This is the time of year when many people are getting ready to head off to school. It’s an exciting time that’s full of promise and thoughts of all of the interesting things that will be encountered at the new school.
For the international student, there may be much more “new” to experience, so we want to take a moment to talk about how you can go about adapting to your new school in the U.S.
So, here you are, you’ve gotten your visa. You’ve been accepted to an amazing university, and you’re headed to the U.S. to start your undergraduate degree program. What do you do when you get there?
Here’s a list of some things that will help you turn your years away at college into the best years they can be:
Start with the RA (Resident Assistant)
If you’re moving into a dorm, then make a point to get to know the RA where you’re living. They can give you all kinds of information about cool places to go, where you can meet people, organizations you might want to join, and plenty of other useful tidbits.
Visit your school’s International Student Center
Most schools will have an International Student Center within the campus. Visit the center to familiarize yourself with all of the resources available to help you make your transition over to an American school go as smoothly as possible. You’ll also find this to be a great way for you to meet other international students who can relate to what you are experiencing.
See an advisor in person
Once you get where you’re going for school, make an appointment to sit down with an international student advisor for the university. Advisors can share with you what to expect out of campus life. They can help you figure out what kind of clubs you might be interested in trying and even tell you a bit about the city or town you’ll be living in for the next few years.
Get out and about
You’re a college student in a whole new land. Get out and explore the neighborhood around you. Go find some fun places to hang out and meet people. Start a quest to find your favorite restaurant in the city where your new school is located. You never know, you might find somewhere that serves food like your grandmother makes back home.
Join clubs and study group
There are clubs that cater to all sorts of interests. There are also study groups that cover any subject being taught at your school. Get yourself involved in one of these. Or maybe even take on a few different things. You’ll meet tons of people, make some new friends, and get some much-needed studying in, too.
Go see the country
The continental United States is a massive country with more to see and do than you’ll have time for. But you should make the most of your time in the U.S. before you graduate and take some fun road trips with friends to visit some of the amazing places that you’ve heard about throughout your life.
So, there you have it. There are some easy things you can do that will make your years away at school in the U.S. better. Something that will greatly enhance your time in college is to get a vehicle for while you’re in school. It will make the things in this list much more convenient for you to be able to do.
For help with getting a car to use during your years in school, or just to get more information on how to do this, contact IAS. We help international students find the perfect vehicle solution to fit their needs.
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