For Foreign Students, Top Choice in US: USC

This is the VOA Special English Education Report, from http://voaspecialenglish.com | http://facebook.com/voalearningenglishThe number of international students in the United States is at record levels. Last year, more than six hundred seventy thousand foreign students attended an American college or university. And for the eighth year the school with the largest number was the University of Southern California in LosAngeles. U.S.C. has about six thousand six hundred international students in regular academic programs. One in four graduate students and one in ten undergraduates come from other countries. In a special class, international students meet with American students and learn about American life, says instructor Vincent Vigil. He says: "We are able to have them interact with American students, but then also ask them any sort of simple questions that you may ask another person: 'What do you like to do for fun? Why did you choose U.S.C.? What do you do on the weekends?' Just simple things so that way they get to understand what it means to be an American student."Sports fans know the University of Southern California for its athletics, but students say they come for the strong academic programs. The university's ties are strongest with Asia.Tony Tambascia, director of the office of international services, says U.S.C. actively seeks international students.He says: "We currently have students from about one hundred fifteen different places of origin around the world. India is first with over fifteen hundred students. We have almost as many from mainland China."Yuan Si Zhao, from Beijing,is working on her master's degree in communication management. She says: "I have lots of friends that came to U.S.C. That is the main reason I wanted to come."Some students come to study business or liberal arts or to attend the university's highly rated engineering school.Indian engineering studentRahul Khola says the international student population was part of the school's appeal. California's climate is also appealing.Foreign students not only give schools more applicants to choose from, they also provide money. Undergraduate students from other countries usually pay full tuition at American colleges and universities. Only a small percentage receive financial aid. And that's the VOA Special English Education Report. Check out our Foreign Student Series for those interested in studying in the United States. Click on the link at voaspecialenglish.com.

(Adapted from a radio program broadcast 27May2010)