Do's and Don'ts for International Students in USA

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Updated date: 10th March 2023

 

Studying in another country is a fantastic opportunity – you can discover a new culture, and meet people from all walks of life. However, it also means adapting to new rules and customs, especially those of your school or university. Every year an abundance of students travels to the USA for their higher education. Each international student comes to this new place and tries to adjust themself while studying in USA. So to make your journey a little easy we have listed some do's and don'ts for international students in the USA

 

Do's and Don'ts for International Students in USA

 

Dos for International Students for USA

1. Be prepared to Talk:

In an American university classroom, it is normal that a student will be expected to participate by discussing their ideas and engaging in conversation. International students who have studied in a stricter, lecture-only atmosphere might be taken aback.

What can you do? You may want to prepare answers and questions in advance of class.. Look for talking points in your readings, and make sure you are ready to talk more with valuable questions and answers. Your grade could depend on it!

2. Research properly for the Courses in USA:

The USA has plenty of courses to offer for international students. Before deciding your course, check its eligibility, requirements, and whether it fits your academic and career goals. A lot of factors determine the top courses to study in any country like research facilities, future employment opportunities, and most importantly, top-ranked universities in USA. You should also go through these factors and then finalize the course. Check this out: Most Employable Courses in USA for International Students.

3. Be socially active

In the USA, students are expected to be involved in extracurricular activities. Outside of your studies, you could join cultural or professional clubs or participate in athletics or the arts. Your grades are just one part of your story, and the other level involves networking and being unique. One of your reasons for attending a college program in the U.S. should be to network with other students. The people with whom you will build connections, create businesses and rely on for recommendations.  

4. Do explore your surroundings

When you go to another country, expect to embrace the culture and take in the history around you.  While the quality of education is unquestionable in the USA, visiting popular places nearby is the best way for International students to utilize their breaks. This will make sure they have made the most of it in USA. Studying abroad is one of the biggest opportunities of a lifetime to learn not just from classes, but from the world around you. Be sure to make time for some “must-see” attractions when you are studying.

Don’ts for International Students for USA

1. Don’t forget to check for international students scholarships for you

For international students hoping to study in the USA, scholarships can be a great help in financing your higher education. Whether you are a first-year student going on to graduate school, or simply returning to college for a new year, there are few available scholarships in the USA. Successfully obtaining a scholarship will make your studies abroad in the USA more affordable.

2. Don't’ be afraid to face new challenges

For many students, studying in the USA is the first great challenge they face on their own. Therefore, it is a great opportunity to improve your ability to make your decision or achieve goals by yourself. Both maturity and confidence will be important qualities to carry with the new challenges that you will have to face daily. You should take advantage of clubs, teams and other extracurricular activities because they can be every bit as important as the knowledge you receive in classes.  

3. Don’t forget the Documents

You should be very careful with your documents. You not only need them during university admission but also in the visa process and after arrival formalities in USA. So keep them safe. Some of the important documents are:

  • identity card
  • passport
  • birth certificate 
  • proof of enrolment in your institute;
  • proof of language ability
  • previous degrees 
  • your plane tickets
  • the printed reservation of your accommodation

4. Don’t assume that everyone’s experiences are the same

If a classmate tells you about their horrible experience in USA, you might reconsider going there.  Everyone is different and your experience will be different for you. Before you draw any conclusions, consider the reasons why they disliked going there. There could be many reasons it did not work, such as:

  • They were homesick.
  • The classes were harder than expected.
  • They did not estimate the expenses properly, so they felt like they were missing out.
  • They did not take studying abroad seriously.
  • They never attempted to make friends.

5. Don’t Breach your visa conditions

Follow all the conditions and rules of a Student visa in USA. Don’t stay in the USA for the expiry date of your visa if you have not applied for a timely visa extension. Apply for an extension of your visa in advance, if needed, and do not wait until the last minute. International students have the right to work in the USA while studying but there are some restrictions. F-1 and M-1 visa holders are allowed to work on-campus and in specified training programs. However, they are not allowed to work off-campus during their first academic year.
 
We hope these do's and don'ts for international students in USA will help you to make your study abroad journey easy. You will find many other students coming from different parts of the world. Get along with them. Even though they are new in the country. If you face any major issue/problem you can always contact your institution and ask for guidance.

Read also:

Best Courses to Study in USA
Checklist Before Going to Study in USA
How to Apply For MBA in USA?

Twinkle
About the Author:

Twinkle is an active listener and observer. She has a boundless curiosity to improvise her all-round knowledge. She is always open about her thoughts and her personality is filled with thirst for acquiring knowledge about different fields. Her favourite pastime is to pen down her thoughts and knowledge. Her strength is the simplicity of language yet being artistic.

Categories: USA

Tags: Study Abroad

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