Top export in trouble: Catherine Rampell on decline of international students in US schools

When you think about exports, the first things you probably think of are agricultural products such as corn and soybeans or manufactured items such as trucks or cigarettes. Did college degrees make your list? Not ours, either. Still, journalist Catherine Rampell, who covers public policy and political issues for the Washington Post, argues in this December 2018 essay that higher education is one of the most important US exports, and what’s more, that it’s in trouble.

Rampell, “One of America’s most successful exports is in trouble”

1. Why is the drop in international student enrollment a problem, according to Rampell? What is her argument? What evidence does she present? Is her argument persuasive? Why or why not?
2. Although Rampell mentions President Trump several times in her essay, she is neither overtly critical nor overtly supportive of him. Did her lack of an explicit position weaken her argument? Should she have taken a firmer position about him in one direction or the other? Should she not have mentioned him at all? Explain the reasoning for your responses.
3. Rampell begins one paragraph with “Boo-hoo, Trump supporters might say.” You won’t find that exact phrase in any of the templates in Chapter 6, but the message would certainly fit into one (or more) of the template categories in that chapter. Which category is the best fit? Why do you think so?
4. Do you think the United States should take measures to restore and promote international student enrollment in colleges and universities here? Why or why not? In light of your response to those questions, what policies might the state and federal governments develop in order to generate the result you support? Use Rampell’s article as your They Say and write an essay that argues your position.

Comments

[bradie holmes]

when you think about exports you are probably thinking about how a tangible good. However, it can also be a service like college. colleges are losing money when international students do not come over from other countries. Catherine Rampell says that they are not coming to college in the us and going to other universities in other countries due to our government. the numbers are there that these universities in other countries as our decline.

[Santos Garcia]

I do think that the United States of America should take action to promote the international student enrollment in colleges and universities. Because it brings more money and success into the tables of colleges and universities. Especially the international student enrollment depends on the foreign students money so that the program can keep on going and bring more ideas into the program for the future. All because whoever the colleges and universities are partnered with when it comes to companies giving jobs. They need and depend on the schools students because without them. The companies will not be successful at all.

[John]

I feel like this drop of international students enrollment will have an effect on our country for years to come in the future and therefore America should ease up on visa allowance, especially to students. These students most of who come are here to work hard and earn their degrees so they can start working in the U.S. because most of them will make better wages here than in their home countries. This will help increase our workforce and will benefit us in many other ways.

[Danielle]

I can understand both sides of this topic. For one, I can understand why people are so concerned with the dropping rates of international students coming over for schooling. What republicans need to understand, is that these students often may bring over unique attributes that US students may not offer. As the article mentions, they also bring a unique vibe to the college campus and cause US students to become more interested and diverse in other cultures. I can also understand why people are justifying these students not coming over because they may not need as many for the jobs here in the US.

[David]

Ultimately yes, the decline in foreign students coming to the United States for their Studies affects a large portion of those who are living here. From the demand of degrees we do not want that foreign students pursue, to the economic standpoint of higher tuition fees. In conclusion, there is a balance we need to create a level playing field for all students seeking a career.

[SELIN G.]

There are different factors and reasons for international students when selecting a study abroad destination. Many factors determine where students study, including career prospects, educational prestige, social environment, and cost. After changing perceptions of the U.S., considering policy changes, executive orders, and changing attitudes towards Trump's presidency, we can see that students have a more precise idea of what it means to study abroad in the U.S. today. After reading the full article, I think Rampell goes beyond the opinions, as she states the facts and figures in terms of both financially and commercially.
Speaking of the facts and figures, this article belongs to the year 2018, and as I continued and did my research, unfortunately, I could observe that the numbers didn't improve over the past few years. According to The Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs reports, the total number of international students at U.S. universities dropped by 15% from 1,075,496 in 2019-2020 to 914,095 in 2020-2021. It is fair enough to say that the recent Coronavirus outbreak significantly impacted foreign education. China and India, which remain the largest sources of origin for international students coming to the U.S., sent 14.8% and 13.2% fewer students, respectively, in that period. But why are these numbers being so crucial to The U.S. economy? How does the U.S. benefit from international students? The economic benefits provided by international students go beyond education. Foreign and exchange students pay higher tuitions per semester than domestic students. As a result of their higher bills, domestic students indirectly subsidize their lower tuition costs. The nation's fifth-largest export category is the educational exchange, which contributes to the U.S. economy through the economic activities of these students and their families. Currently, three new American jobs are created or supported by every seven international students studying in the United States. Moreover, almost a fifth of all STEM jobs in the United States is filled by foreign-born workers, including valuable nuclear engineering and computer programming positions that would otherwise stay vacant.
Mathematically speaking, it is a win-win situation. The benefits of educating and employing those students are countless, and we need to be more politically flexible and more acceptable immigration-wise when it comes to education and science. This is a matter that the authorities should consider, like investing in brainpower recruitment, and the U.S. still tops the list of preferences.
To conclude, the United States has long been at the forefront of educational exchanges. But this can quickly become a disadvantage if proper support isn't provided.

[Sarah O.]

As Rampell points out, there are numerous and significant reasons behind the drops in international enrollment that are problematic. Her argument is persuasive because she effectively presents the facts behind the socio-political and commercial algorithm of education by using Commerce Department data when discussing the importance of why we need international students in our country in terms of political and financial assets.
According to Commerce Department data, we had a massive surplus in education in 2017 - $34 billion; and educational exports are nearly as big as our soybean, coal, and natural gas exports combined.
The international students not only enrich the campus environment and create diversity, but they are also a significant expenditure: on tuition, travel expenses, books, food, and housing.
They also help American colleges and universities by creating employment for millions of people in the education sector, which is even larger comparing the employment numbers in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting.
As the federal government cut funding for higher education after the financial crisis, schools were forced to enroll many out-of-state and international students to fill the void. These students pay full tuition, and their higher fees are used to cross-subsidize lower, in-state tuition rates of American classmates. Hence, they enable more American students to get a degree despite the contrary perceptions.
Moreover, foreign students who represent a majority of computer science and engineering graduate programs in the U.S. come here partly because they’re interested in staying after graduation and working here. In contrast, they tend to study those STEM fields that U.S. employers demand and that U.S. students avoid.