How to Make the Most of Student Life in the US

Most colleges and universities in the US offer on-campus housing usually known as “dorms”. These dormitories often become small communities, where you can meet other people who attend the university and enjoy particular activities with the people in your residence hall. This will be your home for the next year or more, so it’s important to really make the most of it.

Maybe it will feel weird to share a room or apartment with people you don’t know, but you will regret it later if you spend your first days in the US ignoring your flatmates. So, make sure you introduce yourself and get to know them as soon as possible. Once you will have adapted to student life in the US, you will be very happy that you and your roomies have a great relationship.

Make a quick search on Facebook to discover if there are any Facebook groups for students living on the campus of your university, and join them. Most of your classmates will be living on campus, so getting involved and interacting with many of them is a great chance to meet new friends from other flats in your halls.

The US has so many cultural landmarks many people only dream of visiting, but you are going to live there, so make the best of this opportunity. Go have an adventure at the Grand Canyon, take some cool selfies near the Golden Gate Bridge, climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty and have a walk on Broadway. Of course, the US is too big to be able to visit every single attraction, but try to get out of the city you are living in and explore further.

Also, if you want to get familiarized with the city you live in, try giving up public transportation for a few days and just go for a walk. It will not only save you money, but it’s also the best way to explore a new place. You will notice more about the city’s life, customs and find interesting spots that probably aren’t listed on TripAdvisor.

If you study in the US, you will soon discover that after classes, students are still very active on campus. Many universities offer many types of activities and clubs for students to participate in. Sports and athletics are also a huge part of student life in the US. Joining college sports teams is a favorite pastime of students, whether they are international students or from the US.

You also have the chance to join a sorority or fraternity, which are organizations with a social mission or focused on doing service projects and activities. By joining a sports team, sorority or club you will have more chances to get closer to American students, who will teach you a lot about the culture and introduce you to their other friends.

The fact that you are studying in a foreign country doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. Fit your own interests into US student life, and you’ll end up with a wonderful experience. Keep your eye out for posters and flyers around campus, and ask your friends about their extracurricular activities. There are many clubs and organizations that always welcome new members or volunteers. Search for the ones that meet your interests and passions and get involved.

Student organizations will frequently host fun events that you can attend alone or with some of the friends you’ve made. You should also go to events related to your field of study, attend seminars or conferences related to the career you’re planning to build, and join any other activity that catches your eye. In order to find out about upcoming events, you can ask other students around campus, read flyers and check online listings of activities organized by student societies or your faculty.

Maybe the most important advice that any international student in the US can receive is to keep an open mind and enjoy every new thing that appears. You will encounter lots of new people, ideas and ways of life and in order to enjoy this period of your life, you will need to abandon any stereotypes you might have formed. Try to see university as the exciting time that it is and set a goal out of learning as much as you can about your host country and its people.