University of Michigan International Center

McKinsey Germany will be hosting an information session here on campus (Wolverine,  Michigan Union ) for German-speaking students with an interest in their firm. Stop by if interested. 

As a shopping lover, you might be an expert in shopping in your home country, but I’m sure you will need these tips and strategies to survive in the overwhelming shopping choices and stores in the US. Save for the most necessary ones. Here in Ann Arbor, first and foremost, you need to be well equipped for winter because winter is not far when fall comes. In order to survive in the five to six months’ winter time, you need to get your winter clothes ready. Winter clothes usually cost more than summer t-shirts, so be prepared to spend some good amount of money on your winter clothes to keep you warm and comfortable. Don’t buy too much when clothes are on sale before you make sure you really need them. Consider textbook as a part of your budget. Don’t expect you can deal with textbooks within a few bucks. However, there are still ways to save on textbook spending. I believe most of you know about Amazon, but how about Amazon Student Prime. Currently, Amazon has six-month membership ...

The weather in Ann Arbor is totally unpredictable and sometimes extreme; as Jeff Foxworthy once said, "If you've ever worn shorts and a parka on the same day -- you might be in Michigan." It could vary unexpectedly and in a very short span of time. Some days might start sunny, heavy rain for the afternoon (may be with thunderstorm warning) and might get too cold in the evening. Ann Arbor averages 45-50 inches of snow per winter season. We had our snowiest winter on record last year with 90.3 inches, but some years can have much less snow, on the order of 25-30 inches. Either way, it will be an experience if you’ve never seen one before. But winter can be fun and I can assure you no picture can do the beauty of a fresh snowfall justice. Now, as a college student, there is NO better time than Fall in Ann Arbor! The trees turning colors, apple cider, U of M football, the crisp weather- there is no time like it (Ann Arbor is a huge college town, as you may already know)...

As is expected of a university town, Ann Arbor is known for its diversity and vibrancy. One of the beautiful things about the city is how the University and the city are so intertwined that within the central and south campuses you are sometimes unaware of where one stops and the other begins. As a result of this diversity, night life in Ann Arbor is a varied experience, and depending on what your flavor of fun or penchant for relaxation is, you might have several options available to you to choose from. With its host of restaurants, bars, lounges, and clubs, Ann Arbor has a very active night life. If you’re like me and after a week of classes you enjoy relaxing with music, dancing, and games like billiards or darts, then the establishments below and a host of others can cater to your needs. Habana Located in the basement of the restaurant Lena, on the corner of Main and Liberty, Habana is one of my favorite night spots. Thursdays here is Salsa night, and the music is pre...

Fortunately, with a school the size of Michigan, there are countless number of on-campus resources that are available to support you, often at no additional cost to you! For instance, you probably know the International Center by now and how it can assist you. For me, one of my biggest challenges is developing a new friendship group after arriving in the U.S. The residence hall is a great place to make friends! If you live on campus, you will meet your resident advisor soon after moving into your residence hall. They will serve as an invaluable resource to you whether by answering your questions or by putting on events so you can get to know the people in your residence hall. I made solid friends by attending the first community dinner my RA hosted and the fun events they hosted throughout the year. In addition, exams can be very stressful since many tend to occur during the same week. If you ever feel down, stressed or overwhelmed. Don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the Counse...

      Living in Ann Arbor for two years now I do love the city even more. Being in a small college town surrounded by beautiful trees and vegetation and split apart by Huron River you feel enchanted by the calmness and serenity of the nature. However, the lively downtown area with its occasional fairs and festivals reminds you of crowded metropolitan lifestyle. However, I found one of my best hobbies neither in downtown nor in nature. I found it on roads!      As you can tell, Ann Arbor is a very bike friendly town, You can see dedicated bike lanes on most of the roads in town which makes it safe for cycling around the city. When I first got my bike I found it pretty easy to get everywhere in town. At scale of a city like Ann Arbor it is quite easy and fast to commute by bike. Moreover, there are very pretty roads to bike in and around the town that you can bike in couple of hours. Kind of a perfect plan for a weekend. Now I would like to ...

Everyone loves travel. “Travel” usually represents relaxation, excitement and happiness. Before we start our exploration, let’s get familiar with some super useful resources : 1.       International center website , without a doubt, this is one of the most helpful websites. From planning the trip to transportation to things to do in your destination, it has answers to almost all your questions. In addition, you can also find holiday programs such as Christmas international house , and thanksgiving from this website. 2.       Kayak and Priceline are good places to find cheap plane tickets and hotels, ah, for hotel, try AirBnB as well. 3.      Yelp and TripAdvisor are good at giving you recommendations for good places to visit and eat. 4.      Greyhound, Amtrak, Megabus and Airport Shuttle are convenient public transportations to get around Ann Arbor. 5.      Yo...

One conspicuous characteristic of the American classroom that I’ve come to acknowledge during my two terms at the U-M is the wide scope of freedom is given to students in the classroom. As an example, students commonly eat their breakfast and lunch during lectures. In South Korea where I received most of my education, students are not allowed to bring food except drinks in their classes. It is not because anyone says students shouldn’t but because it is a considered to be a courtesy towards instructors. However, here I have seen many students eating meals in classrooms. One day, I saw a girl eating a pack of blueberries, yoghurt and some bread for breakfast. My classmates also commonly brought sandwiches, burgers and salads for lunch. Although it was really awkward to start bringing my food into the classroom, I soon felt very comfortable and enjoyed the new freedom given to me as others. However, not all freedoms in the classroom made me comfortable as previously mentioned. I had ...

University of Michigan campus offers a variety of restaurants. From American diner to Japanese food and Italian cuisine to Cuban delicacies, we are spoilt for choices when it’s time to eat out. However, there is one thing that, for me at least, has always been a problem to enjoy all of these; money. I like to try everything! So, here are a few tips that may help spending less for eating out while still enjoying every bite of it! 1. FlockTAG picture credit : http://www.arbormoon.com/sites/default/files/flockTagCard.jpg FlockTAG is a card that stores “restaurant-points”. Everytime you eat at a restaurant, you get a point!* Most restaurants and cafes offer, collect 10 points, get the 11th free, while some offer, collect 5 points, get the 6th free (e.g., Bubble Island)! This is a great way to save up since you can choose when you want to use the free ones. So, what I usually do is, collect all the free points, keep using the FlockTAG, and redeem the free points when you are rea...

                   Ann Arbor is where every Wolverine’s heart belongs and as one of America’s best college towns, it offers so much to the students. Here is a short list of 10 things you must see/places to visit on campus to help you decide where to go! 1.      Nichols Arboretum When you get to Ann Arbor, visit the Arb as soon as possible! In the spring and summer seasons, you can enjoy the peony garden and the lilacs by the Geddes entrance; it looks beautiful and the aroma is magical. There are many trails you could follow, including one of the trails that goes by the Huron River. Go for a walk, a jog, or just enjoy the view. 2.      Fleetwood Diner and   Kiwanis Thrift Sale on Saturdays Though you could visit Fleetwood Diner any time you want (open 24 hours!), when paired up with Kiwanis Thrift Sale, your Saturday mornings will be awesome. Kiwanis Thrift Sales, as one of An...