Student Union
Top 10 Pieces of Advice We've Heard This Year
But we also cover lots of practical advice here, and in the past year our bloggers have shared tons of tips for getting into a U.S. college or university and for getting the most out of it.
Here are the top 10 that any prospective international student should read:
Getting in:
How I Made Myself a Good Candidate for US Admissions (and Other Advice from a Successful Applicant) - Anna
Can International Students Attend American Medical School? - Jess
How to Speak English Fluently? - Nick
Learning How to Take the SATs - Vladimir
Getting over it:
Battling a University Rejection? 5 Stories to Get Inspired - Jess
Making a decision:
Why You Should Consider Quality of International Services When Picking a School - Anna
The Importance of Keeping Your Options Open When Applying - Roz
Making the most of it:
Finding Work Experience in the US: What I Learned (and What I Wish I'd Known) - Olena
How To Use Your Accent to Your Advantage - Nicholas
If You Stop Learning When You Leave the Classroom You're Doing it Wrong - Cristiana
Bonus: 15 New Year's Resolutions You Can Make Right Now if You Want to Study in the US
See all News Updates of the Day
Tips for staying safe while studying in the US
Recent news events have raised safety concerns among some international students studying in the United States.
Adarsh Khandelwal, writing in the India Times, has tips for staying safe from the moment you arrive until the day you complete your studies. (March 2024)
Some colleges are making digital literacy classes mandatory
A 2019 study by Stanford found that most college students can’t tell the difference between real and fake news articles. Amid rampant online disinformation, and the threat of AI-generated images, some schools are making students learn “digital literacy” to graduate.
Lauren Coffeey reports for Inside Higher Ed. (March 2024)
With federal student aid delays, students aren’t sure what college will cost
The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid form (FAFSA) experienced serious glitches and delays this year.
Now, many students have been admitted to college, but don’t know how much money they’ll need to attend.
Read the story from Susan Svrluga and Danielle Douglas-Gabriel for The Washington Post. (March 2024)
Senator draws attention to universities that haven’t returned remains
More than 70 U.S. universities continue to hold human remains taken from Native American burial sites, although those remains were supposed to be returned 30 years ago.
Jennifer Bendery writes in Huffington Post that one senator has been using his position in an attempt to shame universities into returning remains and artifacts. (April 2024)
COVID forced one international student to go hungry
When Samantha (not her real name) enrolled in community college in the U.S., her family at home in South Africa scrimped and saved to support her.
But the COVID-19 pandemic hurt the family’s finances, and at one point Samantha had four on-campus jobs just to make ends meet. Many in the U.S. believe international students are wealthy sources of funding for universities, but stories like Samantha’s suggest otherwise.
Andrea Gutierrez reports for The World. (March 2024)
