Challenge
For international students, academic transition is rarely just about coursework. Success depends on navigating new cultural norms, finding confidence in an unfamiliar environment, and managing rigorous expectations often without the tailored support they need. For those who stumble in their first year, options have been limited. A poor GPA can close doors permanently, even for students who showed strong promise in secondary school.
What our students say
Yipeng
Solution
INTO’s Role in Identifying the Opportunity
Recognizing this gap, INTO University Partnerships saw the need for a dedicated route that would not only rehabilitate transcripts but also restore confidence and provide a structured second chance. INTO designed the New Start Undergraduate Transfer Program (UTP) and, through its campus-based partnership model, worked with Drew University to bring it to life in 2019.
Campus-Based Support: An INTO Signature
At the heart of the program is Drew’s Tilghman International Center, an INTO-managed hub of support services designed specifically for international students. Here, students benefit from:
- Dedicated academic coaching, tailored to both coursework and cultural adjustment.
- Mentorship and transition support, helping students adapt socially and emotionally to US university life.
- Smaller classes and direct faculty access, reinforcing academic engagement.
- Integration with campus resources, from the Writing Center to peer tutoring, ensuring wraparound support.
This level of concierge-style guidance is what differentiates INTO’s model: students are not left to figure it out alone.
What our students say
Outcomes
By embedding this support within a respected US university, INTO enabled Drew to attract international students who might otherwise have bypassed the opportunity. Many sought out large, highly ranked institutions but without cultural transition support and coaching, their chances of success were slim. INTO’s approach gave them both: access to a strong university network and the scaffolding to thrive.
The outcomes speak for themselves:
- GPA growth: On average, students improved their GPA by 1.7 points.
- Enrollment impact: New Start UTP students account for ~30% of Drew’s international cohort annually.
- Retention: Students chose to stay at Drew because of the positive support experience.
Conclusion
The New Start UTP program shows how INTO University Partnerships does more than open doors. It ensures students are prepared to walk through them and succeed. By identifying opportunities in the market, pairing them with campus-based expertise, and delivering dedicated cultural and academic mentoring, INTO creates opportunities that attract ambitious international students and give them a genuine second chance at success.