U.S. grad schools lose international applicants: survey says foreign grad applications are down significantly.

Several of our nation's top graduate schools have seen a significant decline in international applicants since last year, says a survey conducted by a handful of organizations, including the American Council on Education (www.acenet.edu) and the Council of Graduate Schools (www.cgsnet.org). Out of 130 doctoral and research institutions that participated in the survey, almost 60 percent indicated a decrease in applications, especially from Chinese applicants.

The survey posits there is a perception that international students find the higher ed climate unwelcoming in the U.S. Another explanation for the decline is that international students are having difficulty securing visas in a timely manner, and are subject to longer background checks and tighter security policies as a result of the war on terrorism.

This causes great concern for many who believe that international students make outstanding contributions to U.S. science and technology efforts. The organizations that sponsored the survey have urged Congress and the Department of Homeland Security to establish a predictable and timely visa processing system that would allow entry to those visitors who contribute to our national security, economy, and global leadership.