Sally_Rubenstone

I write "Admissions Without Borders," a blog for international students. It's on the USA Education Guides Web site: American Universities and Community College Search Service (Hobsons is the parent company ... same for College Confidential).

If you are a current international student in the U.S., I would appreciate your help with a future blog. Please answer this question:

Do you feel that American students at your college are generally interested in getting to know international students and learning about their homelands ... or does that vary a lot from student to student? Do some students seem particularly UNinterested in knowing international students?

When you answer the question, please also let me know what your nationality is and the name of the college or university you currently attend (if you're comfortable revealing it).

Thanks in advance for your help!

saaammie

I can't answer unfortunately, but I'm also curious about this.

dallo306

oh god!! this thread is dying.. i thought i could get a lot of infos from here..
i'd been to rollins college, FL and i stayed there for like a week.. in the dorms and with the freshmen.. so @sally... if experience could help let me know...

Karpov

it is my experience that all featured threads die early

Karpov

i mught be wrong
@ Sally
it might be more helpful to invite class of 2012 accepted students. i am sure theres a thread here somewhere

Sally_Rubenstone

Sounds like a good idea, Karpov, but I'm not sure which thread you mean.

theGame

Tryy a thread name like 'the official acceptances of the class of 2012' or something

Sally_Rubenstone

Thanks. When I get a chance I'll try to dig it up.

polydentate

I'm a freshman at UM - Ann Arbor and it is definitely a great place for international students. The international student body at Michigan is relatively large so that really helps. There's always tons of activities going on organized by the International Center or student organizations.

I haven't met a single person who has been uninterested in talking to me about my country/culture. Everyone's really open minded and willing to learn more.

Sally_Rubenstone

This is great. Thanks polydentate. I'm so glad that Michigan has been such a great spot for you. Where are you from (besides Ann Arbor )?

polydentate

I'm from India

Sally_Rubenstone

Thanks, polydentate. I'm going to write to you privately to ask if you'd be willing to be a "guest expert" on my international students blog, Admissions Without Borders. It's on another Hobsons Web site, USA Education Guides. (Hobsons is the College Confidential parent company.)

redsexton

I'm a transfer sophomore at Stephens College in Missouri. I love it here so much! I applied to other women's college like Mount Holyoke (waitlisted) and Bryn Mawr (rejected), but I feel so blessed that Stephens accepted me because I love the community here.

Everyone is so friendly here and they all want to come visit my family in Ireland! I have made some really wonderful friends here and I feel like they're my family now. When it comes to Thanksgiving/Winter/Spring breaks, I'm never short of offers for places to stay.

I think the reason why I have thrived at this school is because the people here care about how I feel and about what I'm getting out of my education. I feel like everyone here is looking out for me and that's what I love about Stephens! I look forward to the day we get more international students, so I can look out for them the way Stephens has looked out for me.

haru07

I'm a full-time international from Japan (a bit rare, because many Japanese study abroad for a bit only) At my school it varies a lot. And it's not only the American students that need to make the effort, but the internationals as well. But overall I say it's very friendly, at least when you get to know people better they will naturally become more interested in you and your background. If you try to approach someone you don't know, regardless of race or origin, talking about your [maybe unusual/underrepresented] homeland may be a good way to start a conversation but not to keep it going-not because the other isn't interested in it, but because you've just met and it would be weird to be detailing the culture or your life in your homeland in that kind of situation.

Sally_Rubenstone

redsexton and haru07--If you'd be willing to answer some questions about your experiences in the US for my blog (see above), I'd be very grateful. You can send me a Private Message to let me know. (I wouldn't post anything on the blog that you haven't okayed first.)