Q&A: The International Student Experience at Boston University
When I chose to come to Boston University nearly two years ago, I was excited by the possibility of making new friends from around the world. Though I only have to travel a few hours away from home, 22 percent of the student body at BU comes from abroad. Being in such an international community has given me the tools to understand new perspectives and make connections that I would otherwise never have made.
Choosing what college to attend is difficult, and it’s even more difficult if you are choosing a college that is not in your home country. I interviewed a few of my peers about how they decided to attend college in the United States and their experiences at Boston University. If you are in the process of looking at colleges now, I hope that their unique perspectives can help you consider your values and what you may want out of your college experience.
Isabel
Hometown: Zürich, Switzerland
Major: Economics & Mathematics Combined Major
Campus Involvement: Women’s Rowing Team, BU Environmental Student Organization, Delta Sigma Pi Professional Fraternity, Board of International School Ambassadors
Sofia
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Major: Dual Degree in Advertising and Psychology
Campus Involvement: Alianza Latina, International Student Organization, writer for COMmunicator website, research assistant for the BU Brain and Early Experiences Lab
Angela
Hometown: Born in Englewood, New Jersey, lived in the Washington D.C. area briefly, and grew up in Jeonju, South Korea
Major: International Relations
Campus Involvement: BarMUN XIII Chief Information Officer, International Relations Review Layout Editor, Boston University International Affairs Association, Boston University Quidditch Team, Intramural Volleyball
How did you begin your college search process, and how did you end up deciding to come to Boston University?
Isabel: I began my college search process actually with some college tours while I was visiting the US. My next step was [attending] international college fairs in my school and in my city in Switzerland. I picked BU because of its great location in the city, and I knew that I wanted to be in Boston because I wouldn’t be too far from Europe. Everything on the west coast felt so far away. I liked how BU was so international, and they had a major that allowed me to combine my interest in economics and math. In the end, I also was lucky to get a scholarship, so that also helped my decision.
Sofia: First, I knew that I didn’t really want to go to college in Panama. For a while, I knew I wanted to go outside, so I was between the US, Canada, and England. I started researching what the best universities for communications were. I went to visit BU, and I toured the school. After I got my acceptance, I still wasn’t too sure of what I wanted to [study], so I like that BU had a lot of flexibility in terms of changing your major and the possibility of doing a dual degree. I also liked that there was a pretty international student population because, for my whole life, I went to an international school. Having that diversity was a super important factor for me.
Angela: My childhood foundation was from the US since I was born here. I lived here until 2007, and then after that, I moved to Korea. With the sudden change of environment, I was really hurt by Korean society at times because I identified myself only as American when I was young. I had this really strong dream that I had to go back home [to go to school]. I was looking in D.C., New York, and Boston, and I was looking at city schools. I do not have a distinct moment where I pinpointed BU and decided to apply ED, but the more I researched, it felt like me, it felt like home.
What has been your greatest challenge so far with attending college in the US?
Isabel: [My greatest challenge] was probably sickness during my first year. It was hard because it was my first time living away from home, and my family felt really far away. BU has really great [Student Health Services], and my new friends were really great in supporting me.
Sofía: I feel like the main difficulties were learning in a different country and finding a community in a place where I didn’t really know anyone. That’s where the clubs, like Alianza Latina, played a big role. That’s where I met most of my friends. Now with COVID, [some of my new challenges have been] getting used to attending school remotely from another country. Also dealing with the fact that all of my things are in Boston and figuring out when I’m going to go back.
Angela: There was a certain cultural difference [that I noticed]. I had the American childhood experience, but if you go through middle school or high school [in the US], dating culture is very different here. Korea is a conservative country, so if you have a boyfriend, you are expected to have a long-term relationship. The dating culture here was so foreign to me. I’m not saying it’s weird, but it’s a different environment. In terms of COVID, the thing for me is missing home, which is Korea. It’s almost been a year since I’ve been home. I miss home. I miss my family.
What have you learned about yourself since coming to BU?
Isabel: I think I learned that I definitely need to make time for rest. It’s really easy to get sucked up in all of the exciting stuff going on. Living on my own, it’s been really important to make time to get good sleep, to rest, and to make time for mental health.
Sofía: In a way, I’ve learned to appreciate where I come from more. Being away from my country for a long period of time, made me appreciate it more. Figuring out ways to bring my culture with me to the United States was an important [learning experience] for me. I think I also learned that I can be independent. Going to BU was a really great opportunity for me to work on being more open, talking to more people, and taking advantage of the opportunities of studying abroad.
Angela: In high school, I was a student-athlete. I played 3 sports for 3.5 years, so all my life was just sports and academics. When coming to BU, I thought I needed to carry on playing sports because it was a part of my identity as people associated me with sports, but I realized that I physically need sports. I use my energy in a physical way, and then, I come back home or to the library, sit down, and focus on [my school work].
What is your favorite thing about being a Boston University student?
Isabel: My favorite thing about being a Boston University student is being a part of the community. All of the students you meet here are so kind. Equally as important, [Boston University students] are so engaged in whatever it is they are working on or what they are interested in at that point in time. Everyone you meet is passionate about something.
Sofía: I really just like how many opportunities we get as BU students. I never thought that I would be volunteering in a research lab, for example. Being a part of something greater and being in such an important city is one of my favorite parts.
Angela: [At BU], you have the privilege of being in the city. I really like the busy vibe here. There are so many students, and they all have their own jobs. I look and see people running around. I think, “That person is busy, so I should be busy too;” it motivates me. A lot of people say that BU is too big, or that you might get lost. But because it’s big, there are so many people. Because there are so many people, you can find the thing you genuinely like. You can find the same people with the same interests and the same personality. That’s why there are so many clubs and programs. If you just look around, you will find your own people.
What advice would you give to students who are looking to come to the US to go to school?
Isabel: I would say my best piece of advice is to look into [colleges] and try to identify what you want from a school. While you are looking, you should know what you are looking for. The thing I struggled with is that every school has awesome things about it, but if you don’t know what you want, it can be kinda hard to differentiate between all of these awesome things.
Sofía: My advice would be to really work hard in high school. I think that definitely played a large role in me coming to the US and being prepared for that. Then, once you’re there, [you should] really take advantage of the opportunities your university offers you. You are there for a limited amount of time, so take advantage of your time there.
Angela: The overall vibe that BU gave me was passionate, lively, vibrant, outgoing, and driven. If you feel like any of those five things, then you should [look at] BU. With American colleges in general, if you feel confident that you are going to do well and you picture yourself as being successful, you should go for it. It’s your own life. Your parents, your culture, and your society are not living your life for you. It’s your life. If you feel like this is your path, go for it.
Bridgette Lang is an undergraduate student studying International Relations at Boston University. On campus, she helps run a collegiate Model United Nations Conference and manages finances for BU College Democrats. In her free time, Bridgette enjoys traveling, trying to learn Spanish, and visiting with her friends and family back home in Pennsylvania.