When you think of Flint, Michigan, the first thing you might think of probably isn't a large international community. However, according to a New York Times article published late last month, many foreign-born students do come to the University of Michigan in Flint to complete their studies. There are more than 700 students who currently study there, and international students make up almost ten percent of the student population. Moreover, according to the article, the student government president of the University of Michigan-Flint is from Mauritius, which is a really small island off the southeast corner of Africa.
Flint, Michigan is not exactly the first spot foreign students might check out when they think of studying in the United States. It has had a turbulent economy of late because of the closure of many manufacturing plants in the region. This caused some people to lose their jobs, making home foreclosures more likely and raising the crime rate. However, there is one item that the University of Michigan-Flint can provide that international students covet: a degree at a United States university.
Several of the students profiled in the article discussed their desire to come to the United States to get a degree and hopefully earn new opportunities. Many come from countries where there aren't as many opportunities and the education system is not as good at preparing students for the demands expected of them in their careers. They believe that a degree from a United States university can help them find a career that they care about and allow them to provide for their families.
Because of their personal finances and job/family situations, many of them do not have the money to pay the exorbitant fees that many universities charge. One prospective MBA student discussed how an MBA degree at the Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor would have cost him nearly $40,000 a year. At the University of Michigan-Flint, he pays a quarter of that figure. Another student told the NYT about how the tuition Flint charged was just about the maximum she could afford, making it the only choice for her.
Therefore, for many international students, it's not about location; it's about earning an opportunity to succeed. This is why so many go through the process and move to a new and very different place. They must deal with the stringent application process that includes transcript evaluation and credential verification, and then adjust to a new location where the culture may be completely different. Yet, many do, and some even come to Flint.
Flint, Michigan is not exactly the first spot foreign students might check out when they think of studying in the United States. It has had a turbulent economy of late because of the closure of many manufacturing plants in the region. This caused some people to lose their jobs, making home foreclosures more likely and raising the crime rate. However, there is one item that the University of Michigan-Flint can provide that international students covet: a degree at a United States university.
Several of the students profiled in the article discussed their desire to come to the United States to get a degree and hopefully earn new opportunities. Many come from countries where there aren't as many opportunities and the education system is not as good at preparing students for the demands expected of them in their careers. They believe that a degree from a United States university can help them find a career that they care about and allow them to provide for their families.
Because of their personal finances and job/family situations, many of them do not have the money to pay the exorbitant fees that many universities charge. One prospective MBA student discussed how an MBA degree at the Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor would have cost him nearly $40,000 a year. At the University of Michigan-Flint, he pays a quarter of that figure. Another student told the NYT about how the tuition Flint charged was just about the maximum she could afford, making it the only choice for her.
Therefore, for many international students, it's not about location; it's about earning an opportunity to succeed. This is why so many go through the process and move to a new and very different place. They must deal with the stringent application process that includes transcript evaluation and credential verification, and then adjust to a new location where the culture may be completely different. Yet, many do, and some even come to Flint.