The United States is the top destination for people studying abroad. International students come to the United States motivated by the academic distinction and institutional support at U.S. colleges and universities – and also by the value that a U.S. degree represents for graduates’ careers.
With many options to consider, international students often seek guidance on the Education-USA website, which is a network of the U.S. Department of State with advising centers for international students in more than 175 countries and territories. The network provides information on study opportunities at accredited U.S. colleges and universities that can guide students through five steps to fulfill their dreams of studying in the U.S.
As soon as they arrive in the U.S., international students find services and benefits on campus at their fingertips. Here are some of the most common resources that help these students make the most of their university experience in the United States.
Services for International Students
Many U.S. colleges and universities have offices that exist solely to help international students adapt to the new environment. At American University in Washington it is the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, headed by Senem Bakar. Her office, she says, directs students to available services, such as academic advisors for first-year students (freshmen), a student health center, and specialized immigration services and support programs for international students transitioning to the American lifestyle.
In addition, a career program helps graduating international students explore the U.S. job market or reintegrate into their home cultures smoothly. At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the Office of International Education sends a weekly email to enrolled international students to inform them about events – such as film screenings, festivals, or museum exhibitions – on campus and in the Pittsburgh area.
Tutoring
Rutgers University in New Jersey, like many U.S. educational institutions, offers tutoring for international students. The tutors are undergraduate and graduate students who have successfully completed a training course to teach their peers, says Stacey Blackwell, senior director of Rutgers University’s Learning Centers.
Rutgers also offers academic support to improve test-taking skills, study techniques, and time management, as well as other services through the English Language Institute, Writing Programs and Centers, and the International Academic Success office that the university provides. And Rutgers international students have the chance to mentor their peers as well, said Stacey.
Student Organizations
U.S. college life offers something for everyone, in part because there is an almost unlimited number of student organizations on any campus. For example, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania has more than a hundred clubs and student organizations geared toward every kind of interest or discipline in the academic sphere.
Paris Shan, a Canadian junior studying Political Science at Swarthmore, is president of the college’s international student club (called i20 Club). Before classes start, the club offers a week of orientation for international students, she said, which includes social events and helpful tips.
The i20 Club also organizes monthly events “aimed at celebrating our diverse cultures,” said Paris. In October, the club holds its annual fall party, “where international students can sign up to cook a dish from their home country to share.” In addition, the i20 Club co-organizes events with other student groups, helping international students integrate into the broader student population. These relationships will likely bear fruit over decades, as U.S. government officials understand. In fact, the U.S. Departments of State and Education recently issued a Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education, citing the importance of the “robust exchange of students, researchers, scholars, and educators” between the U.S. and other countries.
Source: ShareAmerica