A Global Team, A Personal Approach

International Admission is about much more than recruiting students from around the world. It is about building relationships, creating a sense of connection to St. John’s University, and helping students and families navigate one of the most significant decisions they will make, often before they ever set foot on campus.

Over the past several years, our team has grown from one person to six, allowing us to strengthen those connections through a territory-based recruitment model. Each counselor now develops expertise in specific countries and regions, gaining a deeper understanding of local educational systems, cultures, and recruitment landscapes, while building lasting relationships with students and families, school counselors, EducationUSA advisers, and other partners.

For international students, that familiarity can make a tremendous difference. Applying to a university thousands of miles from home can mean navigating an unfamiliar admission process, visa requirements, financial considerations, and the uncertainty of moving to another country. Having a counselor who understands a student’s educational background and region can make St. John’s feel a little less distant.

Spain offers a wonderful example of how one connection can grow over time.

Former student Rocio Moron Ares shared with me how reassuring it was to have access to both our team in Queens and a counselor based in Europe who understood European educational systems. Throughout the application process, she knew whom to contact with questions and received the guidance she needed to feel confident choosing St. John’s.

Her experience eventually came full circle. After enrolling, Rocio became a student worker in the Office of International Admission, helping prospective international students navigate the same process she once had.

“The positive impact the team had on me inspired me to give back in the same way,” she shared.

Years later, that connection extended to her younger sister, Lucia. Inspired by Rocio’s experience, Lucia also chose St. John’s. Her journey came at a challenging time, as COVID-era visa appointment restrictions created uncertainty about whether she would be able to reach New York for the start of the semester.

Our team worked with her to explore different possibilities, including beginning at our Rome location if necessary. Lucia ultimately secured her visa and began the fall semester in Queens, but she remembers the reassurance of knowing that people at St. John’s were actively helping her find a path forward.

“During a time when I was unsure what my first semester of college would look like, I truly appreciated knowing that my counselors were doing everything they could to support me,” she said.

Stories like Rocio’s and Lucia’s illustrate why international recruitment is rarely about a single interaction. One relationship can lead to another student, another family, another school, or an entirely new network of connections.