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How do the Current U.S. Election Results Influence Our Role as a UCC?
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How do the Current U.S. Election Results Influence Our Role as a UCC?
The current U.S. election results prompt various reflections for me as an international school college counselor and as a mother of a third culture kid (TCK) who will pursue international higher education institutions (HEIs). I aim to guide her choices across different regions. Each country’s political stance significantly influences the advice we provide to our students regarding their HEI selections, particularly since the majority of my students are transitional applicants.
Recent developments—such as the Chinese Ministry of Education’s notification regarding the regulation of international student recruitment at Chinese higher education institutions in 2020, the U.S. HEIs’ SAT adaptation policy changes, and the Canadian and Australian governments’ visa policy changes this year—along with the implications of the recent U.S. election, all play a role in how we guide our students. At NIS, we prioritize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) as a core part of our mission. However, I often find that the world is not yet fully prepared to accommodate our global citizen learners, who advocate for diversity, LGBTQ+ rights, awareness of microaggressions, and human equality.
Regarding these ongoing changes in each country’s HEI policies or laws, I sometimes struggle to support our students in their transitions to the higher education landscape.Many of our dedicated colleagues in higher education proactively reach out to share their policies aimed at fostering a stable and smooth cultural transition. Nonetheless, I cannot shake my concerns at this moment. I believe that the world can achieve balance through the collaboration and support of many remarkable individuals.
PeerShpere College counsellors, will you be changing your guidance regarding students’ college applications? How do you expect the current election results to influence your college counseling role?
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1 Reply
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About a month ago, I had a chat with some US university reps, and we shared the same concern. One of them talked about her experience as an international student during Trump’s first win in 2016. She reassured us that universities are very supportive of their students and do their best to protect them. Policies and changes take time to actually happen, so students should focus on what they can control right now—doing their best.
I think it’s important to stay updated with the news and information from universities, but we also need to keep encouraging students to have backup plans and options. The tricky part is helping parents manage their worries, especially when they hear rumors or misinformation from random sources.
