Free Press photo by Pat Christman
From left, international students Kruti Parmar, Adesola Adetoba, Tesfay Samrawit, Lela MaMastaka, Fatima Cherkaoui and Yi-Ling Han chat in the International Student Association office on the MSU campus.
Pat Christman
While the 2008-2009 academic year saw big increases of international students at Minnesota State Mankato and across the nation, the numbers locally appear to have leveled off this fall.
Tom Gjersvig, director of Minnesota State Mankato's Elizabeth and Wynn Kearney International Center, said the economy is most likely the biggest culprit. The H1N1 scare also is affecting international student numbers.
And both Gjersvig and recruiter Ludmi Herath say they've heard enough stories to confirm their suspicions.
Overall, the number of international students attending Minnesota State Mankato is up slightly from 585 last fall to 593 today. But there are signs that families are being more cautious about sending their children to the U.S. to be educated and that the government is being more selective with student visas.
One student from Nepal, which sends more students to MSU than any other country, told Herath that despite showing the Nepalese consulate $40,000, he was still denied a student visa.
Gjersvig said the fewer student visas coming out of countries where they've typically seen strong numbers suggests the consulates in these countries are being more selective.
He said he believes the consulates are scrutinizing potential students' financial situations more strictly, being extra careful to weed out those who may be at risk of not being able to cover the costs of their education.
For the complete Free Press story, go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_342214835.html
For more Free Press news go to www.mankatofreepress.com
Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
