Windhoek – 121 Namibian students are currently studying at U.S. universities and colleges, an increase of over 80% in the last five years, according to the U.S. Embassy’s EducationUSA office.
The data, released in the annual “Open Doors Report” by the U.S. Department of State, showed that the number of Namibian students in the United States continues to increase, despite obstacles posed by COVID-19.
Of the 121 Namibian students, the report detailed that 57% are studying at the undergraduate level, 30% at the graduate level, and 13% are in non-degree programs or optional and practical training. North Carolina, Iowa, California, New York, and Oklahoma are the top states hosting Namibian
students.
The 2020 Open Doors Report also showed a record number of U.S. students studying in Namibia, with 270 as of 2019. “I am very encouraged to see these numbers rise again this year,” said U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson. “Educational exchange between Namibia and the United States is a core part of our
diplomatic engagement. We want to see these numbers continue to grow, and the U.S. Embassy is ready to help any Namibian who wants to learn more about studying in the United States.”
The U.S. Embassy’s EducationUSA program provides free advice and guidance to Namibians who want to study in the United States. The program promotes U.S. higher education to students by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.
The U.S. Embassy has a full-time EducationUSA Advisor, Mr. Pinias Oscar, who guides interested students through the process of applying to U.S. universities and colleges. “There are five basic steps to applying to U.S. universities and colleges,” according to Pinias. “The five steps are: researching your options; financing your studies; competing your application; applying for a student visa; and preparing for your departure.”
Pinias Oscar’s email address is oscarpw@state.gov. Complete information on the steps to study in the United States is also available at https://educationusa.state.gov/.
Open Doors Report and International Education Week
The U.S. Department of State releases the Open Doors Report on student mobility to help promote International Education Week (IEW), which is celebrated during the week of November 16-20.
IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global marketplace and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
Receiving international students from diverse backgrounds at U.S. institutions and encouraging U.S. students to study abroad strengthens ties between the United States and countries around the world, developing the relationships between people and communities that are necessary to solve global challenges.
International education should be a part of every student’s academic career. Through more globalized classrooms and through international exchange, students experience new perspectives and learn how to adapt to unexpected circumstances, work with diverse peers, and communicate across cultures and languages. These experiences will help prepare students to enter global job markets and solve the world’s toughest challenges.
More students at U.S. colleges and universities are now taking advantage of study abroad opportunities in a wide range of destinations and disciplines. The State Department encourages American students of all backgrounds to explore studying abroad, and to consider non-traditional study abroad destinations.
The State Department is committed to increasing diversity in international education – diversity of students, disciplines of study, geographic representation, and institutions engaged, as well as the diversity of study abroad destinations around the world.
The Five Steps to Studying in the U.S.
1. Researching your options
The first step to studying in the United States is researching your options to find a college or university that best fits your needs. Students are advised not to try to match themselves to the school, but rather find the school that matches them, their priorities and long-term goals.
2. Financing your studies
The cost of living and studying varies across the United States. With the right amount of planning and research, pursuing a U.S. higher education can be made affordable with high returns on your investment. Start your financial planning as early as possible. Each year international students receive significant amounts of financial assistance for their studies. However, competition is high. Applications for financial aid go together with applications for admission.
When looking into studying in the United States, evaluating your finances should be one of the first things you do. As with any investment, you need to evaluate what’s best for your educational and career goals and what you are willing to spend. U.S. institutions offer a wide array of programs with a wide array of tuition and fees.
The United States is a large country and the cost of living varies greatly from place to place. You need to assess your funding and what you are able to spend on your education and living expenses.
3. Completing your applications
This step covers the general application requirements for U.S. colleges and universities. Applying for U.S. study is a task that takes time and concentration as each application is different and involves collecting recommendations, writing essays, and routing the results of required standard examinations. Managing application timelines is very important for international students, especially due to differences in academic calendars.
4. Apply for your student visa
The most common student visa type is the F-1 visa. Students need to learn about the forms needed, the steps of the visa application process. When a student is admitted to a U.S. university or college, they receive an official document from the school, known as the I-20, with which they can apply for their student visa.
5. Prepare for your departure
Key components to this final step include making your travel arrangements, attending a pre-departure orientation at your local EducationUSA center or online, gathering pre-departure materials and documents for arrival, as well as reporting to your school and attending orientations.
Check your new institution’s website for additional pre-departure information that will be more specialized and have information about health insurance, average local temperatures throughout the year, local transportation options, housing, and more.
EducationUSA advising centers organize pre-departure orientations for students getting ready to depart for the United States. EducationUSA advisers and Namibians who previously studied in the U.S. will provide information and resources that will help you prepare for new experiences and develop skills to adjust to new challenges. Topics discussed include cultural differences, motivation, changes from your home environment, academic systems and expectations, housing, and coping in a new cultural setting.
