How to Improve Your College Experience: Guide for International Students

Culture shock can be a daunting experience just by itself. If you add the rigors and challenges of college life, the situation can be difficult to navigate.

Most students, especially during their first years, can have difficulties going from the relative leisure of high school life to a more structured and challenging path in higher education. In addition, we have to consider that most students are young adults, and a healthy life must also include socializing and integrating into a broader collective.

The international students obviously can see this as a challenge, as they live in a culture and city that is not their own.

There are things that you can do to increase your odds of graduating successfully, like networking, finding the best assignment help website, or even working part-time to get to know the local area. Let’s take a look at some of the best actions that you can take:

1. Use the Web

We live during a time of unprecedented globalization, and that phenomenon can be used to your advantage.

This is not the first time that the intellectual sphere from multiple countries had to collaborate. Latin was the first language used, and then French. Nowadays, English has become the main method of communication, and its popularity is further boosted by the proliferation of the internet.

There are millions of people who pick up English just from American media, shows, and movies.

When selecting your college of choice, make sure that the courses are also taught in English, and be sure to search the web for the reviews and impressions of students who came before you.

Many courses can be easily found in English on the web. Even if it is not a 1:1 match for what you are taught, online courses and information can at least boost your academic performance a bit.

In addition, you can find a college essay writing service that serves as an educational aid. These businesses offer to write academic papers to serve as inspiration for your assignments. The essays can also help when you are feeling overwhelmed in terms of time.

By purchasing a paper, you can maybe gain some free time, enough to catch up on sleep, socialize, or focus on other more pressing tasks.

2. Join Social Clubs

Support for international students exists to some extent in every country, but you cannot rely solely on your university’s help. What is often overlooked is socialization. We are not robots, and you need to socialize with others to keep a good mental state and outlook.

Networking and having friends are not something “extra”, it is a necessity.

In fact, the following advice is useful for anyone looking to create a network or is just lonely.

In almost every country on the planet, there are social clubs. Some of them are related to academics, like the math club or chess club. Sports offer another great opportunity to make friends, communicate, and make yourself known on campus.

But your friends do not necessarily have to come from your campus. Movie clubs, book clubs, hiking groups, archery, or dance classes can all serve as good opportunities.

3. Try to Learn the Local Language And Customs

Services for international students can often include some local language courses, but not always. You have to think about how much time you are going to spend in the country that you are studying in.

Are you going to leave as soon as you graduate, or do you intend to stay and build a life in your new adoptive home?

Of course, you may not know the answer to this question at first, but it is a good idea to start thinking about it. If you decide to stay, then learning the local language is the obvious next step.

While English is tremendously useful in the big cities, you will find that the rest of the country is not as familiar. If you want to travel or relocate within your new adoptive country, then you must at least know the basics.

In addition, trying to learn will ingratiate yourself with the locals. People appreciate when someone who is foreign attempts to learn the language and integrate themselves into society.

The following point may not apply to every country, but it should still be mentioned. There are several great cultural spheres on the globe, and each has different cultures and customs. If you are traveling and studying within the same overall culture, you won’t need that much international student help.

For example, a Canadian student who relocates to the USA will not encounter that much culture shock. Everything is very similar, aside from a few customs and pronunciations of common words.

However, if the same student chooses to study at an Asian or North African University, then there is much more to learn. Things that may seem harmless from a Canadian or Dutch perspective, can offend Romania or Sri Lanka. 

Do your homework before leaving to study abroad. International student support guides most likely exist within the University you are attending, and if not, Google can be your friend in terms of research.

4. Paperwork Is Key

International student support services only function if you have your documentation on point. Native citizens, even if they lose important documents like ID cards, will be ok. Their info already exists in the country’s databases and is easy to recover.

As an international student, your papers are much more important. They are your only lifeline that proves the legitimacy of your stay. If possible, make sure to take pictures, make copies, and also keep in touch with your country’s embassy.

At any time, you should be able to prove who you are, and why you are there. Sure, it won’t be the end of the world if you can’t, but you will spare yourself from a lot of trouble.

Conclusion

Being a student is hard, and being a foreigner is also hard. When you combine the two, the situation can be difficult. However, studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding and engaging experiences that you can go through.

Just make sure that you cover all your bases and study the local culture before going. Also, use English resources online, and make sure to not neglect your personal life.