myUface Blog

This month, forms for the U.S. census should begin arriving at university campuses across America.  For those of our readers who are currently studying in the U.S., and for the interest of international students generally, we thought we’d share a few quick points about the Census.

1. The purpose of the Census is to obtain an accurate demographic portrait of the nation.  The Census asks a variety of questions in order to understand details about American communities.
2. The Census is used to determine a number of important things – for example, the amount of federal funding a particular town (or university) will receive for certain projects.  For this reason, universities have an incentive to make sure all of their students complete the Census.
3. The Census is taken once every ten years.
4. The Census process is simple:  The Census distributes Census forms to every residence (and dorm room) in the country.  Ideally, those that receive the form fill it out on their own.  In practice, the Census has to send Census takers around to follow up with many households.
5. The Census results are not shared with  law enforcement officials or members of the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Should international students complete a Census form?  Absolutely. The purpose of the Census is to understand who lives and studies in the U.S.  Don’t neglect this opportunity to be counted!

As many of our loyal readers know, students on F-1 visas have the option of staying in the U.S. after their program for what is called “Optional Training (OPT).”  The idea behind this is to give students a chance to learn from a professional experience in the U.S., that will compliment their academic training.

According to this article, the amount of time allowed for OPT will be extended from 12 months to 29 months for students in the so-called STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics):

“The OPT facility is career-related and gives students the opportunity to gain experience and additional skills related to their area of studies. This flexible option is helping many Indian students, especially from the STEM disciplines, to acquire valuable work experience in the US, related to their area of studies,” James W Herman, minister, counsellor for consular affairs at the US Embassy, told ET.

Generally speaking, international students studying at U.S. universities will live in that institution’s dormitories. American students refer to these simply as “dorms.”  Generally, a dorm is a large, multi-story building in which students live in small, apartment-like rooms.  Most dorm rooms fit 2 or more people into a single room.  Bathroom and shower facilities are shared between several dorm rooms.

Many international students are used to living at home with their parents, and the transition to “dorm life” – especially to living with a roommate – can be challenging.  For that reason, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about dorms before you ever set foot in one.  Try googling “dorm life” to find articles such as this one.

The more you know about dorms, the better prepared you’ll be to study in the U.S.

After some time dancing around the internet, I stumbled across this collection of basic information about culture shock and how to deal with it.  The website isn’t the fanciest you’ve seen, but the information is good.

I hope you find it useful.

In honor of those international students who are arriving in these weeks on U.S. campuses, I though I might post this excellent introduction the a subject all international students should be familiar with:  culture shock.  Enjoy!

Of course, the most important aspect of your U.S university experience is the academic program . . . but, for many students, a close second is social life. U.S. universities have a well-deserved reputation for fostering a fun and active social life, both on campus and off.  If having fun outside of class is as important to you as learning inside of it, then the quality of a university’s social scene is definitely something you should consider when researching U.S. universities.

Now, I’ll be honest:  I can’t offer much personal advice on this subject, because, well, back in college I wasn’t exactly the coolest student on  campus.   My inability to dance was indeed legendary.  BUT, because this topic is of importance, I’ve fished around on the internet for some resources that might provide you with some good information:

• Forbes magazine, which, as readers of this blog know, has a “Best of” series for pretty much everything, has a “Best Nightlife” feature.  40 cities are ranked according to their suitability for singles, and “nightlife” is one of the criteria.  This will give you a good idea of what cities are considered to have good nightlife, and why.
• The Princeton Review has several rankings that relate to social life, the most notorious of which is their “Best Party School” ranking.  The link I’ve provided shows only the top 20 schools in this prestigious list.  To get more than the top 20, in addition to other data, you’ll need to visit The Princeton Review site, and sign up for a free profile.  The rankings aren’t only about the best party schools.  You can see which universities have the happiest students, the best radio stations, the most beautiful campuses, and more.  This is important because for many students a “good social life” is about a lot more than just parties.  Remember, as you peruse these rankings,  how to use rankings correctly.
• The Students Review site has a “top social schools” ranking that is a little broader than the rankings that focus only on the “best parties.”  What’s more, you can click on individual universities and see actual quotations from students that study there.

