University of Michigan International Center

If you are reading this, I will assume that you are an incoming student. Congratulations, you have made it to the best university! I recall me being at this stage, one year ago - lots of dreams, "assumptions," and confusion. So, I hope this article might help clear things up a little bit.  I was just as excited as you after being accepted into the U of M. As an engineering student from India, a rigorous undergraduate schooling only made me say, ‘Phew! I can have a much more relaxed school life in the US, finally!’ (What was I thinking?). I knew grad school would mean going through some hard classes, but what baffled me was the education system. I did not expect some grad courses to be as intense as a ton of homework assignments, midterm(s), finals and a course project! I don’t mean to scare you; it is completely doable with mental preparation and time management. My first semester was misery simply because I didn’t foresee what was about to come. This put me in so much...

Studying abroad is tough. Not only do we have to deal with challenging curricula, cultural differences, and language barriers, we may also frequently suffer from homesickness and self-doubt. Sometimes the pain can be too overwhelming that you feel you cannot take it any longer. That’s totally normal! You are not and will never be the only one who feels this way. What I want to let you know is that it’s always okay to be not okay. But it’s not okay to struggle along. Always be mindful and take good care of your mental status, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Nothing is more important than enjoying your life here at the University of Michigan. I remember myself going through a breakdown during my first semester. Trying to go over a mass of reading materials made me lack sleep for days. However, during the class, I still found it hard to keep pace with the professor. After class, I couldn’t help but feel the world was so doom and gloom. I kept questioning that since I had...

It is no secret that we need social connections to thrive in any kind of environment, and we all benefit from sharing experiences, knowledge and skills. As a student at university, it is no different: effective communication and developing interpersonal skills can take you a long way. In my experience, communication starts in the classroom. You can discuss subject matter and benefit from different perspectives, and even end up making some good friends along the way. The best part is that this relationship extends beyond the classroom. Student life is stressful, and sometimes you need to be reminded that you are not alone in the struggle. Every time I have faced an obstacle, like a difficult research problem or choosing between courses, I received very good advice from seniors in my program because they have done it all before. Unless you speak up, you will not realize that there may be someone who understands what you are going through. When it comes to professors and advisors...