International students represent just under 4% of those enrolled in American universities, and most come to the United States with an ambition in mind. What they most want to achieve through a U.S. education may depend largely on their families in their home countries. Some students earn their degrees and return to their homeland to apply their skills there. They tend to have strong family ties in their countries. Other students with many families in the United States go to college, get jobs, and stay to immigrate. Then there are others who stay for university studies regardless of where their families reside. Some international students wish to pursue fields in their countries that rely on an English education from a reputable university in the U.S. Since these institutions can be very expensive, students with large families in their home countries receive financial support from them abroad. Then they return home after graduation. This is more than probably the most common course for international students. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Dartmouth University, for example, are renowned for their work in science and technology. International students go there to gain skills in things like engineering or architecture so they can excel in that field when they return to their country. In fact, among foreign graduates, engineering was second only to business and management degrees. Because of their education abroad and fluency in English, they are more marketable, can receive higher pay, and can contribute more to their families and the overall economy of their homelands. Other students make specific plans to emigrate. They often already have families in the United States who can sponsor them... middle of paper... dAnderson, Stuart. Weblog post "International students account for 70% of EE graduate students in the United States." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, July 15, 2013. Web. February 2, 2014. .Wildavsky, Ben. “The Globalization of Higher Education.” Interview. Web log post. Forbes. Forbes Magazine, July 28, 2010. Web. December 24, 2013. .Downey, Mareen. “More international students study in the United States, and more American children go abroad.” Web log post. More international students studying in the United States, and more Americans… The Atlantic Journal Constitution, November 11, 2013. Web. February 13, 2014. http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/ 2013/nov/11/more-international-students-studying-us-and-more-a/