The International Student Blog

According to the U.S. Department of Education 2011 report, there are over 6,000 colleges in the United States. With so many options, it may be difficult to find the right college or university especially if you are an international student and are not familiar with the United States.

If you are interested in studying in the U.S., the first step is to know what subject you want to study whether it is engineering, business, or science. The second step is to find out what state you might want to live in. The USA is a big country and to help you learn more, International Student provides detailed state guides for all 50 states so you can decide which state best fits your needs.

Once you have an idea of the state and subject, you can use our USA school search to look-up colleges and universities that accept international students. Once you have looked up a school, you will be able to access detailed information such as admission requirements, average test scores, number of international students, costs and more! You can also request more information from the university!

If you need further help, you can also check out the International Student Concierge. This service helps match international students to the school that’s right for them. The Concierge Service is free and once you have provided us with your basic information, colleges in the US will begin contacting you!

International students interested in studying in Texas may find ‘Study Texas’ a helpful resource on the topic. International students will learn more about the potential educational and professional opportunities that may be available while studying in Texas. Study Texas is a group of training and educational organizations located within the state of Texas, whose mission is to connect international students who want to study in Texas with educational training opportunities. This network provides a wide range of degree options for international students and includes a number of public and private colleges and universities international students interested in studying in Texas may already want to attend, as well as professional English language schools.

For international students whose long term goals may include working for a major corporations or businesses, Texas is definitely a state to consider studying and living in, as it boasts the largest number of Fortune 500 companies in the United States. Additionally, Texas is established as a top state for commodity exporting. For these international students interested in studying Texas, it is also very worthwhile to note Texas has been most successful (and maintains a strong presence) in the following business and industry sectors: energy, petrochemicals, computer technology and electronics, biomedical, aerospace, and agriculture.

If you plan to visit Houston, here’s a sneak preview:

Or, if you’ll be going to Dallas, learn about the city here:

If you are reading this blog, chances are that you are already open to the idea of studying abroad in another country. You may be excited about the idea of seeing as much of the world as possible that you are having trouble deciding which country you should study in. So to help you decide, here are some things you may want to consider:

Where do you want to live?

During your study abroad, do you want to live in a big city with entertainments, nightlife and shopping? Or, are you looking for a small city with local charm and ancient historical sites? Are you okay with living somewhere cold or hot? This is an important consideration, especially if you don’t like cold weather and you find yourself studying in Scandinavia during the winter time.

Do you want to learn a new language?

If you are learning a new language you will obviously want to study in a country where the primary language is the one you want to learn. For example, if you want to learn Chinese, you can choose main land China, Taiwan or Hong Kong. For Spanish, you can choose Spain and a majority of Latin American countries.

If you are a non-native English speaker and you want to learn English you can narrow down your choice to the 3 primary English speaking region of the world: North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Do you want to attend traditional colleges or universities or are you looking for an ESL school where you work to improve your English?

Looking to the future, what do you want to do?

Think about what your future career goals are. For example, if you want to work in a finance field you may want to study in the area where it is a financial center of the world like New York, London, Hong Kong, or Tokyo. If you love food and wine, why not study culinary arts in France? Research what universities are well regarded in your field of study so you continue to make stride to your future goals!

What is your budget?

Lastly, what is your budget for your study abroad trip? How much money can you contribute yourself and how much can you accumulate from study abroad scholarships and other financial aid? It is important to keep in mind that the cost of studying abroad is more than just the tuition fee and plane ticket. Living expenses can vary greatly depending on where you choose to study abroad. For example, if you decide to study Spanish in Latin America as opposed to Spain you will find that the living costs are much less expensive!

Once you have narrow down the country and the field you want to study in, you can more easily choose a study abroad program.

International students interested in studying at Dartmouth College, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, have set for themselves the ambitious goal of studying at a premier Ivy League institution in the United States. Dartmouth College contains an elite liberal arts college, as well as prestigious and highly exclusive educational programs within the Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business.

