As the applications to US colleges and universities are coming to a close, it looks like the applications from foreign students for the next school year shows a noticeable dip. Some institutions have reported a decline in the number of undergraduate applications from certain countries, according to a survey.
According to VOA News, there was a total of 1.2 million international students who attended American institutions in 2016, and this was the highest number ever. However, it seems like this steady growth will not last as 39 percent of the responding schools have reported a drop in the foreign students' applications.
These are the international students from countries such as China, India, and the Middle East, NBC News reported. The survey was conducted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
The decline was reported to have been caused by the change in the perception of the foreign students about America as they do not feel as welcomed anymore. Officials have pointed to the issue on travel ban declared by President Donald Trump.
Melanie Gottlieb, the deputy director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers said that they are sounding the warning, and that they are just hoping that the government would be cool to the issues around immigration.
Former and potential international students have expressed that they were thinking twice about what could happen to them if they set foot into the US. A student who stayed in the country as a foreign exchange said she does not want to come back anymore as she has been observing the posts on social media from other immigrants or travelers. She noticed how some people are having difficulty checking in at the airports because they are Arabs.
