Highline College hosted an International Transfer Fair organized by the International Student Program (ISP) that welcomed all students who are interested in transferring after completing their tenure at Highline.

The International Transfer Fair, held last Thursday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon, was an invaluable platform that ISP provides, giving students the chance to meet face-to-face with representatives from a range of universities. 

This unique opportunity allowed attendees to gain insight into the complex details of the application process, campus culture, and various college programs, providing a clearer trajectory for their academic and professional futures.

The Transfer Fair occupied the entire first floor of Building 8 as representatives from more than 60 colleges and universities came to answer questions for students.

At the fair, every student seemed to have a different look on their face – while some were confused, some were in a hurry, and some calmly waited for the university representative to answer their questions about the school.

Jonathan Uribe, a local student studying mechanical engineering who missed out on the University of Washington, attended the transfer fair to explore universities known for mechanical engineering in the hopes of finding a fit among them.

“I found out there’s mechanical engineering universities. Outside the state, they probably have a lot more money to put in resources for mechanical engineering students than the University of  Washington. Even though it’s very prestigious, there’ll be a dedicated support staff,” Uribe said.

At the fair, representatives of several universities had much to say about their respective schools.

Teresa Roth of Wright State University says they have about 11,000 students, of which about 1,000 are international and a lot are graduate students. They wanted to recruit more undergraduates, so they came to talk to students who were finishing their associate’s degrees and entice them to transfer to Wright State to complete their bachelor’s degrees. She mentioned that students’ top concerns are GPA and major rankings. She also told students about the $10,000 scholarship for international students.

Isaiah Peterson of the University of the Pacific revealed that computer science, nursing and psychology were the most inquired about majors by students. Financial aid and tuition are also top concerns for students, he said. As a private university, many students worry about the high cost. He went into detail about the various scholarship programs available to international students, which greatly reduces the actual cost.

Elizabeth Harrison of East Tennessee State University said it was her first time attending a fair for transfer students. She said it was relatively easy for international students to transfer because they already had visas and credits and did not need to submit proof of English proficiency. Students most often inquire about the computer science program, which is billed as the 22nd best in the United States. Psychology and nursing are also popular.

This recruitment fair provided a valuable opportunity for many international students to communicate directly with various colleges and helped to make clearer decisions about their future study direction and options. Through face-to-face communication, representatives of each school also introduced in detail the professional advantages, scholarship policies, campus culture and other information of their respective schools to attract more outstanding students to join.