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<p>Is that a given? Why should we assume that all international applications are more or even as competitive as domestic ones? Schools with well recognized names and reputation abroad attract a fair share of whimsical applications. The “why not” factor is far from being solely a domestic one.</p>
<p>Also, one needs to be careful when looking at “surges” as they might very well follow a decrease. It was not so long ago that Harvard had to absorb the cost of higher visa fees because of drops in foreign applicants, especially for graduate students.</p>