Overview
Equip yourself with the expertise to navigate the complexities of international college counseling, gaining insights into admissions processes, cultural contexts, and socioemotional factors to effectively guide students through critical decisions and transitions toward higher education globally.
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.
Program DiscountsMore information about available program discounts will become available when the 2026 registration cycle opens. |
About the Program
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
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 facilitators 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. Our facilitators' expertise and experience is global. Previous cohorts have had a keen interest in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, with additional curiosity about higher education practices in other parts of the world.
From the program curriculum, you can expect to:
- Develop fluency with the U.S. higher education system, including the market orientation of colleges and universities and how this orientation relates to admissions policies and practices.
- Understand the role of various quantitative and qualitative factors in the college admissions process.
- Appreciate various external influencers (third-party vendors, parents, rankings) and their roles in college admissions.
- Embrace an ethical perspective in counseling students and families engaged in the college admissions process.
- Display cultural competencies with students and parents across various ethnic, racial, and national backgrounds, and university locations (e.g., U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia).
- Consider the socioeconomic factors of college choice, and the financial decisions for students and families that accompany these choices.
- Identify a problem of practice for exploration and research.
International College Advising Certificate Program: Spring 2025
Synchronous sessions will be held weekly from 7:30-9:30 a.m. ET/ 7:30-9:30 p.m. BJT
| Synchronous Sessions Dates & Times | Session Topics |
|---|---|
| 18-April 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Program Orientation and Trends in Global Higher Education In our opening session, we will discuss program logistics, establish and meet home teams, consider the current global higher education landscape, and preview Problems of Practice. |
| 25-April 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Institutions of Excellence: Reframing World Class Universities This module asks learners to consider two primary objectives: 1) understand the strengths and weaknesses of the ‘world-class university concept’ and world ranking schemes and 2) develop a better appreciation of institutional excellence and quality by looking at education through 4 different lenses. |
| 2-May 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Cultural Frameworks and Ethics in Advising With a focus on global research resources for balanced list building, learners engage in candid conversations about the cultural frameworks, including the challenges of managing parent expectations or school administrator goals. This module takes a deep dive into the ethics of admissions and some of the tensions that accompany student-centered advising. |
| 9-May 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Crossing Cultures with Success The goal of attending university overseas includes learning about how to interact with other cultures. How can we educate our students about this cross-cultural experience, beginning during the research and application process? Then, how can we best prepare overseas-bound students and their families for the challenges and opportunities inherent in crossing cultures for educational purposes? Participants will learn to define cross-cultural kids (CCKs), the research into this population, as well as the basic tenets of intercultural understanding and communication. |
| 16-May 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Understanding Holistic Admissions and Institutional Priorities Holistic admissions is a frequently misunderstood practice at highly selective colleges and universities. Unlike admission based on a combination of minimum academic standards, such as grades and/or test scores, holistic admissions considers the entire application, including academic and nonacademic accomplishments, and the personal qualities and contextual aspects of an applicant’s profile. When the nuance of holistic review is paired with the complexities of institutional priorities, the outcomes may not make sense to external audiences, especially applicants and their families. In this session, we will define and discuss how these two phenomena operate independently and in tandem. |
| 23-May 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | External Pressures and Rankings Recent unprecedented events, including a worldwide pandemic, concerns about studying in the U.S., U.K., and other global destinations, uncertain institutional finances, and the test-optional movement have impacted institutional and consumer (student) behavior. Amidst all this turmoil, the annual college and university rankings have become even more important to some audiences who wrestle with the value of global educational options. This session will focus on the myriad pressures facing higher education, including annual rankings, and the impact of these pressures on students and families. |
| 30-May 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Understanding Financial Aid This workshop is for counselors working with international students seeking full scholarships (tuition, room and board) in the US. Learn the basics of how to advocate, support, and guide international students from low-income backgrounds seeking access to higher education. This module will 1) introduce you to the various “buckets” of financial aid and scholarships offered in the US, 2) give you a workflow for how to support a student applying for a seat with a full ride, 3) help you understand how to construct a list for 0 EFC students, and 4) go over best practices in advocacy, pitfalls to avoid, and common mistakes that counselors make when guiding this important demographic. |
| 6-June 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Beyond Case Studies: What Really Happens in the Candidate Selection Process Learners will participate in an admission committee through an activity that includes reviewing and rating applications. Guided by readings and group conversations and bringing together topics of holistic admission, institutional priorities, cultural frameworks, the selection process, and student trends, this module will provide a deeper understanding of international college advising. Led by two experienced international admission experts, the session will offer authentic, candid dialogue on the selection process, addressing myths, assumptions, and misunderstandings. As international college advisors seek opportunities to support and guide international students toward global educational opportunities, this in-depth experience with the holistic US university admission process will leave learners more confident in advising students. |
| 13-Jun 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Discussions of Problems of Practice The Problems of Practice exercise is designed for learners to identify and address an issue in their school, practice, or community. Throughout the course, learners will consider how readings and resources can guide or support their independent research topic. Learners will develop a presentation in the form of a paper, a video, an infographic, a PowerPoint, a Podcast, or another platform and share the results with their home team in advance of the session. In this live module, learners will discuss the successes and challenges of your research and potential next steps. |
| 20-Jun 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. (EDT) | Putting It All Together: What’s Next |
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