What International Students Bring to Campuses

New York Times

14-06-2025

To the Editor:
In 'U.S. Schools' Reliance on Overseas Students Hurts Americans' (Opinion guest essay, June 3), David A. Bell understandably writes from his position at Princeton. I offer a perspective from a state teaching university that also does considerable research.
International students help give first-generation-to-college students at San Francisco State University and similar institutions some hope of competing in a world dominated by graduates of the Ivy League. They offer perspectives otherwise missing from class discussions and the opportunity to build global networks. They encourage students who have never left the Bay Area to study abroad and serve as a bridge between exchange students and the campus.
Unlike the highly selective schools Dr. Bell writes about, less prestigious universities have suffered enrollment declines. International students fill out our classes with bright, well-prepared learners as we regain our balance after a series of shocks to the system.
Notably, many — though not all — of our international students study on scholarships from their governments and come from families who struggle, as our American students do. Opportunities for international students to study in the United States bring more opportunities for the vast majority of U.S. college students who do not study at Princeton or other elite universities.
Juanita DarlingSan FranciscoThe writer is a professor of international relations at San Francisco State University.
To the Editor:
The growing concern about elite colleges prioritizing wealthy international students over qualified domestic applicants hits close to home for our family. Last year, our son — an academically strong student with global experience — applied to several top-tier universities. Despite his credentials, he was rejected from all.
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