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For more information about the International College Advising certificate program, contact us at ProfessionalLearning@gse.upenn.edu
Understanding the admissions processes, cultural contexts, socioemotional aspects, and other influential factors involved in international college counseling can be complex. Counselors who advise international students need to be fluent in the ways in which higher education systems operate in order to best serve their students as they make important decisions about their futures and prepare for the transition to college.
Developed by faculty at Penn GSE, the top-ranked graduate school of education in the U.S., the International College Advising certificate program is the only comprehensive college advising program designed for international college counselors. The program is tailored to mid-career college advisors working with international students who wish to pursue higher education outside their home countries. Whether you are an advisor in an international secondary school, a counselor at a boarding school with a large international caseload, or an independent educational consultant, you will gain a greater fluency of international higher education systems so that you can better serve students and families in your school or community.
April 13, 2023
3 months
Penn GSE Certificate in International College Advising
3 Continuing Education Credits from Penn GSE
This program includes both live virtual sessions and asynchronous work to be completed at your own pace.
For information about group payment options or payment plans, please contact ProfessionalLearning@gse.upenn.edu.
The International College Advising certificate program is a unique and valuable professional development opportunity focused on current international admissions processes and associated cultural contexts. The program helps college advisors, counselors, and educational consultants develop the skills to successfully guide students seeking higher education experiences outside of their home countries.
The program includes both synchronous sessions and asynchronous work, with the opportunity to learn and grow from working with larger group sessions and smaller teams. You will have the opportunity to expand your network among a cohort of colleagues and peers.
If you have questions, please contact us at ProfessionalLearning@gse.upenn.edu.
Ideal Candidates
Mid-career college advisors at international secondary schools, counselors at boarding schools with a large international caseload, and independent educational consultants working with international students who wish to pursue higher education in the U.S, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Advanced English language proficiency is a requirement for this program. Participants are expected to be able to read scholarly texts and current news articles. Participants must also be able to produce written coursework as assigned and actively engage in nuanced discussions with faculty and cohort members.
This program reserves the right to request proof of English proficiency from applicants whose native language is not English, who have not earned a tertiary degree in English, or who have not worked in a predominantly English language office for at least two years. Duolingo (Score: 120) is the preferred method for demonstrating proficiency. Results should be sent via Duolingo by accessing the website's search filter, filtering institution type to “Other,” and sending the score to “Penn GSE International College Advising Certificate Program.” Please contact us if you have a financial need and require a testing-fee waiver.
The International College Advising Certificate Program is designed for mid-level college advisors who work with students that seek higher education destinations outside their home country. The expertise and focus lie with universities in the U.S, Canada, Australia and the UK.
From the program curriculum, you can expect to:
The program consists of 10 live interactive virtual sessions, each focused on timely topics and taught by expert faculty and practitioners. Before and after each live virtual session, readings, discussions, and related activities will be assigned. Participants will also have the chance to identify and research a problem of practice, providing the opportunity to develop new knowledge in an area that is important to them.
Live sessions will tentatively occur on the following Thursdays at 7:30 – 9:30 am EST (which is 12:30 – 2:30 pm GMT and 7:30 – 9:30 pm in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore):
Date | Course |
April 13, 2023 | Program Orientation and Trends in Global Higher Education Eric Kaplan and Barbara Chen |
April 20, 2023 | Institutions of Excellence: Reframing World Class Universities Alan Ruby |
April 27, 2023 | Cultural Frameworks and Ethics in Advising Michelle Chow-Liu |
May 4, 2023 | Crossing Cultures with Success Aleka Bilan and Barbara Chen |
May 11, 2023 | Understanding Holistic Admissions and Institutional Priorities Eric Kaplan and Elizabeth Heaton |
May 18, 2023 | How Race Conscious Holistic Admissions Works Julie Park |
May 25, 2023 | External Pressures and Rankings Barbara Chen and Eric Kaplan |
June 1, 2023 | Beyond Case Studies: What Really Happens in the Candidate Selection Process Isthier Chaudhury and Becky Konowicz |
June 8, 2023 | Discussions of Problems of Practice Barbara Chen and Eric Kaplan |
June 15, 2023 | Putting It All Together |