[MUSIC]
ALFRED BOLL: Good morning and good evening to our
viewers from around the world.
My name is Alfred Boll, and I represent Education USA
and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
at the U.S. Department of State
in Washington, D.C.
Today's interactive webinar is especially tailored for
international students who are curious about what it is
like to study in the United States.
Our goal at Education USA is to provide international
students like you with the information you need to find
the right U.S. institution for your study in the
United States.
There are 550 Education USA advisors at 435 centers,
in 180 countries and territories,
around the world, offering free advising services
to help you.
If you have questions on U.S. campus culture,
please post them at any time during the program
in the comments section below.
I'm excited to introduce our speakers who collectively
have a lot to share about U.S. campus culture.
Joining us virtually are Elizabeth Shaffer
and Ahoud Al Muqarshi.
Elizabeth is an international admissions
counselor at the Haenicke Institute for Global Education
at Western Michigan University.
Ahoud is an international student from Oman.
She is currently studying Telecommunication and
Information Management at Western Michigan University.
Ladies, thank you for joining us.
Joining us in our studio are Nasheba Alexander
and Russel Karim.
Nasheba is an international student from Grenada
who recently graduated from Howard University, here in
Washington, D.C., with a bachelor's degree in
nutritional sciences and a minor in biology.
Russel is a former international student from
Lakshmipur, Bangladesh.
He studied at the University of Northern Iowa and he
currently works there as a programmer analyst.
Thank you both for joining us.
NASHEBA AND RUSSEL: Thank you.
ALFRED BOLL: Elizabeth, I wanted to start our
discussion with you.
Can you please share your perspective on the value
that international students bring to
U.S. universities and college campuses?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: Absolutely.
I'm happy to elaborate on that.
First, starting with the element of cultural exchange
and learning: Having an international student
presence at a U.S. university or campus and
college creates the opportunity for cultural
exchange and learning among its faculty, its staff,
its student body,
and even further that extends into the local
community as well.
This can be identified through friendships that are
made, discussions in the classroom,
things like conversation circles and other events
that bring individuals together to share their
perspective and experience.
And through those experiences,
we develop mutual understanding and often
become more globally- engaged individuals.
For many universities, in fact,
global engagement has become an institutional value.
By this, I'm not only referring to the value of
sending students and receiving students from
around the world.
It also focuses, again, on that shared experience
right on campus.
Offices like ours at Western Michigan University set our
objectives to support this from the moment the student
arrives at orientation all the way through their
graduation day.
We provide activities like major events or initiatives.
What you're seeing now is a video from our
international festival.
We also host and celebrate International Education Week
each year.
At WMU, our international festival, in particular,
is a major event that is held and nearly 20 different
cultural registered student organizations prepare
booths, they prepare food, and they have presentations
and performances that teach the campus and community
about their countries.
This is a great example, because the entire
university and local community joins to make it
a success from university kitchen staff and catering
that dedicate their time to cook these recipes,
to the volunteers and event coordinators that get the
logistics handled, and then also all of the community
members that attend.
Everyone is engaged and in all of the diversity that we
find in such a small town of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
And lastly, and most importantly,
I would like to emphasize that every student that
arrives is part of that community,
and they're welcome.
ALFRED BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth.
And also for sharing that video.
That's amazing to see.
Russel, after reading your biography,
it is apparent that you were very active on campus during
your time at the University of Northern Iowa.
Can you tell us about what motivated you to become
involved in student government and other
campus organizations?
RUSSEL KARIM: Thanks, Alfred,
for inviting me to be here today.
So student government they represent the entire
student body on campus.
And we work with - we work for the students - just talk
to the students and figure out their issues,
advocate for them, and also work with the university
leadership to resolve them.
So what really motivated me to get involved,
when I first came here, I knew by just getting
involved with those student org and activities on
campus, it would give us a lot of soft skills that I
wouldn't learn otherwise, just leadership in general.
And UNI - the University of Northern Iowa has done a
really good job in terms of explaining us at the first
week that you have to join in one student org which is
related to your degree, and also one that is related to
your interests - [INAUDIBLE] student org you can join.
And also how our career counselor explained through
that how it would be very meaningful and helpful for
finding internship in the future and future careers.
So I think those really helped me to really to make
the decision that I really wanted to get involved
on campus.
ALFRED BOLL: Did you feel that - you know,
were you accepted as an international student
representing student body?
RUSSEL KARIM: Yeah, so - I think, yes, student body,
because we represent - UNI I think they foster a culture
of very inclusive and diverse environment for us.
When I came in, I think I was a little shocked - they
were very welcoming on campus and how many
opportunities are out there just for international
students available on campus.
And I think it was very welcoming,
just not only by the students,
but also the leadership, they welcomed us and really
if we needed something extra,
they would kind of provide those as well.
That was really amazing.
ALFRED BOLL: That's incredible.
Was your nature as an international student
actually something that helped,
because you brought a different perspective to,
you know, student government and to deliberations about
how the university should manage itself?
RUSSEL KARIM: Yes, definitely.
I think one example would be when I was a student on our
dining center, a lot of international students,
they are like students who didn't go home during the
academic break, like Christmas or Thanksgiving,
they wouldn't get food,
so as international student I kind of felt that we
brought in the university leadership from provost
to president, and actually I was able to implement
meal plan during the break.
So just seeing from that perspective,
I think that kind of helped and even representing the
students - that was really amazing experience.
ALFRED BOLL: That's amazing.
Congratulations and thank you.
RUSSEL KARIM: Yeah, thank you.
ALFRED BOLL: Nasheba, you came from St. Patrick's, Grenada,
and recently graduated from Howard University.
Can you tell us about your time at Howard?
I know that you were very involved with
extracurricular activities.
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Thank you for having me,
and nice to meet you, Russel.
