Karachi – July 13, 2024: This week around 271 Pakistani students attended the EducationUSA 2024 Pre-departure Orientations (PDO) in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. EducationUSA hosts these events every summer to help students prepare for their departure to the United States to embark on bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programs of study.
Discussion topics included U.S. academic and campus life, cultural differences and how to make the most of the U.S. university experience. The events also served as a celebration of the students’ success, along with parents and school counselors. Alumni of U.S. institutions and representatives from the U.S. Mission to Pakistan were also on hand to provide insight and guidance to departing students.
According to the International Institute of Education’s 2023 Open Doors report, more than 10,000 Pakistanis studied at U.S. higher education institutions in the 2022-2023 academic year, a 16 percent increase over the prior year.
This trend corresponds to the highest-ever international student enrollment rate reported in the United States over the last 40 years. The more than one million international students pursuing higher education in the United States are a testament to the unmatched academic and professional growth opportunities available to students at U.S. institutions. In turn, these colleges and universities benefit greatly from the diversity international students bring to campus.
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“The U.S. government is proud to provide free and comprehensive educational advising services to Pakistani students via EducationUSA. A higher education from the United States offers unique and high-quality opportunities for personal and professional growth,” said Minister Counselor for Public Affairs Bettina Malone.
Many students attended the PDO have worked closely with EducationUSA advisers, who guide prospective applicants on U.S. higher education and provide free and comprehensive assistance regarding the application process. Organized at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore and Karachi, this year’s events helped equip students with the necessary information to enable a smooth transition to a new academic and cultural environment.
“We’re thrilled to see the number of Pakistani students in the United States surpass pre-pandemic levels,” said USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar. “A U.S. higher education unlocks countless opportunities for students to grow academically and professionally and these students are beginning an exciting journey. Today we celebrate their success as we prepare them for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
EducationUSA is the official U.S. government source of information on U.S. higher education. It offers accurate, comprehensive, and current information on accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States, and free guidance and assistance to students interested in applying to U.S. colleges and universities.
In Pakistan, EducationUSA is hosted at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), a bi-national commission established in 1950 by the Governments of the United States and Pakistan. USEFP also administers the prestigious Fulbright Program and several other U.S. government-funded scholarships and fellowships for Pakistani students interested in studying in the United States.
For more information, visit educationusa.pk and usefp.org.
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