Attendance High at Egypt College Fairs

Interest among Egyptians in study in the United States was apparent at the annual StudyUSA College Fairs hosted by Amideast in Cairo and Alexandria in October. More than 2,000 students converged on the events, eager for a chance to meet face-to-face with representatives from U.S. colleges and universities. For many students, the possibilities for scholarships were uppermost in their minds. But they were also eager to hear firsthand about the types of academic programs offered, campus life, and extracurricular activities.
Students meeting college representatives at the StudyUSA College Fair in Cairo.

Enrollments of Egyptian students in U.S. institutions of higher learning have been rising modestly in recent years. Last year was no exception. According to the 2014 Open Doors Report, the number of Egyptians at U.S. colleges and universities rose nearly nine percent to reach 2,832 in 2013/14, the highest level in 15 years.

Twenty U.S. colleges and universities attended the fairs, taking advantage of the opportunity to raise awareness of their institutions and showcase their diverse programs, which between them ranged from film studies and business to engineering and political science — with much in between.

Amideast staff and volunteers, including EducationUSA Advisors, provided guidance and information on a myriad of topics, including the university application and admissions processes, essay writing, academic life in the United States, scholarship opportunities, and Amideast’s testing and English language learning services. Interest ran high, judging by the standing-room audiences, for some sessions, including one devoted to introducing the SAT test to students and helping them prepare for taking it, and a U.S. Embassy presentation about U.S. government-supported scholarship opportunities.