Yes, I'm from St. Patrick's, Grenada,
and it's a beautiful island that has a lot of young
professionals like myself.
And at Howard, I loved my experienced there.
Howard fosters a culture of so much diversity.
You can find almost anyone from any part of the
country, any part of the world here,
so which was really good.
Coming from Grenada, I didn't know what to expect
because I haven't been to a big university before,
but being there, you come with your uniqueness and
what you like, what are you passionate about,
how creative are you, and to piggyback off on what
Russel said upon international orientation,
which you get at the first week at school at Howard
University, they will emphasize that you have to
join organizations, one of your interests and one
of any other social events.
So that's what happened.
And I love food, so when I realized there was no
nutrition club, nothing to do with food at Howard,
I readily revamped it; it was not an
official organization, but now it is.
We put in the work tirelessly.
We had cooking classes.
We didn't just focus on food.
We also had résumé-building workshops,
we went in the community, we served and we had luncheon.
My favorite part was the luncheon fundraiser and the
cooking classes, because that brought in a lot of the
faculty, the staff, and the students - everybody in one
place at our kitchen at Howard where we worked
and prepared nutritious and healthy meals.
ALFRED BOLL: It's super impressive to hear that it
didn't just have an effect on the university but
in the community.
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
ALFRED BOLL: So is it something - would you say
it's a typical campus experience at Howard for
people also to be involved in the community here
in Washington, D.C.?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
Howard has more than 140 clubs and organizations,
so it means that there's something for everyone,
whether you're into reading, you're into drama,
you're into art, anything is not just academic
but also social.
And there is Howard University Community Service Day,
which is huge, and you get to help and serve those
in the community.
There are a lot of things you have to do.
We did Ward 7, Ward 8 Community Service.
We also did Food and friends,
this Essential Kitchen.
There is a lot - there's so much there,
even research you can do on-campus.
You can be part of the research as well or you can
conduct it firsthand or secondhand.
ALFRED BOLL: Very interesting.
One last question: I know that you were a part of
a regional association - a Caribbean students
association.
Were there students' associations from around the
world and is that something that is typical on campus?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
At Howard University we have [INAUDIBLE]
international students.
So that's for everybody.
The Caribbean Student Association is mostly for
the Caribbean students.
So you're meeting everybody else that are international
students, and then you also branch off into just
Caribbean, so you meet people from Jamaica, Trinidad,
Montserrat, Antigua, Grenada, like myself,
and that uniqueness, we have what are called the
International Tree - the Caribbean Tree -
they go there and just enjoy, you know,
you just really enjoy the experience, which I did.
Immerse yourself in the culture,
network because that's what it's for.
It really help you to succeed because when
you're involved in so many other things,
opportunities are provided for you.
You get to go to conferences,
you get to do so much and get affiliated with other
networks and other groups.
ALFRED BOLL: Were there any organizations that you were
surprised to see that you thought, oh, wow?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: [LAUGHING] Yes.
There was one - it was dancing.
It was a different type of dance I've never seen
before, but I was like, this type of dance they're doing,
and that's an actual club, which I thought it was
different but it was nice because it brought so much
as to say keep who you are, bring your uniqueness,
and that's what makes it even more beautiful.
ALFRED BOLL: Respect for the individual and empowering it
[INAUDIBLE].
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
ALFRED BOLL: That's fantastic. Thank you so much.
I'm glad to hear about these great examples.
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Thank you so much.
ALFRED BOLL: Congratulations on your work on nutrition
because we know that's so important for all of us.
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes. Yes. Thank you.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you.
So I would like to turn to you, Ahoud,
and ask if you could speak a little bit about your
experience on campus culture and also religious life at
Western Michigan University.
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Sure.
So when I first came to the United States,
my first decision was to live on campus,
not just to be close to my classes but also to give
myself a chance to be part of the campus culture
and campus life as well.
With living on campus, I experienced how much it's
important to be globally engaged with other people.
Here, especially at Western Michigan University,
there are so many students from different countries,
so it was so interesting to live in the campus,
join different activity and share my culture.
I get a lot of motivation and to be proud of myself
and proud of my culture, and to share my culture,
to be more outgoing.
And about my religion life, I was worried a lot before I
came here about how to practice my religion in a
non-Muslim country, but when I first came to Western
Michigan University, I saw that everyone had freedom to
practice their religion, whether if they're
Christian, Muslim or any other religion.
This makes me feel so comfortable and the campus
also provide us with five different rooms to pray and
we got a very big support from the campus to start our
Muslim international Student Muslim Association,
and they also support us to participate with other
organization and to share our religion and also not be
shy to talk about the problems facing Muslims and
it make me feel comfortable that everyone [INAUDIBLE]
respect us here and support us and our organization.
ALFRED BOLL: That's fascinating
and great to hear.
Let me ask you, is there - you know,
so you said the Muslim Student Association also
sometimes works with other student associations and
that people sort of, you know, see each other;
they learn about you and about your association.
Are there any groups that you have especially done
things with or any activities or will people
come to your activities to learn about Islam,
for example?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Yeah, actually,
in Western every fall we have like a Bronco Bash
where all the organizations share their what is their
organization for and all the things,
and we've got a booth for our organization
where we can answer the student question about
the organization.
We also participate with so many events last semester
about Islamophobia, and we also - like,
near the campus, we have Islamic Center - it's a very
large community where Muslims can go together to
participate there, and because in Kalamazoo
we have a very large amount of refugees from Syria and
other countries, so there's so many organizations in
Kalamazoo we're concerned about helping those people,
we participate to do the same thing with them to
cooperate with them and help those people.
We also participate in some events inside the campus
with other organizations, like His House and some
other organizations for different events,
such as - like the American holidays.
