Life in the USA

Cash or Credit? Credit Card Culture in the USA

Regardless of your background, it’s important to learn how credit works in the United States so that you can use it responsibly while studying abroad.

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Tips for planning a winter break vacation

You’ve been plugged in all semester – research papers, emails to professors and collaborations on class projects. It’s time to rest your brain! Try to keep distractions to a minimum while you’re on vacation and be sure you get some proper time away from it all. Resist the urge to use your downtime checking emails or surfing social media too much. Staying in the moment will help you make lasting memories while you’re away and ensure you come back home feeling refreshed. 

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Studying Abroad: Expectations vs. Reality

Without any doubt, choosing the right university and degree is one of the most crucial moments in every student's life. After all, your entire future depends on what you decide to do during this period. We have observed a multitude of trends when it comes to education, and studying abroad is one of them. The concept is highly fantasized for various reasons and rightfully so. Every individual leaves their home country with a set of expectations about the new journey. Here are a few expectations that everyone has in mind when it comes to studying abroad.

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Tips to Ease College Stress

Sometimes the most stressful part of school is not having a plan or enough time to actually de-stress. Fortunately, there are effective plans to help you de-stress while in college and they should be “do-able” in the time you have available. Here are some ideas:

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Bathroom Hacks for Your Dorm Room

Communal bathrooms are a time-honored tradition for students on university campuses. Whether you’re planning to live in a residence hall or a suite, it’s likely that you’ll be sharing the shower area with some of your fellow students. While the first few trips to those community bathrooms can be a little stressful, having the right essentials will make things much easier

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Striking a Balance Between Academics and Social Life

One of the most challenging aspects of the college experience is striking the right balance between your studies and social life. Properly managing your time allows you to get the most out of studying in the United States, focusing on academics when necessary, while also providing breaks to refresh and recharge with new friends. Learning to balance work and play is also a valuable skill that you will need long after you earn your degree. Here are some helpful tips for a successful year:

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Don’t Head To Campus Without These 16 Things

If you’ve ever been stranded on campus without your wallet or an umbrella, you know how inconvenient that can be. You wake up in the morning thinking you don’t have a thing to worry about, when in reality, it’s going to pour down rain between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when classes are in full swing (and you have a pretty long walk).

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Having A Studious Roommate May Raise Your Grades

“Choose your friends wisely” may not only be good parental advice, but also a way to do better in college, a research study finds.

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Better to Study Alone or in a Group?

It’s a long-debated topic: Is group studying more effective than studying alone?

We’ve all experienced getting together with classmates to study for an upcoming exam and spending the entire time gossiping, talking or joking around. You leave the group without accomplishing anything to get you ready for your exam.

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To Eat and Run: What is American Food?

People who come to the United States for the first time think that fast-food defines American food. However, fast-food is only part of American food culture.

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Jane Sun Travel From Student to CEO

China’s Great Wall. Australia’s remote Outback. Italy’s ancient ruins. 

From her perch atop the global travel industry, Jane Sun, CEO of CTrip, Asia’s largest online travel agency, connects people with the best destinations the world has to offer. She even quotes Confucius when explaining how cultural experiences can bridge divides, strengthen industries and create peace.

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Arren Romeril, from Ontario, Canada, is studying Business Administration at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri.

I decided to study in the USA because of the wide variety of business jobs and careers. I had the opportunity to play college hockey and I wanted to take advantage of the amazing academic system that there is here in the USA. 

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Tips to Make Your Space Eco-Friendly

Making your apartment feel like home is more than getting all your clothes in your closet. If sustainability is important to you, making your new home more eco-friendly is an easy way to make you feel at ease in your space. Setting up an apartment that reduces your carbon footprint is easier than you might think! Get started with these tips as you make your space a little greener: 

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How to Stay Motivated Through the Semester

Many students make promises to themselves that they hope to keep. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution to practice healthier habits or good intentions at the beginning of the semester to get straight A’s in your classes, a fresh start can happen any time you set your mind to it. Use these tips to help you organize your thoughts and stay motivated to reach your goals.

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The Pros and Cons of Living Alone

It’s not that uncommon to live alone as an international student. A lot of my friends were able to get great deals by leasing apartments for four years, so they could have their own place for their whole time abroad. I realized that deep down we were both a little jealous of each other’s experience. Doesn’t living alone get lonely? Doesn’t having roommates get exhausting?

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Helena Brandileone from Brazil: Studying English in the Loyola University Loyola Intensive English Program

Helena Brandileone from Brazil holds a degree in Civil Engineering and is studying English in the Loyola University Loyola Intensive English Program (LIEP) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Networking as an International Student

Everyone says that getting a job, finding new opportunities, and growing professionally is all about “networking.” But, what exactly does that mean for us as international students?

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Staying Healthy in the Winter

As someone who was a complete mess the first two years of college, I can tell you from experience that winter is the worst time to get sick. Most likely though, that’s when your first time being sick by yourself would happen, and nothing makes you more homesick than feeling weak and wanting your parents to call the doctor for you.

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Tatiana from Russia: Studies English at ELS Language Centers, New York-Manhattan

English is an international language, and I think everybody needs to understand what a lot of people in the world speak. I want to improve my level of English, and then I can study another language. It’s interesting to understand people from another country, another culture, and to see a lot of new places and try to understand information.

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A Guide to Holiday Traditions in the U.S.

In the U.S., we refer to the months of November and December as “the holiday season” because of the major holidays celebrated from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.  The United States is a nation of many cultures that has adopted holiday customs from across the world, and we’ve developed a few of our own that stand out. Here’s a handy guide to those traditions for international students in the U.S.

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