EducationUSA at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP)
is taking sixteen secondary school counselors from Islamabad, Lahore, and
Karachi on a two-week tour of U.S. colleges and universities across eight cities
in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. This professional development opportunity will
give the counselors first-hand understanding of higher education in the United
States and help them better advise students about college admissions.
The EducationUSA tour participants will visit thirteen colleges and institutions
including Kirkwood Community College, Mount Mercy University, Central College,
Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Luther College, Columbia
College, University of Illinois, University of Southern Indiana, University of
Evansville, Indiana University at Bloomington, Purdue University at
Indianapolis, and Valparaiso University. The tour program is designed so that
the counselors learn directly from the university representatives that they
meet.
Speaking about the tour, USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar said, “We hope
this first-ever counselors’ tour will become an annual event. We are so pleased
to be able to give school counselors a chance to see U.S higher education up
close.”
The tour will include panel discussions and regional workshops at Kirkwood
Community College, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and
networking opportunities hosted by the University of Southern Indiana,
University of Evansville, Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis
and Valparaiso University. The counselors will also participate in the Illinois
School Counselor Association Annual Conference. At the conference, participants
will meet their U.S counterparts to gain first-hand experience with U.S. higher
education admissions processes, such as writing letters of recommendation,
tuition and financial aid, regulations governing work options and offerings of
different institutions based on school size, location, and available programs.
The participants will return after the two-week program better equipped to guide
students who wish to study in the United States.