Attitudes and Perceptions of Incoming International Students.

Abstract

MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. Adjustment (to Environment); Career Counseling; *College Freshmen; *Foreign Students; Higher Education; *Occupational Aspiration; Perception; *School Counseling; Student Adjustment; *Student Attitudes; *Student Educational Objectives; Values The number of international students attending universities in the United States has increased steadily over the last two decades. Although research has found international students to have strong academic skills, high educational aspirations, and positive attitudes toward their school, other studies have found international students to face many difficulties in their adjustment to higher education in the United States. A questionnaire was administered to 164 incoming international students at the University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP). Students responded to items pertaining to study habits, academic background, educational objectives, college expectations, work plans, vocational goals, and personal orientation, as well as to questions concerning attitudes toward seeking counseling. The results indicated that international students took their education quite seriously, valuing it both for the intrinsic reward of academic pursuit and for career-related reasons. They anticipated that the hardest part of adjusting to college would be meeting financial expenses, although the majority expected to fulfill graduation requirements and were pursuing or intended to pursue graduate or professional degrees. Most respondents expressed an interest in seeking educational/vocational counseling even though they felt certain about their vocational goals. Job experience was felt to have been the most influential factor in their own development, while providing an intellectual and social climate was considered to be the major function of UNCP. (Author/NB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************

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