I recently had the privilege of sitting on a panel with Caitlin Jarvis, Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment for the iSchool at Syracuse University, and Logan Ridge, a Politics student at The Catholic University of America. Together, we explored a topic that is increasingly becoming the deciding factor for international students today: What happens when the laptop closes?

While top-tier academics are a given at institutions like Syracuse and Catholic University, our conversation highlighted that a student’s success is deeply rooted in the holistic support systems that exist beyond the lecture hall.

Syracuse University: Human-Centered Success

Caitlin emphasized that Syracuse has moved away from traditional “silos” to create a holistic, human-centered model for international student success. One of the most striking points she shared was how early this support begins.

“Career development doesn’t start junior year. It starts in semester one,” Caitlin noted, explaining that at Syracuse, academic and career advising are no longer separate functions.

She also highlighted the International Student Buddy Program, which pairs every incoming student with a trained peer mentor as early as May. For Caitlin, the selection process for these mentors is key:

“Not every 4.0 student makes the best mentor. Empathy matters more than GPA”.

Catholic University: A Global Home in D.C.

Logan shared how Catholic University leverages its unique location in Washington, D.C., to provide intercultural connections that help students define their place in a global community.

“Our goal is to see you reach yours, and we go to great lengths to help you overcome any challenge and realize every dream,” Logan remarked, emphasizing the university’s dedication to personalized student services.

She highlighted critical support layers that many students might not immediately consider:

• The Counseling Center: A dedicated space for international students to navigate homesickness and cultural adjustment with professionals.
• Intercultural Buddy Program: Connecting domestic students (often those who have studied abroad) with international newcomers to foster immediate social bonds.
• Campus Ministry: Providing a pastoral touch that helps students “grow deeper in faith and friendship” regardless of their background.

Why This Matters for 2026

For students choosing a university today, the message from Caitlin and Logan was clear: You are not just a number or an enrollment statistic. In a world where the path from F-1 to H-1B is becoming more complex, having a university that integrates career coaching, mental health support, and peer belonging from day one is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Thank you, Caitlin and Logan, for reminding us that at the heart of quality education is a quality community.