The Institute of International Education released its annual report (Nov. 18) on the number of international students attending colleges and universities in the United States increased by 6.4 %, bringing the total this year to a new record high of 582,996. Of particular note, India surpassed China as the leading country of origin for international students in the United States for the first time ever. With a 22% increase in US enrollments by Indian students, India has surpassed China as the leading sending country. India's 66,836 students now represent 12% of the total number of international students in the United States. China, which had been the leading sending country for the previous three years, increased by only 6% to 63,211 (compared to a 10% increase in 2000/01). The Republic of Korea is the third-leading sender, increasing by 7% to 49,046 students, marking the third year of large increases, after decreases in the late 1990s reflecting the Asian economic crises. Japan, which had been the leading sending country from 1995/96 until 1998/99, when it was surpassed by China, showed a meager increase of 0.7% (with 46,810) and slipped to the fourth-leading country. Among the ten leading sending nations, Mexico also showed a strong increase of 17% to 12,518 students, moving into the 7th spot, up from number 10 last year, and Turkey, with an increase of 10%, moved ahead of Indonesia and Thailand this year, into 8th place.