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Summer 2006

Admissions reaches out to prospective students worldwide

Photo Courtesy of Office of Admissions & Scholarships

During a recruiting trip to Brazil, international admissions counselor Romelia Widders (second from right) meets with local alums (left to right) Phyllis Clemensen, Jennifer Brems and Francisco Itzaina. Clemenson, who works at a Brazilian high school, has helped send several students to MSU.

MSU’s Office of Admissions and Scholarships doesn’t let borders get in the way of recruiting the best and brightest students to East Lansing. Each year, the office’s international admission counselors log thousands of miles to tell stories of MSU’s advantages to prospective students.

These recruiting efforts are yielding results. The number of international applications to MSU has doubled in the past decade. Applications were up significantly this year and MSU expects approximately 300 international students to enroll for the fall 2006 semester.

“MSU continues to be a popular destination for international students looking to study in the United States,” said Barbara Kolar, assistant director for international admissions. “And with our continued focus on international recruiting, I expect our presence overseas to keep growing.”

Alumni play a particularly important role in global recruiting efforts. In 2005, MSU enrolled four students from a single high school in Brazil, thanks in large part to the efforts of MSU alumna Phyllis Clemensen.

Clemensen, who earned an MSU history degree in 1961, is a counselor at Escola Graduada High School in Sao Paulo. As a result of her guidance, more Graduada students are attending MSU than any other public institution in the United States.

“The personal experience and knowledge of our alums definitely can make a world of difference in helping students make an informed decision about where to attend college,” said Romelia Widders, senior counselor for international admissions at Michigan State.

The university receives the most international applications from would-be students in South Korea, India and China. Beginning in 2007, international recruiting efforts will expand to include Latin America and the Middle East – world regions which have sent an increasing number of students to MSU in recent years. Admissions counselors also will visit China and Turkey for the first time this fall.

For information, contact Gabriel Santi at santigab@msu.edu or visit admissions.msu.edu/