For example, we're having a Halloween for next two weeks
where we just don't care and encourage the student to get
to know other cultures and not just stuck with our
culture things.
So yeah -
ALFRED BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you so much.
That's very valuable information for our viewers.
Russel, I know that during your time in college you
served as President of the Muslim Student Association,
is that right?
RUSSEL KARIM: Yes.
So I think, as a Muslim, as she mentioned,
there's a lot of freedom on campus for practicing your
religion, your culture.
I mean, U.S. campus they're very inclusive campus.
So for us, we brought a lot of speakers.
Last year, I think we had interfaith dialogue where we
bring an imam, we brought a rabbi, we brought a pastor,
and really talked through what it likes to and really
educate the campus and educate our study body about
interfaith religion.
We also have done really interesting experiment with
some American student wearing hijab on campus
for a week.
So some of our volunteer students they actually wore
hijab and see how it is to wear hijab on campus and
really get that experience.
So I think, you know, in University of Northern Iowa
they had really facilitated those for us and really made
it possible to practice.
And, you know, [INAUDIBLE] all those universities
in the U.S. are very inclusive and allow practice
whatever you believe in.
ALFRED BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you so much.
Those are - it's great to hear and great examples,
I'm Sure.
It is now time to check in with our viewers
on Facebook, and to answer your questions.
Our first question is about differences in
classroom culture.
So a viewer is asking: "What was the biggest difference
you experienced between classrooms in the U.S.
and in your home country?"
Can I start with you, Ahoud?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Okay.
So when I start at my academic classes here,
I noticed that the relationship between
the professor and the students is more close,
more friendly.
Like, if I have a question, I will just feel free to go
to their office hours, ask them or ask in the class
with no advance or something.
So that makes me feel good 'cause back home we give
more respect to the professor,
so I cannot ask a question in the lecture,
I have to wait after the lecture to ask anything.
So, yeah, this give me more comfortable to talk
in the class.
If I have something I wanna say,
I will just raise my hand and say it comfortably
and all that things.
It's hard to start academic classes for international
like just the first semester when you see so many
Americans around you, and you feel like your level
is the lowest one in the class, but after that,
you will just start to feel like we're all doing good,
so participating in the class,
asking question it's so helpful for international
student to know more about the class and also to show
to the professor that you really care about doing good
even if this is not your first language,
but you're doing - you're putting all your effort to
just attending a class, do all the class things and all
those things.
So yeah.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you very much, that's great.
Nasheba, let me ask you the same question.
Was there a big difference you experienced or?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: It wasn't a big difference in terms of
connecting with your professors or your teachers.
In my country, in Grenada, the teachers are very good
with you.
You are allowed to make discussions,
you are allowed to engage and interact,
likewise as here.
The only difference was that for the general classes,
the classroom teacher to pupil per professor ratio,
it was big for the general classes,
but when it comes to your core classes,
you had a more intimate, small group classes where
you can - and I felt the same way as my country in
Grenada, so that wasn't different at all,
which is good.
The only difference is how we look at the content.
Back in my country and here was different,
but because there is so much support here,
and especially at Howard University,
the professors they prepare a lot of resources for you,
they support you.
There are students that assist you,
like teacher assistants, and they help you with that.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay.
Karim, let me ask you, I know one of the things that
you hear in relation to this question is that sometimes
teachers in the U.S. can be kind of direct,
they can call on you, and I mean,
is that a difference?
What was your experience like?
RUSSEL KARIM: So I think my experience,
here teachers are very direct,
but they have very direct expectations from you.
So I think first you have the class, you know,
the professors they will kind of lay down their
expectation that you have to do the class participations
and also I think one of the big difference I found that
the research opportunities on undergrad level in the
U.S. universities, and I came from UNI,
and as a computer science major,
I was able to directly work with my professor and do
undergrad research, and so I think that was really
interesting opportunity for undergrad.
And also, you know, as they mentioned,
office hours are very helpful.
And another thing I really found - I think I wanna add
it to yours - very interesting that liberal
arts classes, and I think back home in the classroom
you just focus if you're studying chemistry or
physics, you study chemistry and physics.
But having opportunity to learn - for me,
I have taken 45 liberal art classes; like,
I was taking astronomy, I was taking fun classes,
theatre classes, so they just actually open up
and widened the knowledge for us,
and I think that was really a big difference in the
U.S. classrooms.
ALFRED BOLL: Absolutely. Thank you for that.
Those are very valuable perspectives.
So I realize we have a lot of questions from Facebook.
The next one is: "What is it like to
live in a dormitory?"
Nasheba, did you live in a dorm?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes, I lived in a dorm at Howard University
for two years and I moved off campus for my last.
But it was very good.
I actually worked as a Resident Assistant,
which is an RA.
So you are the leader of that floor.
But before I became an RA, I was just a resident,
and that was very interactive,
because there are hall programs,
there are dorm programs, there are competitions
between dorms.
So like you get to - either you dance, you sing,
you step - a lot of stuff, it was fun.
And some of the dorms are attached to a dining center,
so you can get your food.
So one of the dorms that I lived in, which is an annex,
there was a dining center there,
so you don't have to go far to get your food,
and everything is accessible, which is nice.
It is very good.
We have study rooms, we have computer rooms in our dorms.
So that's good.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay, so it brings everybody together.
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Everybody together.
ALFRED BOLL: It fosters a common environment and you
have lots of resources concentrated.
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Lots of resources. A lot.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay. Interesting. That's great.
So our next question is: "How do universities protect
students from discrimination and how do they foster a
multicultural environment?
Let me ask you that, Russel, I mean, especially
your time in government - student government.
RUSSEL KARIM: So I think university we have like dean
of students. They kind of represent students.
So we have Title IX Officer and we also have a Dean of
Student Officer, where her job is to really taking
care of all those issues.
