A Day in the Life of an International Student in USA

Studying in USA is the top study destination for many students across the world. There are a host of reasons why, some of them are:

A great international reputation 

It is a known fact that the US boasts of some of the best universities in the world, constituting IVY leagues. Some of the top 10 universities in the US along with their QS World Rankings are: 

Cultural diversity

Almost all the universities in the US take diversity to be one of their defining pillars. The universities believe in keeping cultural diversity at its core and extending an environment that is welcoming and inclusive. 

On-campus or off-campus accommodations mostly comprise of students belonging to different nationalities, religions, and ethnicities, giving the students a chance to learn from each other. 

According to a report by Statista, the number of international students studying in USA on the basis of country of origin are in the following order: 

• China
• India
• South Korea
• Canada 
• Vietnam
• Taiwan
• Nigeria
• Japan
• Brazil
• Saudi Arabia
• Nepal
• Mexico
• Bangladesh
• Iran
• Pakistan 

This only goes to say that US witnesses students from various nations, making it a melting pot of cultural diversity in their institutions. If you plan to study in USA, this can be one of the leading factors. 

Optimized classroom experience 

With technology continuing to sore, and AI being included in various facets of education, universities in USA are rapidly adapting to advanced tech solutions, offering students the most development and enhanced ways of learning. Here are some ways to adjust to college life. 

Not just that as a student you can also opt for some of the most advanced and unconventional tech courses in the US, further enriching your profile. 

Some of the most high-tech institutions in the US are: 

• California Institute of Technology
• Massachusetts Institute of Technol
• Cornell University 
• Carnegie Mellon University 
• University of California, Los Angeles

But as a student in USA, how will your life be? Here’s a page from the personal diary of an international student in USA. 

Personal Diary- An International student life in USA

Hi! I am Neha , pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science specializing in Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University, California and I am from India. The course focuses on subjects like- machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing (NLPs). Professors here are leaders in their fields, thus making lectures extremely insightful and loaded with personal experiences. Here’s what a typical day looks like for me, here in the US. 

Mornings 

My day begins early. I live off campus in Palo Alto and I like starting my day with a run around the neighborhood, it helps me energize for the day ahead. Post-run, I make a quick breakfast, usually an omelet or a sandwich. And then it’s time to catch the Marguerite Shuttle to university. The shuttle is convenient and free for students. 

Attending classes on campus 

I try to reach the campus no later than 9 AM. My first class is usually at 9:45 am, so I use the extra time to review the notes and prepare ahead of time or even go to the library to issue some reference books. One thing you must know is that Stanford’s campus is always buzzing with activity, there is always something happening – be it cultural events, fests, and guest lectures. 

Classes mostly go on till 4 PM, with set breaks in between. Today, I attended a class on deep learning solutions led by practical lab sessions where we applied what we learned to actual data sets. The best part about studying in USA is that most theory classes are followed by practical learning. 

Lunch breaks 

Speaking of breaks, lunch is a highly social affair where many students- all my friends from different nationalities gather to eat at the cafeteria on campus that serves some of the most scrumptious meals. I meet all my friends during lunch- both local and international and we share how our day was or share stories from back home, exchange study tips or even plan our weekends- in and around the city. Today, we talked about the upcoming sports festival on campus and how we plan to take part in it. 

After studies and collaborations 

Post lunch, today, I spent some time working on group projects with my classmates and also attended a workshop on AI ethics led by an industry expert from Google AI. 

Evenings

I usually go home around 7 PM. For dinner, I cook along with my friends who live across the corridor. Cooking and eating together often reminds me of home and it’s always a great feeling to be surrounded by great company. After dinner, it’s time to work on completing assignments. On some days the workload is heavy, and staying on top of it requires constant reading. 

Leisure 

Before bed, I read a book or call my family back home. Since we are in different time zones, this is the best time to reach out to them. Studying here gives me enough time to focus on my studies and my well-being. While weekdays are jam-packed with studies, I have weekends to unwind and plan short trips nearby.

Reflecting on my time in the US 

As I jot down these thoughts in my diary and share it with you, I feel a mixed bag of emotions. Studying in USA has given me opportunities to learn academically and grow personally, but there are days when I feel homesick. However, I understand that this is a journey and each day will give me a chance to build a better future not just for myself but my family by excelling in my studies and securing a job in some of the leading companies headquartered in the country, such as- Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, IBM, and a number of others. 

Conclusion

Drawing from Neha’s personal outlook, it can be concluded that studying in USA gives international students holistic growth. With the country offering not just the best in education but the best in post-education work opportunities, students can practically envision themselves living in the USA even after completing their studies.