Global IEC Feature:
Rebecca Grappo
I am so lucky to know some cool people, people who are living inspiring lives and helping students along the way. This new series introduces you to a variety of IEC’s who provide expertise with international admissions (US students/dual nationals going abroad for their degree). Everyone comes to this work from different angles and experiences. I am always amazed at how each person gets inspired by international learning. Also, how have they grown their expertise? We have a lot of amazing people in our field. First up, Becky Grappo.
I recently sat down with Becky Grappo, an IEC that I originally knew from Colorado. Becky now divides her times between the US and Torino, Italy. This interview has been condensed for ease and comprehension.
How did you get into international admissions?
When I was 16, I was selected to be an exchange student in a village in Italy and got the international bug. It was life-changing to be thrown into the deep end where no one spoke English. Later I studied international studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and then spent a and I spent my junior year at Miami U’s Luxemburg campus. After I got married, my husband got a job with the State Department, and we lived in Nicaragua, Portugal, Jordan, Oman, and Dubai among other places. It was while living overseas that I decided to do my master’s in teaching and education, and I later worked at international schools across the world. My favorite position was in Washington, D.C. at the US Department of State as the Education and Youth Officer. That job was heaven for me as it brought together a lot of my interests: international living, education abroad, college admissions, third-culture kids, and the ins and outs of international schools. I helped families move all over the world, and I loved the stimulation of it. Then we moved abroad again and I started my IEC business. This was 2006 and there weren’t a lot of consultants doing international admissions.
Why do you think now is a good time for international admissions?
I have been an IEC since 2006. For a long time, I did international admissions going the other way (international students and expats applying to US schools), but now I see the opposite trend: US students and international students who are keen to explore doing a degree abroad, mostly in Europe and the UK. Another evolution I see is that US students who are mostly interested in the US are starting to add international options. The word is out now that it is possible to do a degree abroad, and I have seen an uptick of interest.
What advice would you give to an IEC who wants to learn more about international admissions?
International education is humbling. There is so much to learn, and you can’t know everything. However, you can have a great network of professionals to ask questions and discover the answers. Having a great network is a force multiplier. So, build your network!
Also, invest in professional development. Attend learning opportunities. Go on site visits. Learn about disability supports, entry requirements, cultural differences. Don’t assume how it happens in the US is how it happens in other places.
Finally, be sure to inquire about a student’s independence and resilience. Doing a degree abroad requires both.