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US no longer top higher education option for students from UAE

Dubai - Search options are becoming more popular for destinations like Canada, Australia and the UK respectively.

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US President Donald Trump completed his 100 days in office on Saturday, but while some hail his efforts and others highlight his failings, educators and students in the UAE have mixed views on how his presidency has impacted overseas study trends here.
According to data gathered on Edarabia.com - the number one Education Guide in the Middle East - it seems Middle Eastern students are less likely to study in the US now. For the period of January to April 2017, traffic and student search queries on the website saw a shift in sentiment when it came to study options abroad.
Farid Gasim, founder of Edarabia, told Khaleej Times that search options are becoming more popular for destinations like Canada, Australia and the UK respectively, with the US slowly going down in the ranking, now in fourth place.
As per a report by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers, 39 per cent of US universities have reported a decline in applications from countries in the Middle East - the UAE being one of them. After Canada, Australia and the UK, Gasim said the most popular study abroad destinations for Middle Eastern students now are (still) the US, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and New Zealand. "It is clear that the political rhetoric of the recent US elections and concerns about future visa restrictions has resulted in a change in perception for many students, which explains the shift in focus to other study abroad destinations," he added.
But for Peter Davos, founder and managing director, Hale Education - the leading independent educational consulting firm in the GCC - students here are still keen to explore American study opportunities. "While Trump's presidency sparked considerable debate and conversation, particularly after the election, (I think) the same trends in international higher education will continue to prevail."
He told Khaleej Times that students from Muslim countries will still account for a "significant portion of international students in the US", with Saudis taking up the fourth spot in the ranking. "The same dynamics apply to students in the UAE. Every year, we see more students applying to US universities, especially since students' ability to remain in the UK after graduation are becoming more restrictive," he said. Davos believes one of the reasons Trump's victory "has not played a significant role in influencing students' college decisions" has been the reactions from colleges themselves. "All major colleges have reaffirmed their commitment to openness and religious tolerance and students have responded positively to this."
Furthermore, each of the two executive orders Trump tried to implement in order to limit immigration have been successfully stymied in the courts, which has reassured students that their welfare will be taken seriously. "Choosing the US is a no-brainer for students who want access to top-notch research and facilities, award-winning faculty and a vibrant student atmosphere," Davos said. But with Edarabia's online searches already witnessing trend changes in Trump's first 100 days, a clearer picture on just how he has impacted university planning may develop throughout the academic year.

What students say about the current US study environment

Name: Pragya Chawla, Indian
School: Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi
Accepted to: Stanford University
Course: Engineering
Long-term goal: Use technology to fill healthcare gaps, with a focus on mental health
"Not many of my classmates have been applying to colleges in the US, but the reasons vary. Some of my peers - particularly my Syrian and Iraqi friends - have been put off by the Trump presidency, but some feel the options in the UAE are expanding, so they'd prefer to stay. Only a quarter of my classmates are going abroad to study. For me, I always had my heart set on the US, but I never thought I'd go to such a big, renowned college. I was always skeptical of the whole ranking system and thought I'd end up at a smaller art college. But after researching Stanford, I realised it was the perfect fit for me. I focused a lot of my school efforts on establishing an afterschool mental health club. We didn't have any counsellors at our school and after experiencing personal issues myself, I wanted to spearhead this group. I think that helped in my application process for Stanford because they're looking for well-rounded individuals."
Name: Alessandra Canta, Italy
School: Brighton College, Abu Dhabi
Accepted to: Harvard University
Course: Pre-med (neurobiology)
Long-term goal: Become a doctor specialising in neurobiology 
"When I came to Abu Dhabi four years ago, I couldn't speak a word of English and my plan was always to go back to Italy to study. But being in the UAE I naturally transitioned into the whole overseas university thing. After finishing my applications process for Harvard, the waiting around was the worst part. I was so consumed with work before, that having so much time on my hands was unnatural. When I received the message of congratulations for acceptance, I was floored. Aside from my academics, I think it was my determination and motivation that got me through. I couldn't speak English four years ago, but I never gave up trying. In regards to mindsets in the GCC changing when it comes to choosing to study home or abroad, I'm definitely seeing changes. More and more are choosing to stay locally as the education sector is getting better and better here. But of the 38 people graduating from my class, only four are staying here."
Name: Shawn Amirthan, Indian
School: St. Christopher's School, Bahrain
Accepted to: Columbia University - Egleston Scholar
Course: Financial engineering
Long-term goal: Make it to Wall Street
"Right from the get-go I didn't think I'd be accepted at Columbia, let alone receive the scholarship. In fact, the day the email was sent out, I took about five hours to open it because I thought it was just some promotional email from the college. At Columbia you get a mixed education, so although my focus is engineering, I'll also have a chance to study liberal arts too. That gives you a better foundation as a person. Looking at the trends among GCC-based students transitioning from school to college, things are changing. When you look at the acceptance rates of universities in the US, competition is rife, so ultimately that could definitely change mindsets. Personally, I don't think Trump's presidency has had that much of an impact on the decision-making process. The fact that education is expanding in the GCC and more international branch campuses are setting up here is also driving up demand."

What do you plan to study at university?

Maria Grisha Borges, Our Own English High School, Dubai
"I plan to study B.B.AL.L.B (Hons) in order to carve a career in the corporate law field for myself, particularly in compliance and risk. I want to take up law as I have always admired the various legal systems of different countries, and how it beautifully integrates the different institutions fascinates me. I will be pursue my course in India."
Krista Fidelia, Al Diyafah High School, Dubai
From a very young age, I have enjoyed arguing, especially with my parents and brother. As I've grown older, debating has become my obsession. I have developed a passion for it and become pretty good at it too. When I realised that debating was my thing, I decided to take it seriously so I told myself: why not do it for a noble cause? When I finish my schooling, I plan to go to a university to study law and follow my lifelong passion." 
Mahiya Jain, Delhi Private School, Dubai
"I would love to go to university in the UAE because Dubai is a growing hub for education with world class universities, like UOWD, Herriott Watt, AUD, etc. having a presence here. I can see an increasing number of kids pursuing their higher education here and fetching lucrative jobs thereafter. I still have another six years to go for university and I am sure the standard of higher education will only get better by then."
Source: Additional stats or references can be found on the respective pages for the US, Canada, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

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