Another great resource will be the admissions office of any university in which you’re interested.   Most university websites have resources explaining what social life is like on the campus and in the surrounding area.  If you can’t find this information on the web, feel free to write to someone from the admissions department and ask.

Finally, this is a great area for Facebook research.

Now, one important warning:  remember that in the United States it is illegal to purchase alcohol until you are 21 years of age.  Most clubs and bars will check your identification before they let you in.  Keep that in mind as well as you’re imagining what your social life might be like at a U.S. university.

The bottom line is that your social life will be a very important part of your university experience in the U.S., so don’t forget to spend time researching the different resources universities have to offer.

For your consideration: How do you imagine you will spend your free time in the U.S.? Do all universities have the atmosphere and resources to support the kind of life you’d like to live?

Posts in this Series

1. Conclusion - How to Choose a U.S. University - 02 Jun
2. Activities Around a University Campus - 01 Jun
3. Check Out U.S. Universities on iTunes U - 26 May
4. Extracurricular Activities - 25 May
5. Get to Know Your Potential Professors - 21 May
6. Don't Forget Your Life! (This post)
7. What Do You Want to See in the U.S.? - 19 May
8. How Many International Students go to your Chosen University? - 18 May
9. The Problem with University Rankings - 17 May
10. Using Facebook to Research Universities - 14 May
11. Look at the Surrounding Neighborhoods When Looking at a U.S. University - 13 May
12. How Weather Should Factor Into Your Search for a U.S. University - 12 May
13. Looking for a University in the United States: Cost of Living - 11 May
14. Looking for a University in the United States - 10 May

What do you want to see in the U.S.?  What historic places do you want to visit?   What national parks do you want to experience?  What amusement parks do you want to enjoy?

Do these questions seem irrelevent to your search for a U.S. university?  They’re not.  One of the greatest benefits of studying in the U.S. is the opportunity it will give you to see America’s social, historical and natural places of wonder.

So as you’re researching universities, be sure to ask yourself, “What do I really want to see while I’m in the States?”  If you’re interested in political science, it’d be a shame if you came to the U.S. for four years and never set foot in Washington, D.C.  If you’re interested in film, how could you not visit Hollywood?  All of this is to say nothing of your non-academic interests.  If you ski, visit Colorado,Wyoming or Utah.  Are you a surfer?  California or Hawaii seem appropriate.

You get the idea.

Check out Forbes’ list of the top 25 tourist destinations in the U.S. for a good idea of the most “famous” places.  But don’t stop there.  Visit the state tourist agencies for those states that have universities you’re interested in.  See what you can visit in that state.  For example, if you are looking at a university in Utah, check out the Utah travel site at Utah.com.

Of course, the tourist sites that surround a university shouldn’t be the sole basis of your decision to apply to, or attend, a particular institution.  At the same time, don’t underestimate the extent to which your tourist experiences in the U.S. will impact your overall experience.  Visiting tourist sites is not only a great way to see some beautiful and important places – visiting tourist sites gives you crucial insights into a culture and what it finds important.

For your consideration: Visit the state tourist agencies for every state in which you are researching a university.  What kind of tourist attractions are nearby?  Do they interest you? Why or why not?

Posts in this Series

1. Conclusion - How to Choose a U.S. University - 02 Jun
2. Activities Around a University Campus - 01 Jun
3. Check Out U.S. Universities on iTunes U - 26 May
4. Extracurricular Activities - 25 May
5. Get to Know Your Potential Professors - 21 May
6. Don't Forget Your Life! - 20 May
7. What Do You Want to See in the U.S.? (This post)
8. How Many International Students go to your Chosen University? - 18 May
9. The Problem with University Rankings - 17 May
10. Using Facebook to Research Universities - 14 May
11. Look at the Surrounding Neighborhoods When Looking at a U.S. University - 13 May
12. How Weather Should Factor Into Your Search for a U.S. University - 12 May
13. Looking for a University in the United States: Cost of Living - 11 May
14. Looking for a University in the United States - 10 May