be under these specific circumstances.
Deferral. Many schools have offered enrollment deferrals to admitted international students who’ve already paid their deposits, and for many students and their families, deferral is the safer, more viable option; students can secure their college spot while taking a year (or more) off to either wait out the pandemic or wait for the uncertain situation to gain more clarity. If you take the deferral route, you no longer have to immediately worry about things like visas and travel. Instead, you’ll need to focus on how to plan and spend your gap year, which is not only more flexible, but also much more in your control. You can take the chance to put your college career on hold during this tumultuous time and instead grow outside of the academic sphere for some time.
ED uncertainty. There will likely be changes to international students’ chances at an Early Decision acceptance, but be mindful that the ED situation is volatile. It’s true that, with colleges seeing and expecting fewer international student applicants, there exists the possibility that competition will be lower and that international students still applying can more easily snag those acceptance spots. (We cover this possibility more in detail here.) However, it is equally possible that colleges will offer fewer spots for international students in general, making it harder on their acceptance chances. It may still be smart for you to take advantage of the potential ED boon, but keep in mind that these changes to ED are speculative and could just as easily go against your favor.
This is definitely a confusing, uncertain time for the academic scene, especially for international students, but be vigilant and track updates to the situation as they come so you can be best prepared for each step you take. We’re happy to offer a free consultation if you’d like a little more detail on what else to consider before applying for college.