University of Michigan International Center

For sure, Ann Arbor is a perfect place for living and studying. You will have one of the best universities and one of the best Christmas markets here at the time. However, University of Michigan can go beyond the nice town. With the help of Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS), you can learn new knowledge with new buddies in a new environment! Participating in the exchange program between University of Michigan and Sciences Po – Paris, I spent the past autumn in this beautiful, fashion, and historical city. Reading by the riverside of Seine, you will be able to feel the charm held this city. Truly, Paris, as a metropolitan, has heavy traffics and large population. It’s not as silent as that in Town. However, the gentle wind in evening should be enough to calm you done and get you ready for another busy day. The education here is a little bit different compared to that in Ann Arbor. For exchange students, most courses only have a two-hour lecture per week, to...

Germans love to eat Christmas cookies during the Holiday season. One of the most popular German Christmas cookies are Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars). These cookies are almost entirely made out of ground nuts (almonds or hazelnuts), which makes them a tasty and naturally gluten-free Christmas treat. Additionally, Zimtsterne are easy to make and their star-like shape topped with white frosting makes them a festive addition to your table. I translated an authentic German recipe for Zimtsterne (see below). You should definitely try these cookies out this Christmas season! Recipe for German Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars): · 3 egg whites · 250 g powdered sugar · 1 packet of vanilla sugar (can be omitted) · 3 drops of rum extract/flavor (can be omitted) · 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon · 400 g ground almonds or hazelnuts Beat the egg whites until they are stiff and then gradually add the powdered sugar (sugar should be sifted). Save two tab...

Growing up in Thailand, I have always associated November with Loi Krathong, also known as Festival of Lights. This festival happens during the 12th month of the Thai Lunar calendar which often falls in November. Although this festival has an ancient religious background, it has captivated the attention of many people regardless of their origin or beliefs that many foreigners would visit Thailand for this festival. Each year thousands of people gathered together to light the lanterns and floating krathongs. The krathongs are made of banana trunks, banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense sticks. There are many theories of why this practice originated, but the popular theory is related to the agricultural culture in Thailand. Since agriculture was crucial in people’s lives, rivers were also very important. Hence, these practices originated from the efforts to pay respect to the river goddess. It is also believed that people floated lanterns and krathongs to ask for forgiveness and le...

For past few months I was thinking to pen down my experience during this year's summers at Express Scripts as a Data Science intern in the Clinical Research and New Solutions division. After 3 months savoring the memories, I finally found some time to reflect back on what I learned and what I achieved in those 3 months. The internship experience as a whole was really rewarding especially since I got to work on the flagship clinical product named Advance Quality Management (AQM) to be launched in 2019 with an estimated $20 million in revenue. The predictive models I was building as part of the clinical solution had a potential to impact 400,000 patient lives suffering from diabetes and lipids conditions. The sheer impact of my work made me feel worthwhile and empowered at the same time responsible and accountable. It was the most rewarding experience as I was solely responsible for 4 of the 12 models for the clinical solution. Coming from a Chemistry and Scientific Computi...

“When you eat a fruit, think of the man who planted the tree” This is one of many common sayings about teachers passed from generation to generation in Vietnam. Vietnamese have had a long history of paying respect and gratitude to educators since a very long time ago. Every year on November 20, millions of people celebrate the National Teacher’s day to show their appreciation for the teachers, from current students, to alumni and parents. On this day, students and teachers are allowed to have a day-off. Instead of preparing for a day of class, they prepare and organize activities for the celebration. Types of activities vary depending on students’ interest and the annual theme. Most schools have performances, including singing, acting, traditional/contemporary dancing carried out by either teachers, students or famous performers who are former students of the schools. Some schools grant special rewards to teachers in respect of their contribution to education. Besides tho...

While international students, like other non-U.S. citizens, cannot vote in the midterm elections on November 6th, you can participate in other ways. You can talk to members of the campus community who are eligible to vote and learn about issues that affect higher education in general and international students in particular. Many campus conversations will touch on the election this fall, so learning about the issues, the candidates, and the outcomes offers you an opportunity to connect with others on campus and deepen your understanding of U.S. culture and politics. The University of Michigan International Center and English Language Institute have a few ideas for ways that international students can get engaged in this electoral season: Educate Yourself: Learn about the U.S. election systems, the purpose of the midterm elections, and why voting is a fundamental part of the U.S. democracy. Be Curious: Ask your American classmates and friends about their views on the candid...

While orientation is over and classes have started, events and programs put on by the International Center will continue on into the school year. While your main focus might be on classes and school work, balancing work with social activities is an important aspect of mental health, meeting new people, and making the most of your time at the University of Michigan. This blog is meant to highlight some of the fun social and cultural events hosted by the International Center. A full list of events can be found on our website calendar . We also promote our events on Facebook, so make sure to like our page ! FEATURED EVENTS International Picnic   Saturday, September 9 | Noon-2pm This event is one of the most popular among international students, scholars, and family members. Come to Island Park , one of many beautiful parks in Ann Arbor not far from campus, where we can play games and enjoy the outdoors. Food and drinks will be provided, so come by yourself to meet new friend...

A common worry of college students is finding a job after graduation or finding an internship during super long summer break. Career fairs connect college students and companies; however, it’s definitely not an easy thing. During my sophomore year, I attended the Engineering Career Fair for the first time. I still remember that my resume was almost like a blank page and I didn’t know what I should talk about when facing employers. Now, as a senior student, I have gained more experience and I am going to share with you some tips on attending career fairs. Feel free to comment and share your own thoughts with me too! I have only had experience with the Engineering Career Fair, which might be different from other career fairs on campus. Before the career fair 1. Make sure your resume stands out A resume is a snapshot of your entire professional life. In order to leave a good impression on hiring managers, your resume should show that you are the best fit for the position. If y...

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 h...

During July 29 to August 3, I had my memorable first conference trip to Vancouver, Canada. The Joint Statistical Meeting (JSM) is the largest annual statistical conference in the North American, with over 6500 people attending from all over the world. Before arriving at JSM, I made four goals for this conference trip: find inspiration from talks related to my thesis work go to talks for personal interest reunite with old friends from college who also attend the meeting explore Vancouver area In order to achieve these goals, I made a detailed plan. Here are seven tips that made my conference experience a success for me and, hopefully, for you too! 1. Register for the conference, book the flight, and apply for the Rackham Graduate School travel grant Each academic year, Rackham Graduate School provides one travel grant for each graduate student, both masters and PhD level. Details can be found here . For large conferences like JSM, early bird flight and hotel booking can ensure...