5 Mistakes to Avoid as an International Student
Your first semester as an international student on a U.S. college campus is a time filled with many emotions. This mostly likely includes excitement, nervousness, anxiety, anticipation, curiosity, and more. All these emotions surface because of the uncertainty of what will happen once you get to campus.
All incoming students will make mistakes as they learn the rituals, traditions, and ways of campus life. However, international students are more prone to blunders as they are also entering into a completely different culture.
No one will get through their first year error-free. But you can avoid making some unnecessary mistakes by doing a little research beforehand. Here are 5 common mistakes international students make during their first semester at college in the U.S.
- Not arriving on campus early enough
- Not getting involved in extracurricular activities
- Inadequate financial planning
- Failing to ask for help when needed
- Spending too much time with students from your home country
1. Not Arriving on Campus Early Enough
The first mistake international students make is arriving on campus too late. It’s important to arrive on campus as early as you can. You do not want to miss the orientation week. That is where you will receive a lot of valuable information and direction.
Some college campuses are very large, and this is a great opportunity to learn where your classes will be. It will also allow you time to get adjusted and settled in before the semester begins.
Plus, many universities have special events for international students where you can meet other students. You can also discover opportunities to get involved in organizations.
It may be tempting to remain at home with family as long as you can. But the extra couple of days on campus may be very helpful to get you oriented.
2. Not Getting Involved in Extracurricular Activities
While it’s incredibly important to spend enough time studying, it’s also necessary to make friends and be refreshed. This will help you enjoy your time overseas and also not burn out.
One great way to do this is to get involved in extracurricular activities. All colleges have clubs and organizations, and most large universities have hundreds of them. These clubs include interests in almost every area like intramural sports, art, languages, politics, religions, food, music, and many more.
This is a great way to take a break from studying and meet new people who have similar interests as you. It will give you a good balance of social time, fun, and learning. It will also provide you more exposure to culture and different types of people on the campus.
3. Inadequate Financial Planning
Unfortunately, financial errors are mistakes international students make often. These errors tend to fall into one of two categories.
Either they participate in too many activities and spend more money than they have. Or they underspend out of fear of landing in financial ruin and miss out on a lot of fun in college.
The way to avoid this is to make a clear budget. This will allow you to participate in some fun activities but also not go broke. Your budget can be adjusted as needed.
Another way to ensure you do not become bankrupt is by making sure you have a good international student insurance plan. If you don’t have one yet, you need one. Most universities require it.
If you already have one but plan to travel outside the U.S.A., you will also need a short-term travel insurance plan. We offer the perfect plan for you here. You may be tempted to skip the international student medical insurance to save a few dollars. But, please trust us that it’s not worth risking your family’s financial well-being.
4. Failing to Ask for Help When Needed
International students can be shy due to language or cultural uncertainty, especially at first. As a result, they often fail to ask for help when they need it.
Most universities have abundant resources available, and they exist to provide assistance to all students. For instance, you can ask professors, counselors, advisors, or even administrators for help.
Some of the best resources are upperclassmen as they have been around for years. Many of them are happy to help you not make the same mistakes they did.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. It could save you quite a bit of time and money.
5. Spending Too Much Time with Students from Your Home Country
The final common mistake international students make is spending too much time with people from their home country. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with spending time with people from your home country. It can help you recharge and feel more comfortable when so many things feel new and uncertain.
However, studying overseas may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you may only have a short time to spend in the U.S. Try and make the most of this opportunity by spending time with people from other cultures as well. There may be students from dozens of countries on your campus, and this is a great chance to learn about their language and culture.
Once again, be aware that you will make mistakes in college because everyone does. Failing is how we learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but we recommend avoiding the mistakes above as an international student. We believe it will make your experience significantly better.
We sincerely hope you enjoy your experience!
Good Neighbor Insurance has been insuring international students since 1997. Every one of our internationally trained and licensed insurance agents has a heart to serve you, our guests.
It’s a joy to know that we can provide you peace of mind with one of our many international student insurance options. This will safeguard you from financial calamity as well as providing you the best overseas medical care during your studies and travels.
Please call one of our licensed agents at 480-813-9100 if you have any questions. You may also reach us via email.
We thank you for giving us the privilege of serving you as you fulfill your dreams! Have amazing and safe studies overseas!