These programs may be of special interest to international students interested in becoming respected leaders in these fields. International students interested in studying in New Hampshire at Dartmouth College will be pleased to learn Dartmouth College places within the World’s 100 best universities (ranked at #90), according to a U.S. News and World Report, which takes into account international student integration and faculty composition.

International students interested in studying at Dartmouth College can learn more about the cutting-edge programs offered in this exceptionally intimate college setting by visiting their school website and following links to the respective program sites in the engineering, business, and medical fields. International students interested in studying in New Hampshire at Dartmouth College can also get an idea of some of the many exciting activities and cultural opportunities that could be awaiting them in this gorgeous and quaint New England state by reviewing the IS School Search for more information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq2LqFmB1B0

California’s landscape is as diverse and rich as its culture. International students are sure to want to check out the awe-inspiring natural beauty of California, and some may want to go beyond your basic stroll on the beach. One thing is for sure, international students seeking to make the most of their overseas experience will want to take advantage of the state’s many forms of recreation. As an international student studying in California, be prepared to explore some of the extreme sports. From mountains to deserts and the ocean, there are as many beautiful features of the Californian country as there are inventive and daring ways to experience them!

As an international student participating in extreme sports in California, you will find that the activities go well beyond traditional hiking and camping. Your California experience begins with the Pacific Ocean, home to some of the best areas for surfing and scuba diving in the world. Also, the state boasts prime habitat for skydiving and gliding. You can even pilot your own gliders (sailplanes) while cruising over mountain ranges at 5,000 feet! Rock climbing is also quite popular in the state, with classes for beginners being both common and inexpensive.

There are also ways to experience extreme sports in California in more urban settings as well. For instance, there is a widespread paintball scene, offering an exciting team sport for indoor or outdoor play on any California day. Or, how does the idea of budgeting 120 feet straight down from a bridge in the midst of a beautiful forest sound? Needless to say, California offers a beautiful and diverse landscape, and there are many extreme and creative ways to appreciate it. So, while studying in California, take the opportunity to experience the unique landscape and the extreme sports that have emerged as ways of celebrating it!

Here’s the basics to get you started on rock climbing:

With more and more American colleges and universities looking to improve the diversity on campus, many schools are increasing the number of international students recruited. The trend of “internationalizing” their campus is not only with undergraduate students seeking their bachelor degree, but also with graduate students seeking advanced degrees. What does that mean for you? This may be the perfect time to start applying to school’s overseas!

And this trend is not looking to stop anytime soon! In fact, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, over the past year admissions of international students to US graduate schools increased by 11%, making this year the largest increase in international admissions since 2006. The majority of this increase can be attributed to China and India, with a large number of international students from the Middle East and Turkey.

Studying abroad can be a great experience – you will meet new people, experience new traditions, eat exotic foods and possibly learn a new language. But with these new experiences you may find yourself homesick missing your family, friends, pets, food or even something as simple as your own bed.

When you are homesick you may feel sad, lonely, or even anxious. Depending on the severity, it may be mild or you may experience some physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches. However, if you feel homesick while studying abroad there are some steps you can take to help you cope:

• Stay active! Fill your time with activities that you enjoy. Do activities with your friends or by yourself like going to the gym, reading a book, doing a puzzle, or playing games.
• Eat well and stay healthy. Eating junk food can make you tired and weak.
• Bring a momento that reminds you of home. It can be anything from a picture of your family to a blanket.
• Call home once in a while. If you’re homesick, calling home to hear your family or your friends’ voice can be comforting. Try to call when you are happy. Calling when you are sad will make them worry -  which may in turn make you more upset in the process.
• Keep a journal. Many people find that writing down their feelings can serve as an outlet. You may look back at a previous entry and realize that it wasn’t such a big deal after all. So if you feel sad again, you will know that it is just a temporary feeling that will pass.
• Make new friends! Being with other people is one of the best ways to start feeling good about your new environment. Even if you don’t know anyone very well yet, consider joining a club or organization. See if there is any opportunity to go grab a bite to eat with other people. Just remember, friendship doesn’t develop overnight, so don’t expect to have a best friend right away.

