About USBT

The U.S. Based Training program (USBT) for overseas educational advisers was conceived by the U.S. Department of State and The College Board in 1983 to supplement overseas-based advising workshops. The program's objectives are twofold: to strengthen and develop the skills of overseas educational advisers; and to build a corps of knowledgeable advisers who are skilled trainers and can advance the field of educational advising in their home countries with new and current expertise, techniques and knowledge of applicable technology. Over 500 educational advisers representing 120 countries from all geographic regions have participated in the program since 1984.

The basic function of an overseas educational adviser is to provide accurate, objective information about U.S. study opportunities at accredited academic institutions, and to guide students and professionals in selecting a program appropriate to their needs. USBT participants are drawn from educational advisers working at Department of State-affiliated overseas educational advising centers.

During the program, educational advisers experience the diversity of the American higher education system firsthand and obtain current, accurate information about U.S. higher education through three week- long components - Washington Week, Campus Visits and NAFSA Conference attendance. Each component of the training program provides detailed, hands-on learning in areas such as facilitating access to U.S. higher education, communicating cross-culturally, and managing an advising center.

- Washington Week components may also include:

• Discussion of the current state of U.S. higher education and how it affects the work of the educational adviser
• Accreditation and degree equivalency issues
• Development of pre-departure and re-entry briefings for international students, including cultural awareness issues
• Exploration of alternate sources of support for educational advising
• Individual consultations with U.S. exchange organizations
• Testing updates from the Educational Testing Service and Prometric
• Distance learning update
• Computer technology training
• Visa issues

- Campus Visit Component reinforces Washington training and provide first-hand interaction with campus officials. It includes information about:

• Admissions, financial aid and international student services.
• Why applicants from their countries are accepted or rejected
• How the transfer evaluation process works
• How foreign academic credentials are judged
• Policies on early admissions/early decision/early action
• Institution’s expectations regarding
• Standardized tests
• Academic background
• Letters of recommendation
• Essays/personal statements
• Financial requirements
• How financial aid decisions are made
• Classroom standards and expectations including participation, attendance/punctuality and interactions with professors
• What provisions exist for health care and housing
• What safety/security issues international students encounter
• How universities accommodate students of various faiths, nationalities, cultures, etc.

NAFSA Conference Attendance