Santosh, India
Civil Engineering, Texas

The advising center...
I consulted with the Bangalore, India advising center. The center’s library was a wealth of information on various aspects of studying overseas, from university catalogs, to standardized test information and publications on application procedures. However, the most commendable service, which I believe helped me secure admits at renowned schools, was the critique of my essays.

Educational and cultural experiences in the U.S...
This campus has a diverse student population which is multicultural, multinational, and multi-disciplinary. Graduate Study in the United States is very demanding for certain disciplines (of which I believe I am pursuing one) and the relatively short time frame of 18-22 months when compared to the undergraduate study. Hence, time management is a skill that will absolutely become an integral part of a graduate student.

Understanding of the U.S. and Americans...
There has certainly been a significant change in my lifestyle and attitude since I landed in this country. The first year revolved around academic pursuits, and the better part of the day was spent in labs and libraries. I am hoping to travel more and spend my leisure time in this second year to understand the US, its policies, and the American people better.

Support for International Students...
The campus has a fairly large international student presence. There is a continuous effort being made to make the international community feel more comfortable while here, and the university policies on campus safety, diversity and quality of education have certainly been a welcome aspect.

Survival Tips...
“Survival” will definitely be based on nature’s laws: “Only the fittest will survive”. But then, the weaker will learn to become fit, and maybe the system will make them the fittest eventually. The entire experience has certainly made me more self-confident and independent. Students must evaluate their interests very closely and align them with universities that are pursuing similar research and not be driven by rankings or the hype. If your interests match the program expectations, then the rest will be a smooth ride.

Igor, Serbia
Electrical Engineering, Chicago

In what ways did your advising center help you apply and study in the U.S.?
The advising center helped me to study fast and efficiently for the TOEFL and GRE – I managed to pass both tests successfully only four months after I came to the Center. I doubt that I would have been as successful without their help.

What particular aspects of your study in the U.S. do you find most rewarding?
My academic program is amazing – in addition to very well prepared theoretical lectures, I get the chance to experience practical experimental testing on one hand, and real time work in the company as the part of my co-op, on the other; it is the experience of the lifetime! In addition, I find the cultural diversity in my lab a great advantage, as it sets my values and teamwork abilities in a global market framework.

How has your study abroad experience expanded your understanding of the U.S. and Americans?
I am getting there – still trying to understand all the rules in baseball and American football; still, I helped prepare turkey for Thanksgiving, and I also enjoyed Christmas shopping. I have couple of American friends that helped me understand American culture even deeper.

Is your university/college supportive of its international student community?
My university is extremely supportive – they provide much explanation not only about America, but also other cultures. More important, they provide us with immigration law advice, and other issues of an administrative nature.

How will your experience studying in the U.S. help you reach your career goals.
I manage to study and understand the cutting edge of clean technologies; I manage to present my work in front of the erudite in the field; I manage to get in front of the investors that would like to support my ideas!

What advice or “survival tips” do you have for students from your country who wish to study in the U.S.?
Prepare to work/study hard, and leave all your prejudices back home.

Diego, Uruguay
Developmental Psychology, New York

In what ways did your advising center help you apply and study in the U.S.?
The application process is quite an unimaginable task for anyone who has not been exposed to the American system of education. The advising center was for me a more than adequate intermediary between my own interests and what Fulbright was able to offer. First of all they acted as a reality check regarding my options in the U.S., and second of all, they handled the time-consuming tasks of applying to different programs. I always felt 100% supported by both program advisors (during the application process and once I started my program).

What particular aspects of your study in the U.S. do you find most rewarding?
Basically the luxury of being 100% dedicated to my studies. Campus life is set up in such a way that studying is made easy and everything works toward facilitating that goal. It is really a luxury for me to only worry about my studies and nothing more. Such life is just not possible back home. At the same time, the access to knowledge and databases through my university’s libraries is another big reward of being here in the U.S.

How has your study abroad experience expanded your understanding of the U.S. and Americans?
My understanding has been expanded in that I now feel that I know less of what I thought I knew about the U.S. and Americans. As I have experienced it, to me, the U.S. is almost an entire continent and finding common denominators is not that easy. Defining it or just trying to classify it is now something beyond my imagination due to the complexity and variety of places, things, and people I’ve met. That is how my understanding has expanded.

Is your university/college supportive of its international student community?
I really cannot say. Neither supportive nor unsupportive. The Latin-American population is extremely small and I feel we are treated as any other student.

How will your experience studying in the U.S. help you reach your career goals.
Maybe never again in my life I will have the luxury of being dedicated to the process of learning as I am now. This kind of experience will help me reach my goals in the sense that I will take with me the best of it and try to replicate it wherever I go. In my Statement of Purpose I set out my main goals before starting this experience abroad. Those same goals are the ones that guide me everyday. Being able to be dedicated almost exclusively to the pursuit of those goals, and having an entourage that helps me achieve it, is an opportunity that very few people have.

What advice or “survival tips” do you have for students from your country who wish to study in the U.S.?
Be very patient. The cultural, social and academic differences are wide; it will take you at least one semester to get the hang of it. I see a lot of people anguish over their adaptation process (especially academically) because they expect to control and succeed rapidly. Relax. Give yourself one year, and only then start worrying if you are still having a bad time.

Lyann, Philippines
Chemistry, Washington D.C.

The advising center...
"It helped me a lot in terms of preparing me for what to expect and for helping me in the transition of living in another country and allowing me to interact with other U.S.-bound students."

Educational and cultural experiences in the U.S...
"It was great! Being in Washington D.C. helped a lot in terms of the city being very international. Culturally, it was a great experience. I became friends with people from all over the world. You realize that borders are just lines on a map. When people from different countries get together in the spirit of friendship, there are no borders. The chemistry department is so diverse... there are students from virtually every continent. It was wonderful. I learned so much from just interacting with my fellow students in the department."

Survival Tips...
"I would quote from Mark Twain who said, 'Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.'"

"The U.S. is indeed the land of opportunity. If you work hard and strive to be the best you can be, you will see the fruits of your labor."