Five Reasons Why International Students Call Babson College Home
A safe New England campus? Check.
A global student body, and educators who know how to make international students feel at home? Check, Check.
A school with an internationally known reputation? Yes, Babson has that, too.
Deciding where to go to college is a big deal for any student, especially when the choice involves moving across the world and studying internationally. And yet, for international students at Babson, it’s a familiar scenario. 28% of Babson undergraduates and 73% of full-time graduate students come to campus from other countries, navigating the world of visas, work sponsorships, and some culture shock as they dive into life at Babson.
With a world of colleges to choose from, what makes Babson College stand out? “We value the international students on our campus and continue to welcome them from around the world,” says Amir Reza, dean of Babson Academy and Global Education. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the College’s pro-student stance on recent visa and immigration policies. “Who better to lead the support for international students than Babson?”
Here are five more reasons why so many international students make Babson their home away from home.
In Good Company
With so much of the student body coming to Babson from other countries, staff and faculty are experts at helping international students use Babson as a launchpad. The welcome and support international students receive includes U.S. job-search strategy sessions, access to immigration attorneys, events that celebrate both international and U.S. cultures, and more. The welcoming culture at Babson has been recognized by Forbes, where Babson made the list of top ten colleges for international students, and the 2019 Open Doors Report, where Babson ranked #6 in the U.S. for hosting international students. Additionally, Babson received the prestigious Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization in 2018.
STEM-Designated Programs for Extended OPT
Several Babson programs are STEM-designated, including the Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and two new MBA concentrations: Quantitative Finance and Business Analytics and Machine Learning. Most graduating international students can work in the U.S. for a year, either for an employer or by starting their own business, through a program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). Graduates of STEM-designated programs may have the option to extend their OPT for an additional 2 years without needing visa sponsorship from their employer. And, 34% of the international students in the MBA class of 2018 interviewing for jobs landed positions in the U.S.
Institutional Support at the Highest Level
Last month, Babson joined more than 100 public and private universities and colleges in filing an amicus brief to defend the long-standing immigration program known as OPT. Separately, Keith Rollag, dean of the Graduate School, signed on to a letter with 50 other U.S. business school deans and 13 CEOs encouraging U.S. government leaders to re-examine current visa and immigration policies. In 2016, the College became the first private institution to launch a Global Entrepreneur in Residence program, creating a pathway for international entrepreneurs to apply for a cap exempt H1-B visa. Babson believes in, and supports, international students.
Leading the Way in Entrepreneurship Education
As the world gets smaller and jobs and entire industries evolve, entrepreneurial leadership is becoming a must-have skill. Babson has long been at the cutting edge of entrepreneurship education, ranked No. 1 for entrepreneurship for 26 years in U.S. News & World Report. Moreover, colleges and universities around the world send their faculty to Babson Academy to learn our method of teaching entrepreneurship.
A Safe and Welcoming Community
Nestled just 10 miles west of Boston in suburban Wellesley, MA, Babson College provides a safe and welcoming home away from home. Faculty genuinely care about their students, adding to the sense of safety and community on campus.
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