LACs for Middle Eastern Studies +Arabic

ghostbuster
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:13:13 +0000

Well, how do I say this? “Didnt know his school didnt live up to its lovely website until he got there.” Hmmmm.


Its never a good idea to attend a school site unseen. I always recommend a visit, particularly after you are accepted and in the decision mode. His parents should have done that with him. If his parents are overseas, then why did they send him to Washington State? Seems strange. Why not Georgetown, GWU, American or another East Coast city?
Second issue, is that kids frequently have buyers remorse and honeymoon-over…resulting in transferitis freshman year…usually after Thanksgiving. Washington State has nothing in common with Turkey. Not the weather, the culture or anything. It may not be the school’s fault, it may well be HIS fault. He is not adjusting to them well. Maybe he is the odd man out…a peculiar background (eccentric to be sure), but in the end, its up to him to adjust and make friends. Kids will lash out and blame professors or blame the school etc etc. When its often issues with them.
I do believe in “fit”. In fact, its what I harp on the most. Misfits do occur and sometimes its nobodies “fault”, just a misjudgement. Many times they can get over this if they persevere, buckle down to hard work.
No school is “perfect” for 100% of its applicants or even matriculated students. There will always be issues that arise. And after the excitement wears off, the drudgery of going to class and writing papers, in a strange town, different weather and culture can be daunting. Plus dorm drama. My kid went to NYC. It was HUGE culture shock and we went through a rough patch Freshman year, but persevered and came out shining in the Spring…and is now thriving and wouldnt go anywhere else.
Finally, there are lots of schools that offer Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. Mostly large state universities, which can be another set of problems for the unprepared…and he is not from a large American public high school where you get the best flavor of a state college environment in advance. There are some programs in private schools, but private schools may well have a culture that is not a good fit…so its important to explore that. What is it precisely that he finds so offensive? Is it religious issues? Or is it just that he is an American, but really absorbed and raised in Turkey and not finding the US like Turkey at all? I have lived overseas in college, in the military etc. I know what it is like. Its fun for awhile but as the months wear on…you get tired…and want to get back to “home”. Is he homesick?


Tell me where he is now (the school…its okay to name it…or pm me) and what is going on. That way we can make better suggestions. And his parents really ought to be involved in this process…and visit prospective schools if he is really determined to leave where he is now.