A Guide for Visiting Students

Welcome Students! We are so excited to have you here with us this semester. To ensure that your experience runs as smoothly as possible, we have given a few guidelines to help you along the way.
What are some helpful guidelines for making new friends? Making new friends can be a very intimidating task, but don’t worry! We’re here to help. You may have noticed that most of our students here are from differing cultures. Please be mindful that people will have certain aspects of their culture that may not be the same as yours. Try to mirror their actions. Stay positive, keep an open mind and try to keep the conversation light. We want you all to develop lasting relationships with one another.
As you grow with one another just remember that these small communication barriers won’t last for long. Cultural differences can be challenging but also exciting. Try to use your differences to bring forth new experiences with your fellow classmates.
What are some communication guidelines that you need to know when speaking to and interacting with friends? When engaging with new friends try to be mindful of how you speak to them. Comedy can be seen as a great way to break the ice. Just remember that because of our differences jokes can be perceived in ways that were not intended. When bringing up topics of conversation, be sure to let the other person give their input. Reassure them that you’re listening by nodding and asking questions that pertain to the subject. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you don’t understand the current topic. This is a great way to show that you are interested in knowing about other people. Try not to be too hard on yourself. We are all learning and we want everyone to be as comfortable as possible.
How are the academics in the U.S. different from the rest of the world? How are they similar? Now that we’ve talked about our cultural differences, there should be no surprise that we would also have academic differences. You may find that in the U.S. that you have more focus on participation in the classroom. Instructors like to see their students interact with them. Ask questions, speak up in class discussions and try to participate in extracurricular activities. Showing your enthusiasm in class can make a difference in what you get from the classroom experience. We appreciate you choosing to spend your time with us. We hope that you are able to learn, laugh and grow with your fellow students.