Mistakes are unavoidable but we can avoid repeating them. In this article, we get to highlight six common errors students make and how to evade them.
Do you wish to study in the USA? Here are 6 common mistakes you need to avoid as an international student in the US.
The United States of America is a top country of choice for most international students. No matter the political climate, students from around the world would rather study in the US than anywhere else.
The reasons are simple enough. The US has some incredibly amazing universities. Some of the best universities in the world are there. Also, as the world’s biggest economy, students would love to go there to have a feel of what it’s like to be a global giant.
And the fact that English is the lingua franca makes the country very attractive to a lot of international students.
As an international student intending to further your education in the US, the idea might be daunting at first. The challenges of trying to integrate into a new society with different cultures and values would present you with a unique set of problems to overcome.
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More On 6 Common Mistakes to Avoid as an International Student in the US
Generally, for you and most other international students, the first year is the most challenging. These are the common mistakes you might make as an international student especially in your first year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid as an International Student
- Trying to get too much value for your money
- Afraid to speak up and demand things you need
- The foreign exchange blues
- Inadequate research
- Getting your relationships wrong
- Low expectations
Trying to get too much value for your money
Many international students come to the US under one form of scholarship, grant or aid. This makes it imperative that money is spent wisely.
However, a big mistake you might make with your finances is to over-stretch every dollar in a bid to get the most from it.
One area you are likely to make this mistake often is in the amount of food you consume in the cafeteria. Since the food there is generally expensive, you might want to eat as much and as often as possible thinking that is the best way to get the best out of the fee you paid to use the cafeteria.
The end result is typical for most new students. You gain weight and become unhealthy looking in a very short time.
Another common mistake is to do your laundry too regularly in your hall of residence thinking you need to get your money’s worth from the laundry services you paid for.
This is unnecessary. The downside is, you would waste a lot of time and discover you have to spend money on new clothes often.
Afraid to speak up and demand things you need
This is also a common mistake international students in the US make.
Like a stranger coming to a different culture, it might take you quite some time to adjust to how liberal the US culture is. The rules are quite different from what you were used to.
If you are from a politically oppressive country, a common mistake you would make in the US is been afraid to ask people in authority questions. But understand that in the US, nobody would take you to the cleaners for asking questions.
As a matter of fact, people would be eager to be of help if they know you are an international student. At least, as long as what you are asking doesn’t lead to something illegal, you are quite safe.
The foreign exchange blues
Most international students come from countries with comparatively weaker currencies, weaker economies and lower prices of goods and services.
Read more: How to Finance Your Studies Abroad
If you are also from that sort of country, you would suffer from what I call the ‘foreign exchange blues.’ You would find yourself constantly calculating the equivalent amount of money in your country for the goods and services you paid for in the US.
For example, you would find it alarming that what you pay for a haircut is more than somebody’s weekly wage back home. This might lead you to always look for the cheapest of everything. This invariably leads to getting bad services and low-quality goods.
Inadequate research
In the rush and excitement of going to the US to study, you might fail to do enough research about what you are getting for the tuition and fees you paid.
Researching online is never adequate. Most universities attract foreign students promising heaven and much more on their websites.
Before you finally commit to a school, make sure you visit the campus and see things for yourself. Taking a tour is a prospective student’s right. Look around to make sure nobody is trying to play a smart one on you.
However, if you cannot travel due to funds or visa issues, you can always look for and ask former students of the institution about their experiences there.
Getting your relationships wrong
International students coming to the US have to deal with the fact they don’t know anybody. Loneliness can easily make you become too attached to the first person that offers you a smile or a helping hand.
You should never make the mistake of becoming too emotionally attached to somebody quite so easily. Use the first year to check out the terrain. Be involved in as many social activities as possible.
Make as many friends as possible. But never allow these things to become too important. Your priority is your education. Your goal is to graduate with good grades and to integrate as best as possible into your new community.
Low expectations
This is one of the common mistakes to avoid as an international student in the Us. Coming to a foreign country might do a lot of funny things to your self-esteem and confidence. It is even worse for a country like the US.
Most of your information about the US up to that point might have to be from movies and books. These two sources have the tendency to gloss over reality and paint a rosy picture of their society.
This can induce a serious bout of inferiority complex in you. You might think you are not good enough. This could have a negative effect on your studies because you might be content with doing just enough to get the basic pass grades in your courses.
Realize that you are as good as the next American. Don’t set the bar too low for yourself. Aim to be the best.
The bottom line though is that if you have your head screwed on properly, you would overcome these common mistakes in a brief time without a lasting negative effect on you.
The trick is to be smart, open-minded and curious to learn as much as possible.
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