Mili Reyes grew up in San Pedro Sula, the second largest city in Honduras, where she attended a bilingual high school.
Reyes, a construction management senior, said LSU is popular with Honduran students looking to receive a better college education. Carlos Flores, former Honduran president, is an alumnus of the University.
Though she came to LSU with several students who attended her high school, Reyes said immigrating helped her branch out.
LSU encourages international students to attend to increase diversity and the University’s global reputation.
The U.S. has been struggling to keep up with other nations in higher education. Last year 691,000 international students attended school in the U.S., according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Though this was a record high, the American share of international students declined 5 percent from 2000-2008, while worldwide the number of students studying abroad increased by 85 percent.
Higher tuition, location and the recent process of obtaining a visa have made the U.S. less attractive to international students.
In spring 2011 there were 1,538 international students attending LSU — 1,113 graduate students and 445 undergrads, according to the International Student Association at LSU.
While this is an increase of approximately 100 students from the 2009 spring semester, the University has dipped from its enrollment of 1,737 international students in 2003.
Following Obama’s 2010 announcment of a government goal to lure more international students to the country, the U.S. Department of State now promotes higher education abroad by holding fairs and sending agents to attract students.
“I dispersed and got to know people from all over,” Reyes said. “If you get involved and start meeting new people you really learn American culture. … It’s so cool getting to hang out with people.”
Chao-Xuan Liu and Sital Tiwari enrolled at the University in order to conduct academic research in the College of Engineering.
Liu, a graduate student from southern China, said he is proud of the progress he has made in his research on electrical sensors, but it’s not the main reason he loves LSU.
“The study was a completely new and an exciting experience, but it would have been the same at any university,” he said. “It is the social life and culture of Louisiana that has made me love it here.”
Tiwari came to the U.S. to escape political instability in his home nation of Nepal.
“In the U.S. I could get a world class education,” he said. “Earlier years were difficult, but slowly I have adapted to the culture out here. I certainly miss home in special occasions, but LSU’s amazing tradition is what [keeps] me from being homesick.”
Mohammed Al Tammar, petroleum engineering alumnus, immigrated to the U.S. from Al Qasr, Saudi Arabia.
Al Tammar chose LSU because his uncle attended the University in 1979. He said he enjoyed the social and academic atmospheres while attending the University as an undergrad.
However, he recognized that the University could make changes to attract more international students.
“There are 30,000 Saudi students in the U.S., but in Louisiana there are only 50. I think LSU can do better,” he said. “With tuition for foreign students being $50,000 a year, why wouldn’t they want that?”
International students contributed $20 billion to the U.S. economy in college expenses in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. International students create a global business environment if they return to their home nation after graduation.
Al Tammar said he was never given a “presentation” from the University when applying to schools. He said other universities held forums or hosted recruitment programs.
In today’s global collegiate network, “commercial agents” are paid to attract foreign students to the U.S. They promote certain schools, and some assist in application and exchange procedures.
Al Tammar said the University could improve in teaching students English. He said most schools provide a preparatory year, allowing students to learn the language before starting classes.
“LSU needs to have a program to teach American students to merge with international students, ” he said. “The world is a big place, but it is definitely starting to merge.”
 
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Contact Laura Furr at [email protected]