The start of the new school year is right upon us, and for many international students you will be trying to settle in, registering for all your classes and attending orientation sessions. It could also be the first time many students have been abroad, and away from your family/ friends and everything that is familiar. It can be quite a daunting prospect – but with so much going on, there are some things you will want to avoid doing.
With our top 5 mistakes to avoid as a new international student, we set you on the straight and narrow:
1. Keeping to yourself or students from the same country
One of the biggest pitfalls you can fall into, it keeping to yourself and not going out and interacting and meeting new people. We all know that starting somewhere new can be nerve-wracking, or may put you outside of your comfort zone, but you need to remember that everyone is in the same boat. The sooner you get out there and start to mix with other students, the most settled you will feel as you will start to make new friends. The same also applies to just talking with or socializing with students from the same country as you. Some schools in the USA could have a large population of students from your home country, but sticking within that group will limit your experience – so go out and talk to other students from other countries and from the USA.
2. Not attending classes and orientation
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to not attend classes or your student orientation. You will be having lots of fun during the first few weeks, making new friends and experiencing a whole range of new things. But, you still need to remember that you are there to learn, so make sure you make a point of attending all your classes and student orientations so that you do not miss out on anything!
3. Failing to explore your surroundings
It is really important that you get to know your surroundings. Explore the local area, get to know where the “un-safe” areas are (if there are even any places that are un-safe), and find out how to get around. This will not only help you learn more about your new home, but it can help you settle down much more quickly if you are more familiar with the area and how to get around.
4. Not taking care of yourself
Your health and wellbeing should never be put in jeopardy, so try not to burn the candle at both ends. Always make sure you are getting enough rest, and eating properly. There is always the temptation to eat all the junk food and experience the glories of American fast food – but after a while you will realize that is probably not the best for you! You will also need to prepare in advance and make sure you are covered by health insurance, either through your schools plan or an alternative insurance plan – not having health insurance in the USA can put your in severe financial burden. Check out our video on how the US healthcare system works for more information and guidance.
5. Keeping things bottled up!
No matter how small the problem you have, talk to someone – whether its a friend, your family or better yet, your international student advisor. Keepings things to yourself will not make the situation better, in fact it will just make it worse. You will most likely find that people will be open to helping you, and could be experiencing the same thing or have a very simple solution. So whatever you do, talk and keep your fears and problems out in the open so that they can be resolved!
Hopefully these quick tips will help you avoid some of the more common pitfalls that international students can fall into at the start of a new semester. You can also visit the insurance explained section of our website for more information about health and wellness abroad, including information on visa compliance and much more!
Category: Health & Safety Abroad, International Students in the USA
Tags: international student mistakes to avoid, mistakes to avoid, top 5 mistakes to avoid
This is a great post and a must read for international students.
I agree very much with the first point, and I think many international students and even immigrants tend to look for the familiar environment and by this I mean surrounding themselves with people from their country hence limited their experience with the outside world.
Having an open mind and exploring opportunities will greatly serve one well. Join a group, and if you are shy or don’t enjoy meeting new people then joining organizations such Toastmasters international will really help.