Attending a US College as an International Student

Squatting down in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts logo at JFK International Airport to take a photo was my first taste of the United States. In the summer of 2019, I was one of thirty Welsh students attending a summer school at Yale University. It was the beginning of a journey of personal and academic growth that gave me a better understanding of the United States, my nationality, my desires, and set off a sequence of events that concluded with applying to and attending the University of Chicago.

What immediately sold an undergraduate degree in the US to me was its sheer fluidity and freedom. Taking full advantage of the core curriculum here at the University of Chicago, I was able to take a plethora of classes across a multitude of departments, selecting courses from chemistry, biology, microeconomics, to the analysis and criticism of western music. This sort of flexibility, while common in the US, is lacking in the United Kingdom, where students choose their “specialization” when applying to universities.

While initially believing that I did not fit into my college community, I have since come to learn that international students provide so much to the college experience. International students are incredibly important to the college community, for it provides opportunities for unique cross-cultural experiences, but this is hard to remember when you constantly have to repeat what you say because of your accent. Although this would frustrate me, it was balanced out by the compliments and attention I received for having a “nice-sounding” British accent and speaking in the Welsh language.

At first, I was upset at the cultural differences; I felt as though it was a barrier to forming friendships with domestic students. However, it is these newfound differences that allow domestic and international students to freely exchange experiences and form friendships through this. I have also come to enjoy my connection with other international students, because I also benefit from this exchange of experiences, however, we strengthen our bonds through the common feeling of what it’s like to be an international student.

All in all, allowing myself to pursue my education abroad allowed for immense personal development. Studying at a US college gave me the chance to expand my global network and gain a global perspective as well as new experiences with different cultures that I might not have experienced otherwise. My experience with different cultural dynamics in the classroom was matched with the different experiences of life outside of the classroom. International students like myself are constantly met with the views of individuals with all different backgrounds. Interaction with these individuals gives the opportunity to consider different viewpoints I may not have been exposed to otherwise.

By Donte Day