And also I think when we created those student
organizations; I think they're also resource
for all the student.
Really, you know, talk through if there is an
issue, but I think all the student,
like we have international student association,
we have international student promoters,
all those other student organizations,
they actually advocate for this,
so also kind of educate student even if it happens
what we have to do, so I think it is very direct
communication from the university they can tell us
what we need to do.
And one of the great things I think UNI has done in our
mission and vision of the university,
like that's the first thing we hear about the university
and they tell about how diversity and inclusion
that's the top part of the university.
So just hearing and listening to that,
I think we feel comfortable.
We haven't seen anything happening for discrimination
from - and you know, Midwest Iowa nice, Iowa kind,
so I'm from Iowa, so I think definitely that's a plus.
I think this is a great environment.
We haven't really seen anything.
But if it happens to somebody,
I think that the Dean of Student Office they'll
definitely take care of it.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay, so the main thing is not just
having a policy, but really communicating it -
RUSSEL KARIM: - Exactly -
ALFRED BOLL: - and making it part of the
university's values.
RUSSEL KARIM: Exactly.
ALFRED BOLL: That is a strong message that the
universities pass.
Okay, that's very - thank you very much.
The next question is about the teaching style.
"What is the teaching style like?"
Ahoud, may I ask you that, in Michigan?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Actually, it depends on what
class are you taking.
First, telecommunication information management
was my class with CIS programming classes,
so the environment of class we work in lab area where we
just need to deal computers; there is no desk box
or we don't use notebook or something,
but we use some programs that can help us to make our
programming look good, and all that things.
But in some other classes, like a communication -
regular communication class, like communication
leadership or other classes, there is more like we use
textbook and we use like a lecture and workshop with
the professor where we have a discussion or conversation
in a large group in the class.
We share our thought about something and the book.
But [INAUDIBLE] it's more with working individually
with our projects, so it's kind of, I don't know,
different styles.
This is what I experienced here.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay, thank you very much, Ahoud.
Let me ask you a follow-up question from our viewers
that just came in.
"What kind of opportunities are there to do research
on campus?"
You're involved in computers, of course,
it could be research on many things.
Are there opportunities that you could link to to do
research that you're interested in?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Yeah, actually, so - I'm sorry,
I just -
ALFRED BOLL: No, that's okay.
It's about research, for example sometimes
a professor in a class will say,
"Oh, could you help me on a project?
I'm doing research."
Do professors sometimes take students to help
and research projects?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Yeah, actually,
in some of the Communication classes we had to do like
it's for extra credit, but we have to hope the
Communication Department will [INAUDIBLE] some researches.
Last semester, we had research about how to make
a robot to be in a lecture room,
and they choose specific students to be in this research.
It was so helpful also to understand how robots
work for us.
And for international students, it gives
us more like - like the campus or the professors
really work hard to make the education style comfortable
for everyone, not just for Americans.
And, yeah, we've been participating in some
research as well, and when I was an ESL student - English
as a Second Language program - I've been participating in
some research where American student who want to be an
ESL teacher and they have so many questions about
international life and how is the culture outside of
the United States.
They came in our classroom every Monday and they give
us some questions and, yeah, so we kind of participating
with some research.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you. Thank you very much.
That's a very valuable answer for our viewers.
Now we have a question from Quram Shazzad in Pakistan,
who asks: "How is it for Muslim students to live in
the United States?
For example, are there Mosques and is halal
food available?"
Russel, let me ask you that.
RUSSEL KARIM: So, yes, thanks for the question.
We do.
We - I have - right now I work as a program analyst,
so there is actually a Pakistani restaurant one minute
away from my office, so usually I go during my lunch.
ALFRED BOLL: [LAUGHING] That's great.
RUSSEL KARIM: So there's a lot of option for halal
food there.
And they actually pretty much saved our life,
you know, for a lot of students.
So we have pretty good amount of Muslim student on
campus, a lot of Middle Eastern students and from
Southeast Asia as well, so there is halal food option
at the restaurants and there's actually meat,
so if they're interested to cook or living off campus,
they can buy halal meat as well.
We actually have a beautiful mosque - a masjid
- close to campus.
I think that'll probably be 10-minute drive from the
campus and a lot of students they're involved with the
Muslim Student Association, or in the community they
actually drive together as a group for Friday prayers,
so a lot of student's they'll actually go together.
So there is opportunity there.
ALFRED BOLL: When you travel, for example, I mean,
do you face any issues - would you say that you can
pretty much find those resources throughout the
country - I mean, where you're going?
RUSSEL KARIM: Yes.
I think in the U.S., people of all those south Asian
cuisines are everywhere, right - I love all this food
- so I think now as I've been traveling all over the
country, I've been finding restaurant and the options,
you know, if you're practicing and trying to
find halal food, I think you can find halal food anywhere
in the U.S.
ALFRED BOLL: And you can find mosques everywhere?
RUSSEL KARIM: You can find a mosque everywhere as well.
Yeah.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you.
I know that's very valuable for our viewers.
Thank you.
RUSSEL KARIM: So I think you just have to look for it.
You just have to find it.
And if you Google it, I'm pretty sure you'll find the
nearby mosque or the halal food options.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay, thank you.
Our next question is from Alex in Brazil,
who is asking: "Is it possible for me to get into
a graduate program after I graduate here in Brazil
in my country?
Do I have to go through some sort of undergraduate
program in the U.S. first?"
Elizabeth, can I turn to you about that question?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: Sure.
Yeah, so most often than not we are able to validate
undergraduate degrees in other countries.
And so there is not typically undergraduate
course requirements when you're admitted to a
graduate program.
Oftentimes you are required to take a standardized test
like the GRE examinations, and obviously your proof of
English proficiency.
