The opportunity to expand knowledge and cultural boundaries is an important
opportunity for many, although there can be various obstacles along the way.
Just like other first-year university students, international students must
adjust to a brand-new atmosphere and culture. Here are 10 common mistakes to
avoid when you’re studying in a foreign country.
1. Hanging out with too many people from your country
As humans, we’re naturally drawn to people who are similar to us. While
there’s nothing wrong with developing strong friendships with people who share
the same culture, language, and identity, the challenge is learning how to
break out of that circle to intentionally meet different people.
University is the ideal time to meet people with different perspectives and
lifestyles. One possible way to avoid the temptation to spend time with only
people from home is to have different friend groups that you rotate your time
around.
2. Too much communication with family and friends from home
Similarly, it’s normal to be homesick and wants to communicate with your
family and friends from back home when you first move to a new country. With
social media, it’s so easy to talk with anyone at any time, but you may lose
the opportunity to broaden your horizons in the community you’re currently in.
Instead of cutting off all communication with people from home, set a
schedule where you only talk with them a few times a week, making sure your
communication doesn’t hinder your other friend-making opportunities on campus.
3. Poor work-life balance
When traveling to a new place, students can either be too focused on
academics or too focused on having fun rather than receiving a good education.
Students should strive to find a middle ground where they’re able to balance school
and work with other important aspects of university life, like socializing,
religion, and hobbies.
A great way to have a good work-life balance is to plan ahead, either using
a traditional hand-written agenda or your smartphone. Students should also be
realistic about how much time they need to accomplish certain activities and
not feel ashamed if they need to step down from something if they can’t handle
it. Part of a university is learning how to take control of your own schedule and
managing your time wisely.
4. Not getting off campus enough
Every university is different—some are centered in a more urban
environment, where everything is within walking distance, while others are more
spread out and require cars as the main mode of transportation. You may be
concerned about how you’ll get around if you can’t get a license and/or
purchase a personal vehicle.
Even if you don’t have your own car, there are still ways to explore off-campus. Ridesharing, carpooling with friends, public transportation, and campus
shuttles are other alternatives. Students should research the area and ask
upperclassmen about the best spots to visit in the area.
5. Not asking for help enough
Not understanding something, whether in the classroom or about university
procedures, in general, can lead some students to feel ashamed or embarrassed.
As a result, many simply fail to ask for help out of fear they’ll be ridiculed
or looked down upon.
By not asking questions, students miss out on the opportunity to learn and
grow their confidence. Although self-reliance is important, it’s better to ask
a professor, faculty member, or fellow student to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
In general, people on university campuses are happy to help. College isn’t
meant to be a journey you do on your own!
6. Being afraid to give their own opinion in class
As universities become more political and discussion-based, some students
may be afraid to voice their opinions in class. You may hesitate to ask
questions out of fear of being ridiculed for not understanding. Likewise, other
students may hesitate to voice their opinions in fear that it’s too radically
different.
But college should be a place where students can disagree and learn from
different perspectives. Make it a goal to participate at least once every
session (if classes are participation based) or to talk to the professor about
changing the atmosphere if you feel the environment isn’t welcoming to a diverse set of opinions.
7. Not knowing how to professionally communicate with professors
Unlike secondary school, you’ll most likely need to communicate with your
professors outside the classroom via email or phone. Because this skill isn’t
really necessary before university, many students struggle with basic
professionalism and may inadvertently create a bad impression of themselves.
In addition, those who still don’t feel confident with their English may
worry about sending professional emails. In this case, you should ask a peer to
edit your emails before you send them. It may also be helpful to write a list
of questions beforehand to ask your professor in person if you’re worried about
what to say.
8. Not looking into available internships or scholarships
Unfortunately, because many internships or scholarships are only for
natives, some people don’t bother to look into opportunities available for
international students. While most government-sponsored programs are only for
natives, many privately sponsored opportunities are open to all students.
Students should research online or ask their college for specific resources.
9. Bringing too many things from home
While this temptation isn’t as strong for international students, it’s easy
to want to take all the comforts of home to your campus dormitory. The reality
is, you won’t end up needing most of the stuff you think you’ll need. Having a
crowded room can be overwhelming (and troublesome for your roommates) and can
also create unnecessary stress during the move-in process.
Additionally, most international students will need to find storage in the
summer, and storing a lot of things can be troublesome and costly. To avoid
this, create a list and think honestly about how many times a school year
you’ll actually use an item.
10. Going over your budget
When moving to a new country, it’s normal to not know how much you’ll spend
on things. In order to prevent going over budget, students should write down
estimated monthly costs and how much they plan on receiving. Will you be making
money from an on-campus or part-time job? Will your parents be giving you a set
monthly allowance?
It’s important to know exactly how much money you think you’ll receive and
how much you think you’ll spend, always overestimating your spending. Students
should separate expenses into categories (food, clothes, entertainment) and
stick to those numbers.
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