Hoa Thuy Quynh Nhu Nguyen from Vietnam: Studying Media Studies and Production Temple University in Philadelphia

Why did you decide to study in the USA?

At the end of my first semester in my senior year in high school, my family, especially my grandmother, suggested I go to college in the United Stated. I thought about my favorite major, things I wanted to do, and who I wanted to become. Finally, I took the chance.

Why did you choose Temple University?

When preparing my university application, I did a lot of research about my major. My friends and classmates also recommended I look at several colleges and universities, but I did not like them. Temple University came up when I was Googling around.

Temple’s site was very user-friendly, organized, appealing, and explicit. More importantly, I figured out that Media Studies and Production major at Temple was in the top 25 in the U.S., and Philadelphia was one of the four biggest markets of Media and Communication Studies.

What do you like best?

Definitely the diversity. I can choose my classes, arrange my time-table, drop, and register for courses in a very flexible way. Not to mention, at Temple, I have a lot of opportunities to interact with people from different backgrounds, such as international and American students from all over the world, professors with different points of views, and people from a variety of races and ethnicities.

What do you miss most?

I really miss my big three-generation family. I miss my best friends, as well. My friends and I used to plan a whole bunch of things that we could do altogether. Not to mention, I miss my authentic Vietnamese food, street food, and all those home cooked meals.

What was your biggest surprise?

The speed of things. I always wonder why people in Philadelphia and everything here are moving so fast.

... your biggest disappointment?

Fortunately, I have not figured it out yet!

How have you handled:

... language differences?

I have handled the languages differences through five main steps: studying hard, communicating and asking questions, Googling, taking notes, and memorizing them.

... finances?

My grandmother and my family support me. Additionally, when I was accepted at Temple, I was offered a little Merrit support.

... adjusting to a different educational system?

I spent a year at Temple Intensive English Learning Program (IELP) and had many good professors. They helped with my analytical writing and reading, as well as speaking and listening. Everything that I was taught in IELP significantly helped me study more efficiently in university. For example, I learned how to use different kinds of professional formats (APA, MLA, etc.), how to do presentations properly, and how to overcome public speaking.

What are your activities?

When I was in Temple IELP, I went on one-day trips to Ocean City, Washington D.C., New York, and many other museums and places, which were organized by the program. Right now, I am joing TemPAL, a mentor-like program for international students.

How easy or difficult was making friends?

I cannot say exactly if making friends in the USA is easy or not because it depends on a lot of factors, such as our own personalities, the people that we meet, and the situation of the meeting. In general, most of the people in the USA are very friendly.

How relevant is your U.S. education to your personal goals and to the needs of your country? 

I want to be a TV producer who works behind the scenes of TV shows and takes the control of the broadcasting technology. In my country, there is a big demand on professionals in social media production and advertising field. The workforce is looking for people who are trained and prepared with knowledge and skills in the right tracks.

Education in the U.S. plays a very important role in my personal goals, because it provides me a wide range of academic materials, which are not available in Vietnam. I can take advantage of all advanced technologies and equipment provided for my major. Studying in America helps me grow not only as a more knowledgeable and confident person, but it also helps me to fix, improve, and develop my perspectives in every aspect of life.

What is your advice to other students who are considering a U.S. education?

Be determined, prepared, take the chance, and do not hesitate. If you do not know where to go yet, Temple University is my recommendation.