Page 28 - StudyTravel Magazine February 2023 Issue

west

CoAst usA

destinAtion

Washington, Oregon and California each
offer unique and valuable experiences
for international students looking to
embrace American culture, and with
international student numbers
rising, schools and universities
across these states are seeing
positive market trends.

lAnguAge secondAry tertiAry

ince summer 2021, we have felt a get the opportunity to study from in advance. “The costs have increased
strong need to make up for a lost home before making the decision to and availability decreased,” says Fran-
Syear and a half,” says Christo- come to the USA. “The opportunity cine Chemnick at the University of San
pher Thebing at the College of English to ‘try before you buy’ has been very Diego https://www.sandiego.edu/,
Language https://www.englishcol- successful,” explains Martha Acosta- who recommends that international
lege.com/ in California. “While stu- Pieters at Edmonds College https:// students start their search at least six
dents from some markets (e.g. Brazil) www.edmonds.edu/ in Washington. months in advance.
kept simply postponing their booked Virtual summer programmes are Cheryl Ernst at the American Eng-
trips, other markets had a strong also available to students, allowing lish Institute (AEI) at the University of
comeback. Now, most markets have them to get a taste of West Coast Oregon https://www.uoregon.edu/
returned to normality and we had even culture while learning remotely. Saroj also stresses that the type of accom-
higher booking numbers this year than Quinn at San Francisco State Univer- modation that students choose can
pre-pandemic.” sity https://www.sfsu.edu/ explains, shape their experience of the region.
For West Coast institutions, the “We offer a non-academic program She says, “If living a college-life
number of students applying from called Virtual San Francisco Discover experience is a goal, then residence
particular countries is soaring. and students learn about San halls are a good match. If a student
Mike Vu at The Academy at Francisco history and wants to integrate into the community
MiraCosta https://www. culture while improving and have a built-in support network,
miracosta.edu/ in their English skills.” homestays are the best fit.”
California says that The impacts of When planning on studying on the
Japan and Brazil are the pandemic are West Coast USA, it is also imperative
among the fastest- also still being that overseas students leave enough
growing markets. seen with student time to apply for their visas before
Other trends accommodation. they travel. “During the last year, visa
include continued One of the key piec- availability got much better again,
online learning. At es of advice offered but the whole process is still
Edmonds College, by institutions is to slightly slower than pre-pan-
international students plan accommodation well demic,” explains Christopher.

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