Get Familiar With Typical Daily Life at a U.S. College
When I was in high school, I often wondered what it would be like to go to university. I always thought of college students as being cool adults, rushing to class together with friends and textbooks in hand.
Now that I'm an actual, soon-to-graduate university student, I get to experience that life firsthand. There are a few lessons that I've learned as an international student that I'd like to share.
[ Research the international student office when choosing a U.S. college.]
1. Set a schedule of activities for each day: At most U.S. colleges, classes are held during the day Monday through Friday. With this in mind, international students should plan to spend the majority of these days in class, as it's less common to schedule courses during the evenings or on weekends.
I prefer to have classes in the morning, and all in one chunk rather than having them spread apart at different times of the day. That way, I can be done with all my classes by noon and start working on my assignments after lunch.
Speaking of lunch, most universities offer meal plans for their students, and some even require freshmen to be on a meal plan. Although this might sound unfair at first, it is actually a good idea, as it forces students to make new friends.
Contrary to popular belief, doing homework can be a very social and entertaining activity. A lot of the time, students will form study groups to go over the materials discussed in class, and if allowed, to work on assignments together.
[Get to know the facts about the American academic system.]
I find that I'm not very efficient when I only have an hour or less to work on an assignment, since I usually spend the first and last 15 minutes getting to the study location and setting up my work environment. Thus, it's nice when I can organize my day to make sure that I reserve ample time for each study session.
As a transfer student, at the beginning, I didn't know a lot of people and so I tended to study on my own. It was not a very enjoyable experience for two reasons. First, nothing is fun without friends to share the memories with, and second, learning is much more fun, enjoyable and effective when you do it with friends.
Of course, this is only the case if you do it right. Pick the right friends to study with and make sure that you won't end up talking for three hours straight.
2. Plan enough time for fun and social activities: Studying is good, but like everything else, too much of something is never good. I usually reserve Friday nights to either hang out with friends, Skype with my parents or even just stay in my room and binge-watch TV or movies.
I always set a schedule for the weekend. I plan out which assignments I want to work on, which materials I want to study and what other activities I want to do during the weekend.
Most of the time, I will reserve Saturdays for activities that aren't related to academics. For instance, going out to watch a movie with friends will usually take place on a Saturday. Sundays, on the other hand, will usually be reserved for homework. If you visit the library on both days and compare the number of students that are present, you will probably see a much larger number during a Sunday compared with a Saturday.
Setting aside time on weekends or after class to hang out with friends is a great way for international students to feel more comfortable at a U.S. college. In addition to fostering friendships, social activities can help you learn about your new culture and ease any feelings of loneliness that come with being away from your home country.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: You might only have three hours of lecture for every course you take, but it's the assignments that will take up a lot of your time. College can get really tiring, and it's easy to fall into an unhealthy lifestyle involving junk food and minimal physical activity. However, it is important to heave a healthy body, not only for the obvious reasons, but also because a healthy body not only results in a more productive brain, but also a happier life in general.
[Learn how to get involved with new experiences at a U.S. school.]
International students may be surprised to learn that their American classmates spend a lot of time exercising, either by playing sports or working out at the gym. International students should make a point to try these activities, as they have both health and social benefits. It's always a good idea to give your body and mind some rest from all the schoolwork. Working out is definitely another great way to de-stress after a long and tiring day of work.
Despite the numerous temptations, I usually try to maintain a constant sleep schedule during the semester, although with everything that's happening, sometimes it becomes impossible to do.
Research has proved that adults require about eight hours of sleep each day in order to function normally. Thus, I try to go to bed at midnight each day and wake up at 8 a.m. the following morning. Of course, depending on my earliest class for the day, I might either wake up earlier or later.
The time spent attending a U.S. college can be one of the most exciting and memory-filled of your life. It is important to have fun and cherish every moment.
Indira Pranabudi, from Indonesia, is a student at Brown University studying computer science. She previously studied at Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash.
