A Few Things I Wish I Knew Earlier As An International Student

The definition of excellence in education is tricky and varies a lot among different cultures--even person to person. The following are a few things I wish I knew earlier as an international student in Michigan.

Lecture and Office Hours:

A lecture is an informational presentation given by a professor or graduate student instructor (GSI) in class, but it’s more complex than that simple definition. While professors want students to know the material of the class well, they also want students to pursue answers to questions rather than relying solely on what they say in class. In the US, students are expected to truly get involved in the lecture; for instance, by asking quick questions, confirming one’s understandings, or even talking about some ad hoc ideas for a potential research topic. This might differ from cultures where the professor is considered the sole authority and questions are taken more as interruptions than participation and engagement. Moreover, the loose academic hierarchy also carries over into office hours, talks, and seminars. For international students, starting off attending office hours may be a little tough, especially given that one-on-one conversations require a ton of preparation and prompt responses (for those who's first language isn't English). At the same time, attending office hours can present you with tremendous opportunities, since the interaction promotes mutual understanding between students and professors and conversations often lead to topics beyond the class like research opportunities. This is not uncommon even in basic classes, and professors are always looking for students who are truly enthusiastic and invested in their  academics. Therefore, don’t hide your potential by being silent always!

More to checkout:

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU); grader positions in departments; tons of super cool study abroad programs by CGIS (with timespan varying from a few days to the whole academic year)

Group Activities on Campus:

As a newcomer to U-M, international students can make life much easier for themselves by staying with people who share their similar culture. This, however, can make life boring and doesn't take advantage of studying in the U.S. Don't trap your experience in a tiny area and characterize your American experience only by taking classes in English. There are many extracurricular activities to check out, especially group activities to enrich your life in Michigan. I keep urging people to attend the upcoming Northfest and Festifall at the beginning of September. You’ll find numerous organizations and clubs on campus and can even pick up a new hobby. I was really into swing dancing last year. This was a club where men and women hung out and danced on Wednesday nights--it was organized but still relaxed. I also have an everlasting love for the men’s rowing team! Step out of your comfort zone and maximize your quality of life as much as possible!

Other activities  to checkout:

CCRB adventure activities; Umich club sports; ELI English Conversation; Umich Ginsberg Community Service

Information Overload and Filters:

Like many international students, my life became entirely overwhelmed by emails after coming to the US, and it took me quite a while to get used to it. It took two seconds to register for emails from the organizations I was potentially interested in, but two years to make the decision to drop off. Especially on Monday mornings, be prepared to get smashed by emails. For those who are involved in everything, you will probably be on the mailing list of hundreds of organizations from your department’s weekly newsletter to Stubhub. This information overload can be exhausting and distract you from your daily routine. This situation is the opposite extreme of staying in a closed community--you’re too involved! Too many choices can lead to information overload, and it’s important to learn to filter information with efficiency. 

Helpful resources to balance information overload:

Google Calendar for staying organized and keeping track of events; Umich Career center can help you navigate the choices you need to make about what to do after graduating

Written by JinCheng Wang
International Orientation Peer Advisor
Undergraduate Student
China
Courtesy to Kate Guichelaar for Review