Student Union
Top 10 Pieces of Advice We've Heard This Year
But we also cover lots of practical advice here, and in the past year our bloggers have shared tons of tips for getting into a U.S. college or university and for getting the most out of it.
Here are the top 10 that any prospective international student should read:
Getting in:
How I Made Myself a Good Candidate for US Admissions (and Other Advice from a Successful Applicant) - Anna
Can International Students Attend American Medical School? - Jess
How to Speak English Fluently? - Nick
Learning How to Take the SATs - Vladimir
Getting over it:
Battling a University Rejection? 5 Stories to Get Inspired - Jess
Making a decision:
Why You Should Consider Quality of International Services When Picking a School - Anna
The Importance of Keeping Your Options Open When Applying - Roz
Making the most of it:
Finding Work Experience in the US: What I Learned (and What I Wish I'd Known) - Olena
How To Use Your Accent to Your Advantage - Nicholas
If You Stop Learning When You Leave the Classroom You're Doing it Wrong - Cristiana
Bonus: 15 New Year's Resolutions You Can Make Right Now if You Want to Study in the US
See all News Updates of the Day
- By VOA News
Safety and visa difficulties among misconceptions about US colleges
U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.
Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Work opportunities help draw international students to US schools
US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)
- By VOA News
British student talks about her culture shock in Ohio
A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.
Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.
Read the full story here. (December 2024)
- By VOA News
Harvard's Chan School tells international students what to expect
Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health reaches out to international students by detailing the international student experience at the school.
Learn more about housing, life in Boston and more here.
- By Reuters
China unveils plan to build 'strong education nation' by 2035
China issued its first national action plan to build a "strong education nation" by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a "strong country."
The plan, issued Sunday by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to establish a "high quality education system" with accessibility and quality "among the best in the world."
The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years.
High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth.
"By 2035, an education power will be built," the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase "high-quality" undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students.
The plan aims to promote "healthy growth and all-round development of students," making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates.
"Popularizing" mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said.
It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations.
The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education.
