Pitt hosted 1,500 international admissions and high school counselors for three days of connection and education

The University of Pittsburgh and co-host Carnegie Mellon University welcomed more than 1,500 counselors from universities and high schools in 90 countries to the 2026 International Association for College Admission Counseling (ACAC) Conference, July 14-16. Over three days of networking events, education sessions and exhibition fairs, participants strengthened connections with colleagues and learned about best practices in international education recruitment.

University admissions counselors and high school guidance counselors alike traveled from near and far for the annual in-person event because of the community it builds, said Kaitlyn Livingstone (A&S '15, EDUC '21G), a conference organizer and associate director of international recruitment in Pitt's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Staff on Pitt's international admissions team typically travel six to 12 weeks per year, she said. "Some of my best friends are people who I've met on the road. In-person connection is so important, and as much as this conference is about professional development, it's also about human connection and building networks."

The international admissions community is vast but small, and attending the International ACAC conference is a way to build support networks far away from home, said Ivy Chou (EDUC '19, '22G), a fellow organizer and Pitt international enrollment services manager.

"Sometimes mishaps happen when you are on the road," she said. "We have learned to rely on each other, even if we don't work for the same institution."