High schools and colleges continue to develop and refine their strategies for recruiting abroad, according to new findings from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

In particular, the association’s latest research brief shows that over the last two years more colleges have adopted practices that provide greater oversight of commissioned-based agents.

Key findings from NACAC’s Use of Commission-Based Agents in the Recruitment of International Students research brief include:

• About 36 percent of colleges responding to NACAC’s 2017-18 Admission Trends Survey reported using commission-based agents and another 27 percent were actively considering the practice. More selective institutions were less likely to use agents.
• Since 2015-16, more colleges have adopted practices that provide greater oversight in their work with agents, including providing training manuals and/or in-person training sessions, as well as regularly assessing the students recruited by agents.
• Only 9 percent of secondary schools responding to NACAC’s 2017-18 Counseling Trends Survey reported having a written policy that outlines whether and how school-based counselors should engage with agents hired by students and their families.

NACAC continues to maintain a healthy concern about the inherent risks to students and institutions posed by partnerships with commission-based agents. The association has worked diligently to help its members adopt policies that safeguard the interests of students.

Download the new research brief and learn best practices for working with agents through a series of resource papers from NACAC.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.