Also, you may receive some conditional admissions that
will state this undergraduate class would
really help prepare you and supply you with the tools
and software and things like that that you need to know
in the graduate program.
So if you do find yourself having to take an
undergraduate class, don't be discouraged by that,
it really is there to help you and help you adjust to
the campus.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you very much.
Let me stay with you, Elizabeth,
for a second question from Jose Francisco,
and Education USA in Colombia.
He asks: "How can students be involved in a university
sports team?"
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: That's a common question.
We often connect our students that are really
interested in say American football or even soccer.
We connect them with the coaches,
and they're familiar with getting to know them.
We often encourage them to either consider intramural
sports or consider the semi-competitive levels;
there's walk-on tryouts.
So those opportunities are available for students that
are really dedicated to their sport and don't wanna
lose that if they move to a new country.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you very much.
Our next question is, again, one focused on campuses.
Online viewer Joyce want to know a bit more about
housing and living options.
For example, do students have to continue living
on campus for the whole four years?
What kind of flexibility do they have?
Russel, can I start with you?
RUSSEL KARIM: I started living on campus in a dorm
for my first year.
For an incoming student, I would recommend at least
one year they should live on campus,
because that helps them get to know all the buildings -
where it is - get to know and make friends for the
full four years.
So I lived one year on campus.
Then I moved out to an off-campus apartment.
It's called Merit Student Apartment,
but it's not really for merit students.
[LAUGHTER]
I lived there for my last three years.
So I think there's off-campus apartments you
can live in, so you don't really have to tie in
for four years.
It's just, if you are interested to move out and
live off-campus, I think you should talk to Department of
Residents ahead of time, because in some universities
I think they might have a contract that if you're
gonna break it there may be rules for that.
But just to talk to the university and see what the
university specific rules are.
But for us, usually year by year contract,
so if you're contracting your dorm for a year,
you just have to live for a year and then you can move
out and pursue other options that you have.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you.
Nasheba, you mentioned that your last year you spent
off-campus, that's right?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
ALFRED BOLL: What was the - what was your
experience there?
Did you just decide, I want a different experience?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
At Howard, coming in as a Freshman,
it is required that you stay on campus unless you have
family members in the area that you're living with.
But I would recommend, as Russel said,
that you come in for the first time,
you live on campus for that first year,
all the resources are there for you and you get to have
a better experience.
And now you can move off-campus anything
after that, which is entirely up to you.
You contact Residence Life, their Off-Campus Housing,
or rent an apartment.
But moving off-campus was my choice.
I wanted to just have that independence,
because sometimes when you share your room with others,
it depends on your plan and where you're coming from
and what your requests are.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you very much.
Elizabeth, anything you would like to add, finally,
on this topic in terms of universities' policies
on/off-campus?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: Yeah like you said, it does vary.
Most universities, or many universities require that
first year for those reasons that everyone has kind of
listed already.
And I think we touched on it a little bit,
but the different housing styles,
so that's important to consider when you're
looking at options.
And if you do want more independence,
there are a lot of universities now that have
apartment-style housing where you're having your
own room, you're having those intimate spaces,
so you aren't necessarily off-campus and away but
you're still getting the independence you want.
It really depends on the options that you have
available for living.
But it's generally really good practice to try your
first year, and I think, Ahoud,
you could probably speak on that as well.
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Yeah, I highly recommend the student
to start their scholarship or like when they first come
to the United States, it's good to live on campus to
know more about what is going on on the campus,
and especially if they cannot afford to get a car
from the first year, it's good to get benefit of the
campus transportation, and it's nice to get to know
more friend and to get know each other.
Living on campus also help me the first year to
practice my English.
I used to live with an American roommate where I
was the only one in all the building who speak Arabic,
so I couldn't speak my first language,
and that's really forced me to speak English.
So, yeah, it was so helpful to get engaged to so many
activities inside the dorm and also inside the campus.
So I highly recommend students start with living
on campus, make themselves comfortable about the city,
and the university, then after that,
if they want to go outside the campus and live with
their friends, with other roommates,
that's good as well.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay, thank you very much, to all of you,
very valuable advice.
Our next question is from Elton,
who asks: "How do you handle a situation where you have
to study with people that don't have or share
your customs?"
Nasheba, let me start with you.
Did you study with lots of different kinds of people?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Yes.
And at Howard, they foster a culture where
you work with groups most of the time.
You study independently but there is always a group
assignment that you have to do.
Now, working with someone who don't share your custom
is not a bad thing 'cause you can learn
from that person.
So first, I think you should address the person, "Okay,
I'm not used to this, and this is what I'm used to.
What are you used to?"
How can we learn from each other?
You might be surprise that working with someone who
doesn't share your custom, might give you an A as
opposed to just pulling yourself secretly and work
by yourself.
So I think that's a great opportunity to connect
and learn something.
You just share right away and if it doesn't work - if
there is a complication or something very serious
that doesn't allow it to work out,
then you can talk to your professor or something
like that.
But first step is to address the situation with the
person you're working with or the people you're working
with and take it from there.
ALFRED BOLL: It's very good advice.
Karim, anything you would like to add?
RUSSEL KARIM: I think I'll second Nasheba,
and [LAUGHTER] -I think the only thing would be just the
clear communication.
It's not a bad thing, you know,
the different culture and the customs that they have.
If you communicate with the student what the customs
you're used to and what they are,
and just communicating with them and I think with that
in most of the case it works out.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Our next question is from Doha, from Claire - sorry,
Doha College, who asks: "What is your advice to
students preparing to study in the United States?
Elizabeth, can I ask you that first?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: It's a very large question
preparing to study in the U.S.
But doing your research is the best advantage;
watching interactives like this, and looking at
the different opportunities and schools
that you're interested in, is the first step.
