EducationUSA Showcase: Studying in the United States
April 1 Event Highlights American Colleges, Universities

Muscat - On April 1, the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, in partnership with AMIDEAST, hosted the first EducationUSA Showcase at the Embassy.  The EducationUSA Showcase was an afternoon of presentations and events about opportunities to study in America. 

The Showcase, open to the general public and attended by Omani and expatriate students, parents, teachers, and educational administrators, addressed how to choose a college or university in America, how to apply for admission, opportunities for scholarships, and many other topics.

“Omani students succeed in the U.S.” said Ambassador Gary A. Grappo at the event’s opening remarks.  “The number of Omanis students going to the U.S. grew by 10% last year.  With almost 4,000 accredited colleges and universities in the United States, there is a program that will match any student’s needs.”

Sarah Jackson, Country Director for AMIDEAST and joint sponsor of the event, announced the launching of AMIDEAST as Oman’s first full-suite U.S. educational advising center.  “Promoting educational opportunities in the U.S. is critical to our mission of strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the people of the Middle East and North Africa,” she said during opening remarks.  “The establishment of our office in Muscat brings to 10 the number of EducationUSA centers that AMIDEAST operates on behalf of the Department of State.”

The EducationUSA Showcase offered a wide range of recruiting and informational material from dozens of institutions, ranging from large public universities to small liberal-arts colleges, as well as graduate programs in many fields of study.  Attendees had the chance to meet alumni of U.S. schools and to hear in detail about applications, required testing, admissions, and the visa process.

Over 600,000 international students study in the U.S. each year, including hundreds of Omani citizens and expatriates based in Oman.  From academic year 2005/6 to 2006/7, the number of students in America from the Middle East increased by over 25%.  Omani student visa applicants continue to be among the most qualified in the region. 

Inviting international students to study in the U.S. continues to be a cornerstone of America’s “Open Doors, Secure Borders” policy, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said, "The United States has never been more eager to welcome foreign students to our country."