The Academic Performance of Foreign Students

Abstract

The academic success of foreign students in the United States depends heavily upon the selection process, which is an effort to predict whether the student will profit personally and for the countries involved through a period of study in an American university. Significant factors in the selection process include the demonstrated academic ability of the student, his English proficiency, the adequacy and reliabil ity of his financial resources, his adaptability to a strange en vironment and to a new role upon his return home, and the facilities of the university of his choice for satisfying his edu cational desires. A program of orientation and the availabil ity of adequate counseling services can assist the foreign stu dents in an important way in adapting to United States aca demic and other mores. Although, from the standpoint of grades, foreign students seem generally to perform on a par with American students, the grades assigned to foreign students are not always assigned on the same basis as to other students. Because grades in some form are almost universally accepted as a measure of academic achievement and professional poten tial, no double standard should be tolerated in giving grades or in awarding degrees. The reputation of United States edu cation depends upon accepting only high caliber exchange stu dents, sending only first-rate students abroad, including only universities with high standards in the exchange program, as sisting exchange students adequately in adjusting to new situa tions, overcoming any handicaps, and doing the best academic work of which they are capable, and awarding only degrees that have been earned.—Ed.