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International student applications at UNCC down amid political tensions

By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com
By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New numbers from UNC Charlotte show that fewer people applied to the university this school year compared to the 2016-2017 year, and that includes international admissions.

Admissions numbers showed 253 international students applied to UNC Charlotte, which is down 34 percent from last year, when 386 students applied.

Transfer applications were down nearly 29 percent and graduate school applications dropped 12 percent during that same period.

Bolu Akinyemi, the assistant director for international admissions, said the application process for international students is long and complicated and could be one reason few people applied.

And earlier in 2017, international travel students at UNC Charlotte told Channel 9 they were worried about the impact the travel ban would have on them.

[RELATED: UNC Charlotte students rally against Trump's travel ban]

Akinyemi said applicants are still asking about policy changes.

“I think the question I have gotten a lot more is, ‘Will the visa requirements change? How much earlier do I need to start preparing to get my visa or my I20?’” Akinyemi said.

Akinyemi hopes she can educate more people who are unsure about Charlotte. She said she wants to create a large social media presence to connect with them.

“I don’t think we’ve done enough of that, so I’m excited to do more of that to get more students on campus,” Akinyemi said.

UNC Charlotte is still putting together the final enrollment numbers and will have that information by October.

The school currently enrolls nearly 2,000 international students. It expects 500 international students this fall semester; most are graduate students.

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