Home sickness can affect anyone, but if you feel depressed don’t be afraid to talk to someone and ask for help. If you have any tips you would like to share on how to cope with homesickness, please leave a comment!

Saving money is part of everyday life for most international students, after all the more money put away, the more money that can be used for traveling around your host country. Since your grocery bill is a major component of your budget, there are many ways to make your money go farther. International students typically make dishes at home, rather than go out to restaurants to further trim expenses. However, even at the grocery store it is easy to spend over your budget.

Because of this, here are some helpful tips to save even more when grocery shopping:

1. Make a list of what you need before you go to the store. Having a specific list beforehand will keep you directed so that you only buy the items you need and avoid the compulsive buyer syndrome.
2. Look out for bargains. Many supermarkets will have discounts weekly on all types of food from vegetables, fruits, canned food, packaged food, etc. Look out for healthy items and if you find an item that you regularly consume on sale, feel free to stock up so you can save money in the long run (make sure to check the expiration dates!)
3. Coupon hunting. There are many coupons available for all types of items, including clothes, furniture, and food. Some manufacturers or stores have promotions that will save you money in the long run! You can easily find coupons online, in newspapers (especially the Sunday newspaper), in magazines, at the stores and many other places. Keep your eyes open, but make sure not to get tempted at offers you don’t need!
4. Don’t go shopping when you are hungry! If you do, you’ll most likely end up with more food than you need.
5. Buy in bulk. Typically when you buy food wholesale you generally get a better price per item. Be careful not to buy too much otherwise you may end up throwing it away.
6. Finally, don’t be afraid to buy store brands – most of them are as good as the brand name.

If you have more money saving tips for your grocery shopping trip, share it with other international students here!

We are proud the announce the launch of the InternationalStudent.com Study in the USA iPhone app! The new application, which is of course free, will allow you to access a wealth of information, advice and services right from the palm of your hand. The application is available now, and so please head over to download it and try it out today.

The application has a number of cool features, including:

1. Featured Schools – view information about our featured schools from our school search
2. Facebook/ Twitter – fan or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
3. Blog – read and keep up-to-date with our blog
4. Study USA Guide – read all our study in the USA content right in the palm of your hand
5. State Guide – read our study in the USA state guides for international students
6. Concierge – sign up to our concierge service right from the app!
7. and so much more….

Being an international student in the USA can be expensive, with tuition, fees and housing cost all accumulating and adding up your total cost. Food is just another major expense that you have to deal with, and as a college student who may be on a budget, eating economically is a great way to save your money year after year.

Being away from home for the first time can be daunting and if you are not used to cooking for yourself, you may want to consider a college meal plan. Most colleges and universities offer meal plans for their students. College meal plans are basically a pre-paid plan where you either receive a fixed number of meals during your school semester or a cash value that you can use to purchase food from the school’s dining facilities. The advantage to this is that it will keep you on budget, it’s less expensive than going out to restaurants, and you don’t have to cook or clean up after yourself. However, you are limited to the selection of food that the school offers you.

If you have the option to cook your own food, this can be a great way to save money and also provide you with a varied diet. Despite jokes about eating instant noodles and microwavable food to survive college, you can actually eat well on a small budget. Most stores offers deals like buy-one-get-one-free on a regular basis, and coupons are also widely available so use them wisely.

Lastly, many student clubs and organizations will have events where they will have food during their meetings – attending the meeting can give you a free meal for the day! By all means I don’t recommend anyone going to a school event just for the food but being active in your campus organization can enrich your study abroad experience, help you improve your language, make new friends and professional contacts, and the free food is just the extra perk!

Bon Appetit!