You'll get a very good sense of the university by
visiting their websites and seeing how accessible they
are, the communication via e-mail or what communication
tools they have available.
We've got some global interns, like Ahoud,
who answer phone calls, answer questions
well in advance to you even arriving.
So those tools are really important when you're
considering studying in the U.S.
and the admission process.
RUSSEL KARIM: That's very good advice.
And it is a large question.
I assume also from our end, certainly using Education
USA's services is something we want to recommend,
because they're free, they're worldwide,
and they are targeted at the best fit for the
students, right?
So what we want is for students to find the right
place to study so that they can succeed personally
and professionally, certainly academically,
and our advisors are all focused on that.
And I hope that all of your universities - I know that
all of the universities here certainly work with
Education USA in terms of promoting U.S.
higher education generally.
Ahoud, can I ask you, is there any one thing or a few
things that you did that helped you prepare for
arriving in the United States?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Well, yeah.
I did so many research before I came to Michigan
specifically, 'cause I used to be in a different
university when I transferred to Western.
When I first decided to study abroad, I go online,
I searched about everything about the United States,
even some things you will never think about.
I searched exactly for every single thing, like life,
American culture.
I saw so many videos.
I even - so many episodes and some stuff on TV to just
see how is the life look like in the United States.
And those kind of shows and those picture and videos
helped me to prepare myself, especially when I came in
the winter, I searched so many pictures about how
the weather in Michigan in winter,
and it makes me feel like nervous and good
at the same time.
Like, I will see snow for the first time in my life,
but it will be so cold.
[LAUGHTER]
I was good with searching about the universities,
the majors, 'cause when after graduating from high
school I found myself I love working with computers,
networking and communication [INAUDIBLE],
so I started searching what is the best universities for
those majors, and yeah, so I did so many research.
I also communicate with some current student in the
United States - there is so many Omanis around here.
I contact with them and see what should I have before
I came and what to bring with me from home,
and all these things.
They were so helpful and they really encouraged me
to stay positive.
They told me I will face so many problems in the
airports; it's normal; it's not a problem;
this is the process.
So they really helped me to feel good about starting a
new experience and, yeah -
ALFRED BOLL: That's great advice.
It's a great story and it's great advice for people who
are thinking about coming.
Thank you very much.
Our next question is from Education USA Colombia.
"What do universities do to help international students
adapt to U.S. culture?"
I know that, of course, you've already spoken about
the seminars at the beginning,
but are there other things that in your experience
helped you adapt at the university, Karim?
Sorry, Russel?
RUSSEL KARIM: Yeah, I think we have
International Student Office.
They also offer a program called international
- like the family, your host family.
The host family program, what they do,
when those new students come in,
they will assign a student with a host family to really
understand the culture and go get dinner with your host
family, understand what family looks like in the U.S.
And, also, for me, when I came into University of
Northern Iowa, this is my first time in the U.S.,
that was my first time in Midwest and learning all
the cultures, getting used to with everything,
and having a host family that you can always call
in any situation that, "Oh, I don't know how to do this,"
and understanding that.
So I think university - UNI has done a really good job
assigning us a host family.
Also, they assign host family based on interest.
If some of the host family they have interest on
Bangladesh or Southeast Asia that they have visited,
they have very keen interest in this culture;
they would assign us those kind of host families.
So they really helped us - university also, I mean,
I think we also talked about the orientation.
The first week of the orientation they kind of lay
out all the resources that are available on campus
from the health center to [INAUDIBLE] even counseling
center, like a mental health - you know,
you're like homesick and all those assistance you would
need, so I think university in the U.S., they usually do
a really good job explaining your resources that you have
on campus.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you very much.
Very valuable advice and good perspective.
Our next question is from Grace in Kinshasa,
who is asking about health insurance.
Grace asks: "Did you have to have health insurance
as a student in the United States and how do you get
that insurance?"
Elizabeth, can I ask you that question?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: Health insurance in the United States
is a big topic and it is important and required for
all international students to have health insurance.
Universities handle this differently,
and for Western, we have a health insurance coordinator
in our office that meets with students and we have
selective plans that they can choose from that meet
all of their requirements.
We also follow up with students that don't
currently have insurance.
And our coordinator is even kind enough to fight some of
those battles about insurance claims;
she'll call up the insurance companies on behalf of the
student in certain scenarios to help with
bills and things like that.
So it is a complicated process,
but it is something where the staff here are able to
help you navigate that.
We also have, you know, resources on campus about
the health centers and the information and availability
to make appointments there at a better rate that is
covered with your insurance.
Some universities automatically enroll them
in a standard plan, unless you produce otherwise,
so keep that in mind as well when you're looking
towards that.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you very much, Elizabeth.
And, Nasheba, would you like to add something
from your experience?
Was that how it worked for you?
NASHEBA ALEXANDER: Health insurance at
Howard University is very easy.
Once you're enrolled and you're registered
for that semester or that academic year, you're
automatically enrolled in an insurance plan.
And you have to do your flu shots and health screening
every year.
Once you go to that health center,
they make sure your plan is active,
and that lasts throughout the entire year,
and then it starts to refresh again for the
following year.
I literally don't have to do anything but make sure that
I'm active and that I can get my service when I go to
the hospital.
ALFRED BOLL: Excellent, thank you.
Thank you.
So a few of our viewers are asking about budgeting and
spending money.
They ask: "How did you approach that during your
time as a student, and can you work on campus?"
Ahoud, can I ask you that?
How have you approached planning spending?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Okay.
I'm not really good with spending.
[LAUGHTER]
I mean, I'm good with spending but -
[LAUGHTER]
- there is so many opportunities to work
on campus and I really recommend to students if you
can work on the campus, just go for it 'cause it will
give you a good experience, not just the money,
but it will give you work experience.
