Redefining International Student Advising at NYUAD

Redefining International Student Advising at NYUAD

By Lisa Mayorga

When I applied for the Professional and Graduate School Advisor role in the Career Development Center at New York University Abu Dhabi I attempted to conduct research on the nature of this type of work as it was all new to me. I learned that many academic institutions in the US housed such a role in an academic department, and few combined the role with career advising as this did. In addition, there were few US institutions with such a large presence in other countries, so the results of my research were thin. However, the uniqueness of this position, and this institution, was yet to be discovered.

About the Institution

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is truly a unique and diverse campus. It is a relatively new institution that accepted its inaugural class in 2010 and like its sister campuses, NYU New York and NYU Shanghai, is an English taught four-year degree granting institution, accredited in the United States and also in the UAE. NYUAD’s goals to be a global institution are embedded in the very mission of the institution and its commitment is evident in the student population, which is composed of 115+ nationalities, where no passport represents a majority, and which includes students from countries underrepresented in US higher education such as Cuba, Fiji, South Sudan and Bhutan. This eclectic demographic truly encapsulates the NYUAD mission of pioneering a new model of higher education for a global world.

This wide range of student talent is an intentional effort on the part of NYUAD Admissions to diversify students and provide a truly global campus experience. Through such wide-ranging nationalities and life experiences, students are challenged to a greater diversity of thought and innovation. The global identity of NYUAD is also assisted by the location of the institution which is more accessible than the United States for many international students, its unique model of education, its residential campus style and its healthy financial aid packages offered to students with financial need.

Not only are NYUAD students diverse, but they are also academically competitive. For example, for ​AY 20-21​, at the undergraduate level NYUAD admitted 4% of applicants, and of admitted students it has an 78% yield rate. NYU Abu Dhabi’s financial aid support allows students the freedom to dedicate time to their studies, meet their study abroad requirement, and explore varied subjects with impunity under a closed first year scores policy. As an academically rigorous institution, NYUAD sets high standards for itself and its students. In fact, ​as of 2019​, we have produced 12 Rhodes Scholars in just six years, more Rhodes Scholars per student than any university in the world. Scholars from other prestigious awards like the ​Schwarzman ​proliferate as well. These numbers are evidence of the talent and ambition that our students share which drives them to a campus like NYUAD where their global education is a fundamental part of their experience, and NYUAD exhibits a strong commitment to serving their needs.

Impact on My Role

Given the uniqueness of the institution, my role is also challenging in interesting ways. As the sole Professional and Graduate School Advisor for the social sciences, arts, humanities, business, and law, my role involves heavy student contact, more than most other people on campus. The reason for the high level of student exposure is my broad portfolio which has four primary responsibilities; graduate school advising, career advising, employer relations, and organizing an international graduate school fair. Graduate school is a strong interest of our students, with nearly a ​third​ of students pursuing it immediately after graduation. When it comes to finding postgraduate options, ​95%​ of students secure work or graduate school within 6 months of graduation, and my role is of strategic importance to our students as they navigate a truly global job market. I have been asked to help a Nepalese student study economics in Switzerland, a South African student enter into the field of international education in Singapore, and a Senegalese student study law in France, and many more such diverse pairings. The complexity of accreditation, visas, and funding, on top of different application systems and styles, makes this a unique position with a specific knowledge niche, which I can only imagine will become more common in our increasingly globalized world.

I would like to start a conversation on career and graduate school advising to international students on your campus. How is graduate school advising and career advising distributed at your institution? How robust are your career and graduate advising services for your international students who are not interested in continuing their education in your country? What resources do you have for international students seeking funding for graduate school in your country, as well as in other international locations? What challenges do you experience in finding and providing information and resources when advising your international students on careers and graduate education? Let’s start the discussion and share our experiences!

Writer’s Bio:

Lisa Mayorga serves as  the Awards Coordinator for ACPA’s Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development (CGDSD) Director Board as well as the  Professional and Graduate School Advisor at the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Career Development Center. In this role she works with students interested in pursuing graduate school in law, business, arts, humanities and the social sciences. You can contact Lisa at [email protected]