2025 International ACAC Conference Sessions

International students are under enormous pressure to secure an offer of admission from a top-tier university and are often discouraged if they are not admitted to their first-choice institution before high school graduation. In some cases, students may be admitted to their dream university, but do not have the means to pay for four years of tuition at that institution. Other students enroll at a four-year university and then discover that it is not the right fit for them. This panel will demonstrate that such scenarios do not need to be the end of the road for students’ higher education ambitions, and that overlooking the transfer route is a missed opportunity. Even for students excelling in high schools with challenging IB, A-Level, and AP curricula, the transfer pathway can be simpler, less stressful, and more reliable than first-year university admission. Our panelists will show how students can prepare to transfer to even the most highly selective private universities. We will discuss the myriad advantages of beginning a bachelor’s degree at a community college, including lower tuition costs, clear transfer agreements and guaranteed admission pathways. We will also address some of the potential pitfalls of attempting to transfer from one four-year university to another, including for students who have started university in their home countries and aim to transfer to a U.S. university. Finally, we will share tips for counselors to challenge misconceptions and reframe the community college transfer path as a strategic and desirable option—one that students and parents can take pride in.

Beginner
Intermediate

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)