You can just put it in your CV and résumé and it will
really help you.
Some people also can work outside depending on their
visa, but F-1 student visa we're not allowed to work
outside the campus, so there is so much opportunity for
us to work inside the campus or to get internship paid
or non-paid internship.
As I said, it's important to manage the money,
especially if you're depending on yourself for
getting your money, it's so important every month
to have a plan for you, like, okay,
this is how I should spend money on food,
this is how much I should spend on electricity and all
that thing, especially in the winter when the heater
is so expensive.
[LAUGHTER]
You want to save good money for that.
So yeah, it depends on every person how much they spend
for their stuff they have to get, for bills,
and if they can find a job in the United States,
that would be great - that will support them
financially and it will give them a good experience.
ALFRED BOLL: Okay. Thank you very much.
Russel, let me ask you because you now you're
actually working on campus after graduating.
Did you work while you were studying?
RUSSEL KARIM: Yes.
So I think working on campus, as Ahoud mentioned,
it's not just you work for money but the experience
you get, the real life experience working on
campus, working on a job, the skills you learn I think
that is like huge value.
So I actually had multiple jobs at the same time
on campus.
I was working as an IT technician,
I worked as IT technician for the university for three
and a half years during my college.
I also worked at the Gallagher Blue Dorm for the
performance arts center.
So you get to work in different things and learn
different things, and I think one thing for my
professional success after college was the experience
I have received throughout my college.
Like, you know, I worked as an IT technician for three
and half years, that helped me to secure a job after I
graduated on campus as a programmer analyst
for the university.
Even throughout my university life,
those kind of experiences helped me to get
valuable internship.
I did two internship in two really amazing companies,
so it is really helpful - helped me in my
professional career.
ALFRED BOLL: Fantastic.
Nasheba, I think you want to add that you had an
experience working?
NASHEBA WILLIAMS: Yes.
I think if you can work on campus,
especially in that first year,
do it because I've worked as a Resident Assistant,
so that meant my housing was covered,
and I didn't have to worry about housing.
I also worked in the Office of Career Services as an
intern, so when recruiters started coming in,
I get to meet them, so right there you're networking,
you're building.
So I think you can work, but be mindful of your visa
status and most of us as international students are
not eligible for FAFSA, so if you are considering to
work, contact Student Employment early, you know,
can you apply for [INAUDIBLE],
do that early because it goes by really quick.
Don't wait until you get to campus to start looking for
on-campus jobs.
Do it before.
Put your name in and even if you don't get it,
go to an office or something that you want to work in
and volunteer.
That's how I got my job with the Office of Career Services,
because you need that experience here.
ALFRED BOLL: So volunteering is also a fantastic
opportunity; be very careful about the rules,
budget carefully - very strong messages
from all of you.
Thank you.
We have a specific question about - for you,
in Michigan, Ahoud, which is: "How did you cope with
the cold weather in Michigan?"
[LAUGHTER]
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: So I came to Michigan in the worst
winter ever - 2014.
[LAUGHTER]
So, yeah, when I first came, it was storm the first week
of January; the class was cancelled;
the orientation was cancelled as well,
and I called my mother, I called my family - I was so
scared that I'm in the wrong place.
[LAUGHTER]
So, yeah, I was crying - it was cold,
'cause I came from very dry, hot weather to a very cold,
snowing, and the snow was more than three inches,
and I can't walk outside.
But by the time I get used to it and I feel like it
just about time and it's good to prepare yourself.
Like, when I asked student how is the weather in
Michigan, they told me it's snowing,
but I saw the picture - "Oh," I said,
"It will not be that snow.
I will just have my jacket with me and that's it.
I will be fine."
But I wasn't fine, actually.
So I recommend new student who are coming anywhere in
Michigan for the spring, please.
If you don't have boots or gloves or jackets,
prepare yourself to buy from here - there are so many
stores you can get from here, but, yeah,
so you have to know the winter is kind of hard here,
but by the time it's - Michigan have
a very nice environment.
Like, you can see different seasons.
I can tell this is winter; this is summer,
so I love getting experience with the four
different seasons.
So as I said, it's just about time when you get
yourself ready for it - prepare yourself well,
get the cold shock as soon as you can,
and you will be fine, and it's just about time.
ALFRED BOLL: That's a great message.
The seasons can be beautiful things.
All parts of the country are very different and beautiful
in their own way.
Thank you, that's a lovely answer.
So we have a question from [INAUDIBLE], from Cairo,
who wants to know: "How do U.S. universities
ensure the safety of students on campus?"
Elizabeth, could we start with you?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: Yeah, and I'll even feed into the
winter concerns.
On campus, they take that very seriously - the weather
conditions - and so there are different modes of
transportation, public safety and grounds keeping
are keeping the campus safe, getting rid of any ice.
Our campus is also a little bit designed with winters
in mind, so a lot of the buildings do connect,
which means very limited time outside.
Further, and to go full detail,
there is a fully-staffed public safety that also
operates in the Kalamazoo area,
and most universities have a campus safety;
most universities have those blue light call boxes that
you can contact if you have a concern and during our
orientation we have a police officer come in and even
tell students, like, no question or no concern
is too small for those blue lights.
Don't be afraid to use them.
And they also have a lot of universities have
afterhours, if you don't wanna walk alone;
you're able to contact services to walk with you
from building to building, or to your home.
So it's very accessible.
They encourage you from day one to get those alerts
from Campus Safety and weather updates,
and things of that nature, so you're very well
connected and comfortable on campus.
ALFRED BOLL: That's fantastic.
I know that safety and security are certainly one
of the things that U.S. universities think about
most and absolutely prioritize.
Bashar, from Pakistan, is asking about "leadership
programs or internships available on campus."
Nasheba, I know you participated in
several internships.
