B-Schools Enrolling The Most International Students

Students at Seattle University’s Albers School, which enrolled more international students for the fall of 2019 than any other top B-school. Courtesy photo

Business is international.

There’s no arguing that. In today’s global economy, countries rely on one another for manufacturing, goods, technology, and even food.

At Seattle University’s Albers School of Business, international students made up 32% of this past fall’s incoming class of undergraduate freshmen. Albers has the highest rate of international makeup, being the only B-school to report over 30% international students.

“For many years, Albers and SeattleU have been known as a place where international students are valued and embraced as part of the community,” Joseph Phillips, dean of the Albers School of Business and Economics, says.

THE VALUE OF ENROLLING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Albers prides itself on having a strong international student body. Having so many international students, Phillips says, helps to enhance the learning experience — for both domestic and international students.

“Each learns more about other cultures and world views, and this helps them be more effective business leaders,” he says. “Our international students help us deliver a more distinctive learning experience to both them and to our domestic students.”

Jaidev Vella, a second-year international student at Albers, agrees.

Vella grew up in Telangana, India. In high school, he says, he was involved in the IB (international baccalaureate) curriculum where he was exposed to business concepts and ideas. His experience growing up in India and his education would ultimately help him dive straight into an American B-school education.

“Once I started my college education at Albers, I could correlate with the concepts that I have previously learned and was able to be an active part of class discussions and group projects,” Vella says. “The eagerness and enthusiasm to learn concepts through reflection, contemplation, and experience, developed my existing knowledge, and strengthened my overall understanding.”

‘A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT’ FROM DAY ONE

For many international students, being in a new country can be difficult to navigate — let alone navigating a college education. That’s exactly why it’s essential B-schools offer supportive communities and programs to help ease the transition. At Albers, there are a number of specialized programs and support groups dedicated to international students, such as China Business Club, ASCEND, and the Global Business Club.

For Vella, it’s especially helpful to see other international students being represented across campus. He says the idea of representation first came to him in a Business Integration class he took during his first quarter at Albers. Through the course, students examined concepts of diversity and inclusion and how they played a role in the communities around them.

“As an international student, seeing other international students being represented around campus ensures me that the institution I am attending nurtures and fosters opportunities for growth, for all,” Vella says. “At Albers, I have observed a diverse and inclusive environment since the first day itself. It is a true reflection of the school’s overall mission, and an embodiment of the value-centered vision.”

OTHER B-SCHOOLS WITH HIGH INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION

Other B-schools that ranked highly for international student makeup include Babson College (29%), Boston University’s Questrom School of Business (25.8%), Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business (25.1%), and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton (25%).

Out of 84 B-schools to report data, eight had more than 20% international students. Some 57 B-schools had single-digit representation for international students.

(See the next page for a list of all 84 schools reporting international population data.)

DON’T MISS: ACCEPTANCE RATES AT THE TOP B-SCHOOLS or HOW ALUMNI GRADE THEIR B-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

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