By HAYLEE BATES, Student Reporter
She sat inside the embassy waiting on her name to be called.
This interview would determine her future. It would determine if she was going to be able to continue her education in another country, or if she would have to wait another year before trying again. Her paperwork was complete; the only thing that stood between her and Northwestern Oklahoma State University was this interview.
This is how junior pre-medicine major from Ghana, Betty Abbey, could be seen three years ago.
International students have to complete a number of steps to be able to attend school in another country, and this process can be a difficult and stressful one for these students.
Students begin this process by researching universities in different countries and try to find the best fit for them.
“There are so many different opportunities that they can have in the United States, so for them to find Northwestern is a big deal,” said Rebecca Cook, international student advisor.
International students have to know what degree program they want to go into before they can leave their home countries and study in the United States.
“We always have to be in school,” Abbey said. “We can’t really take breaks like most people do here. That’s what makes you in status.”
International students also have to show the proof that they can afford to stay in the United States and pay for their tuition.
“It’s somewhat invasive because they have to show bank statements to show that they can afford it,” Cook said.
International students also have to apply for and receive several documents before they can leave their countries. They have to have their passports, immunization forms, transcripts and SAT or ACT scores.
If international students come from a non-English speaking country, they have to take a TOEFL or IELTS test. These tests are English proficiency tests to insure international students are fluent enough to attend a university in an English speaking country.
All of this information has to be provided to their university of interest before they apply. Once they apply and are accepted, the university will send them an I20, which is an F1 visa approval. This document recognizes that they’ve been accepted to the university.
After receiving the I20, these students will set up an interview with their embassy.
“It can be a pretty in depth interview, and if they don’t answer things right they can get rejected,” Cook said. “For a 17-year-old or 18-year-old it can be very stressful.”
The interview process with the embassy can be lengthy.
“The interview is really scary because right before you go in you see people getting rejected,” Abbey said. “It’s like do or die. You keep asking am I going to make it or am I going to stay behind?”
These students also have to intend to return to their countries to better their country in some way.
“You have to make sure that you don’t ever say you are going to stay here,” Abbey said. “We come to go to school and then nothing else.”
Being away from their families for long periods of time can also take a toll on them.
“If you don’t have any family here, you have to prepare for that separation,” Abbey said. “For me, I kept it as a secret. I didn’t tell so many people because it’s a big thing to come here and having all the eyes on you is a hard process.”