More than a million international students are enrolled in American colleges and universities according to the statistics collected over the past few years.
Of course, studying in the USA sounds like an exciting experience till you think of the challenges.
Each year, there are so many reports of issues with financial funding, accommodation, friendships, part-time jobs and more. These kinds of challenges make it hard for international students to enjoy their college life.
Let us take a look at some of them in detail.
Financial Difficulties
Students who study in another country have to bear several expenses in addition to the education fees.
American colleges are already expensive and international students have to pay a higher fee compared to American residents. On top of this housing, food, books, insurance and travel costs also have to be taken into account.
The absence of free healthcare makes it even more difficult for students, especially for those who are prone to sickness.
To get past the financial hurdles, a majority of international students avail of some scholarship or financial aid. Students should always try to select a university that offers good scholarship options and a decent insurance plan to reduce their financial burden.
Culture Change
International students often find it hard to adapt to American culture.
It can take time to adjust to different food habits, lifestyle patterns and clothing styles. Socializing or interacting with people might be awkward because of the differences in background and mentality.
The first few months are usually the hardest. The student has to try and strike a balance between trying to fit in and maintaining their cultural identity.
Finding friends from similar cultural backgrounds can be helpful for a smoother transition.
Academic Struggles
Academic struggles are real, especially for students who study in prestigious, academically demanding universities.
Besides, the grading system is very different in the US as compared to some other countries. The student has to learn about the different policies, credit requirements and grading procedures.
Some international students will have to take an additional foundation course if they don’t meet the minimum academic requirements.
Others might feel pressured to achieve good grades if their scholarship funding is dependent on their ranking in class.
Getting help from teachers and friends or having a support system will help them cope better. For instance, if you decide to invest in resources such as the GMAT Focus Edition to sharpen your skills and stay on track with your preparation.
If you’re struggling with assignments because English isn’t your native language, you can take help from online writing services like Writers Per Hour. Their ENL writers will help you come up with high-quality original academic papers and assignments.
Finding Part-Time Jobs
Majority of the international students work part-time jobs to pay for expenses like rent and food. Finding a job that aligns with your schedule and pays you enough can be a huge challenge.
A lot of jobs demand more than 6 hours of work per day which can be hard if you are a full-time university student.
Some students take on 2-3 jobs to make ends meet and end up experiencing burnout.
It is recommended to find part-time jobs which pay you well and don’t take a huge chunk out of your time.
There are plenty of online part-time jobs which students can do to save time and commuting expenses.
Staying Healthy
When you start college, you end up messing up your eating habits for the first few months.
Many students find it hard to adjust to new eating patterns. They often end up skipping meals or consuming snacks to curb hunger. Work and assignments may also lead to increased consumption of instant meals which are bad for health.
Grocery expenses can also motivate students to buy cheap unhealthy meals which take only a few minutes to cook.
Hire a meal delivery service or make time to cook at least a few times a week. It can help you stay healthy and nourished.
Making Friends
Making solid friends is one of the biggest challenges.
Cultural differences can act as a barrier to social interaction and communication. Foreign students often skip social gatherings and parties because of fear and lack of partners.
It might get more difficult if you don’t find anyone from a similar cultural background.
This can lead to other problems like increased homesickness.
Make efforts to attend events and interact with your classmates.
You can take small steps to engage with your peers.
If you have a group project consider asking people to work with you as a team. If you get invited to work on one, don’t bail out.
Conclusion
You can overcome these challenges with proper help and support from peers, professors and family.
Make sure you have detailed plans about your funding, work and academics before you decide to study in America.