Not every student can visit his or her institution of choice, so most institutions implement services to make it easy for students to get to know the campus before they arrive. Virtual tours help students get a feel for the space that they will call home for the next few years, and interactive chat rooms and message boards give prospective students the opportunity to meet fellow students and university staff members. This article reviews some important questions to ask during those sessions in order to maximize your American education experience.
Find a "point person"
The first thing you'll want to do when choosing an academic institution is to get in touch with a member of each campus' international student services team. They will send you packets of literature describing your new campus, which you should read thoroughly, making a list of items that you're still not sure about so that when it comes time to talk to an admissions representative, you know exactly what to ask.
Exploring your new home (from afar)
A major consideration for every international student is housing. If you're staying on campus, ask about the residence halls (or dorms, as they're called in the United States).
An aware student is a safe student, and since ensuring the safety of students is a priority for every institution, staff members and fellow students can offer valuable campus safety tips.
"Meeting" your instructors
While you will likely get the opportunity to have direct contact through e-mail and by phone with your future instructors, some of the most helpful recommendations will come from your fellow students. Through them, you can find out whether the institution's overall teaching methodology is more project/presentation-based or centered on lectures and whether there is sufficient technological support for students.
From fellow students, you can also get a feel for the reputation of a specific department and know which classes within your major are particularly helpful. Other students are a great resource when choosing an advisor, too, since they can give personal testimony about the level of attention they've received in their studies.
Your fellow students can give you off-campus tips as well, such as:
Find a "point person"
The first thing you'll want to do when choosing an academic institution is to get in touch with a member of each campus' international student services team. They will send you packets of literature describing your new campus, which you should read thoroughly, making a list of items that you're still not sure about so that when it comes time to talk to an admissions representative, you know exactly what to ask.
Exploring your new home (from afar)
A major consideration for every international student is housing. If you're staying on campus, ask about the residence halls (or dorms, as they're called in the United States).
- Are they big or small?
- Single-sex or coed?
- Quiet or noisy?
- How far is the walk from the dorms to campus?
- From the dorms to surrounding towns or attractions?
- If public transportation is necessary and available, where can you obtain a schedule?
An aware student is a safe student, and since ensuring the safety of students is a priority for every institution, staff members and fellow students can offer valuable campus safety tips.
- Be sure to ask about the campus' department of public safety.
- Find out how many officers patrol the campus, in what areas, and how frequently.
- Are there emergency phones or call buttons located around campus? If so, have your point person send you a map. Add to your list of important on-campus contacts a phone number to dial in the event that you witness suspicious behavior and want to report it.
"Meeting" your instructors
While you will likely get the opportunity to have direct contact through e-mail and by phone with your future instructors, some of the most helpful recommendations will come from your fellow students. Through them, you can find out whether the institution's overall teaching methodology is more project/presentation-based or centered on lectures and whether there is sufficient technological support for students.
From fellow students, you can also get a feel for the reputation of a specific department and know which classes within your major are particularly helpful. Other students are a great resource when choosing an advisor, too, since they can give personal testimony about the level of attention they've received in their studies.
Your fellow students can give you off-campus tips as well, such as:
- Where can you find the cheapest groceries?
- What do students do on the weekends—do they travel home or stay near school?
- Where should you go if you want to see live music or fine art? Most U.S. students are happy to offer advice, and by establishing casual communication with a good mix of both students and instructors, you will get a much better idea of what to expect from your new environment.
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