Can you tell us a little bit about your experience?
NASHEBA WILLIAMS: My internship was great.
My experience was great.
I think, first, you should start with what exactly you want to
achieve from that internship and what are you
going to do after that?
So get involved in internships that really
build you a step further in your career.
So I had a lot of internships.
I had internships - most of them were in clinical
settings, like hospital, Kennedy Krieger,
Bridgepoint also did community.
And a part of one internship was a research one,
so you actually conduct research.
I know I'm into the clinical field on research,
so that really helped me.
But in terms of internship, networking; network,
network, network; share your interests;
share what you wanna do with your professors and your
advisors, and they will plug into that right spot,
so to say, so you get and maximize that internship.
ALFRED BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you very much.
We have Maimona, in Peshawar,
who is asking: "What kinds of platforms are there for
getting information and guidance on U.S.
higher education?"
And, of course, Education USA is one of them.
Did you all have contact with schools directly
or how else did you approach that, Russel?
RUSSEL KARIM: So I actually directly contacted
Education USA.
Actually, I had amazing experience with the American
Center in Bangladesh.
So they actually have a counselor.
There, you can actually make appointments - schedule
appointment with them - meet with them.
Plus, the resources that they have available at the
American Center - they had all those education fairs,
so the other countries - the university from the U.S.,
they'll come in and present their university,
so you get also directly connect with those
universities as well.
So I actually - that's how exactly I came into the
U.S.; I met an amazing counselor from northern Iowa
who happened to visit in Bangladesh and met her there
and contacted them.
But I think a lot of prospective students,
they can try multiple university.
Before I came in, I applied six university in the U.S.,
so I was actually continuously communicating
with them, looking into my options in terms of
scholarship, in terms of environment.
I chose to go to northern Iowa because of the Midwest
and the environment, and the Iowans are nice.
So I think there's a lot of opportunities in the
American Center.
I totally encourage them to work directly with the
American Center in different countries that prospective
students are.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you so much.
I appreciate that perspective,
and it sounds like you really did your research and
that you knew how to go about looking for the
right place.
So, unfortunately, we are almost out of time.
I would like to ask each one of you to share a final
thought for our viewers.
Elizabeth, could we start with you?
ELIZABETH SHAFFER: Well, first of all,
it's been a pleasure to participate in this and one
of my final thoughts is just emphasizing the engagement
and maximizing your opportunity once you do
arrive on campus here.
Don't be afraid to reach out to friends from
your country, American students,
the campus resources that you have available - you're
gonna make memories for a lifetime from your
professional, academic and personal life.
So it's a lot to look to forward to and
a lot to research.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you, Elizabeth,
that's exactly right.
Ahoud, can I ask you?
AHOUD AL MUQARSHI: Yeah.
Thank you for having us here today.
And for the new international students
who are excited to come to the United States or to
participate in the study abroad programs,
don't feel afraid to come and try it.
It's so interesting to learn new things about
new culture.
And American culture it's so - there's so much thing to
learn about.
And even if you came here and you get engaged to the
American culture, just don't lose your own culture;
just try to combine between them or stay with both
culture, respect other cultures,
also make you like in a good situation,
and people here love talking about the other culture;
they love asking where do you came from, like,
what is the life is like there,
so be prepared to answer all those questions.
And it's so interesting to get out of your comfortable
zone, try something new, learn a new language
- it's very good for you.
ALFRED BOLL: That's very good advice.
Thank you very much, Ahoud.
Nasheba?
NASHEBA WILLIAMS: Thank you for this opportunity.
And I would say to everybody in Grenada, please research,
contact me if you can.
This is a great opportunity.
If you're interested, you know, come to the U.S.
and study or anywhere else, just for the experience
on higher education.
And one thing I wanna add is that keep your uniqueness
because it adds to the diversity wherever you go.
So keep that and just keep pushing.
ALFRED BOLL: So you've brought a little bit of
Grenada with you wherever you go?
NASHEBA WILLIAMS: Oh, yes.
A little bit of spice wherever I go.
[LAUGHTER]
ALFRED BOLL: Excellent.
Beautiful, beautiful Caribbean representative.
That's fantastic.
That enriches us.
NASHEBA WILLIAMS: Yes, thank you.
ALFRED BOLL: Thank you so much.
That's a great perspective.
Russel?
RUSSEL KARIM: I think for me,
you know education in the U.S.
- American education absolutely paved my personal
and professional life after graduation.
I think there is so much opportunities for students
or international students, prospective students in the
U.S. that sets this kind of education are different
from any other country.
So if anybody have the opportunity,
I absolutely recommend them to pursue education in the
U.S., and I think American Center is definitely the
best place to reach out and work with them.
Thanks for having us today.
We really appreciate it.
ALFRED BOLL: Well, thank you for that promotion of
Education USA.
We appreciate it and appreciate your perspective.
Thank you all.
Thank you for joining us today.
And, of course, a special thanks to our guests
Elizabeth, Ahoud, Nasheba and Russel.
A very special thanks to our viewing groups joining us
around the world, and especially those at Education
USA Uganda, the American Corner in Pristina, Kosovo,
Education USA Qatar, Education USA Colombia,
Education USA Kinshasa
in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
the Colonel John C. Robinson American Center
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
the American Corner in Gitega, Burundi,
Education USA Nicaragua, the BNC Centro Cultural
Nicaragüense Norteamericano in Nicaragua.
You can find more information about studying
in the United States by visiting the Education USA
website at www.educationusa.state.gov,
there you can find information on the five steps
to U.S. study, locate an Education USA center
in your country;
one of 436 around the world currently,
connect with us via social media;
learn about both in-person and virtual upcoming events;
research financial aid opportunities,
and much more.
Thank you and please join us for future Education USA
interactive web chats.
Goodbye from Washington.
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