International students navigate complex college barriers

Akshay Vadlamani | The Chronicle

Graphic by Medha Shinde

For most Mason High School seniors, the college application process is already a complex maze of deadlines, essays and decisions. But for international students, that maze comes with additional twists and turns that can entirely reshape their academic futures.

From dealing with visa requirements to facing limited financial aid options from translating their previous academic achievements to searching for communities that will feel like home, these students face a uniquely challenging experience

Senior Neev Mehta found himself restricted from applying to many extracurricular opportunities, such as medical internships, due to his international status, having moved from India when he was a child. Facing this roadblock time and time again, Mehta felt frustrated knowing he was not being offered similar opportunities to his peers. 

“As an international applicant, I’m disadvantaged in almost the entire [college] application process compared to permanent residents,” Mehta said. “We’re really [prohibited] in our access to certain programs, research opportunities and internships because of not being able to fulfill the requirement of permanent residency.”

For senior Mana Naito, who moved from Japan in the sixth grade, the journey of an international student has led to an unexpected silver lining. While many of her peers in Japan face grueling university entrance exams, her American education has opened different doors. Naito plans to move back to Japan to continue her higher education, and she believes that living in America has helped her with that goal.

“Generally, in Japan, you would have to take at least three to five different exams,” Naito said. “But for me, I only need to submit my transcripts, scores from ACT or SAT, one other language-related test and an essay. I can use my English skills as an advantage because in Japan, they value English skills since not many people are fluent.”

International students typically face steep financial burdens, with the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers reporting that they pay two to three times higher tuition, averaging $38,544 annually at public universities and $54,132 at private institutions compared to the $26,027 and $35,873 for domestic students. Over 82% of these international students rely primarily on personal and family funds to finance their education, while visa restrictions limit their ability to work and earn money during their studies. 

Many colleges also charge international students higher application fees, with the average for international students being 100-125 dollars as opposed to the 70-90 dollars for domestic students. Senior Maya Nurazli, who moved from Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur just two years ago, has felt this pressure acutely during her application process.

“Most of my friends who were from the US don’t have to pay super expensive application fees,” Nurazli said. “And the likelihood of international students getting accepted for scholarships is significantly lower than US citizens. It’s pretty stressful.”

Beyond financial considerations, these students often struggle to have their previous academic achievements properly recognized. Their transcripts from home countries do not always translate neatly into the American system due to varying curriculums and the lack of AP classification. 

Senior Disha Munnangi, who arrived from Hyderabad, India during her junior year, faced similar challenges. Munnangi said she was frustrated when the school curriculum she studied in India did not translate over to America, making her transcript seem relatively weak despite her efforts. 

Munnangi was frustrated that the school curriculum she studied in India did not translate over to America, making her transcript seem relatively weak despite her efforts. 

“One part of being an international student is that you don’t have a [social security number] yet, until you turn 18 at least, and you cannot apply for FAFSA.” Munnagi said. “For example, I took Hindi for eight years, and was way past the AP level of Hindi. That isn’t recognized in admissions here.”

These students also actively seek out cultural communities at their prospective colleges, looking for ways to maintain connections to their heritage while building new futures. Nurazli misses connecting with others in her own community, both through language and culture, making community a priority when searching for potential colleges on her list.

“I’ve been looking up Malaysian communities in each of the colleges I applied to because I really miss speaking my language with somebody other than my dad,” Nurazli said. “I look for international, very diverse organizations, and I dig deep into them to see if they actually do represent each culture genuinely.”

Despite these challenges, many international students find ways to turn their unique experiences into strengths. Mehta, who originally dreamed of pursuing medicine, is exploring alternative paths such as engineering and is creating his own opportunities. Some, like Naito, have found opportunities that align with their goals, planning to attend universities in Japan that offer programs in both English and Japanese.

The constraints of being an international student have pushed Mehta to look beyond traditional paths in medicine. Despite setbacks, he continues to explore programs that might open doors to his chosen field.

“[International students] have to look for job opportunities and colleges outside of the country,” Mehta said. “We end up having to be more creative with our choices, but I still believe if I stay here just a little bit more and wait, maybe I’ll be able to study here fully.”

Nurazli and her fellow international students have created their own support network at Mason, helping each other navigate the complex application process while maintaining connections to their home cultures.

“It was really nice to have other international applicants by my side because it made me feel like I wasn’t alone,” Nurazli said. “There were other people who had the same struggles as I did. I believe this is where I’m meant to be, and I’m sure every emotional struggle during the college application process and moving will be worth it.”