It’s August and American universities here are awaiting the arrival of thousands of international students from around the world. In 2015, the number of Indian students coming to the US increased 29.4 percent, surpassing growth from students from China, Brazil and other Latin American countries. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), this trend is expected to continue due to rising middle class prosperity and steady growth in the Indian economy.
In my own backyard at Arizona State University (ASU), the largest public University in the nation, the Indian Students Association is extremely busy picking up students from the airport every hour, bringing them to apartments and making them feel at home. The University opens on August 18 for the fall season like others across the country.
This fall, students are arriving at a time when everything seems divided in America. There is a huge political divide, a widening income divide and definitely a racial divide. On the positive side, the economy is doing really well, and unemployment remains in control.
Mom and dad have helped you get loans, packed your bags and you’ve got blessings from your grandparents to visit Trump land! You have everything from Parachute coconut oil, Maggi noodles and masalas for a century. But what you need more to survive in the US is confidence and a positive attitude.
So, here are some tips that will help you get your feet wet:
1. Be purposeful: Have a clear purpose about what you want to accomplish through your education here. Do you want to specialize in a particular field? Or, do you want to take a terminal degree in an area that is your passion? Or, do you want to find a job and work here? Do you plan to return home? Whatever you choose, have a clear plan on where you want to go. This will help you overcome hurdles and take you on the path to achieving your life’s goals.
2. Find a sense of belonging: Yes, this is an alien land and a very individualistic society. No wonder they still call prospective immigrants as aliens. Initially, you will find it hard to get a sense of belonging to a culture so different from ours. Be curious, get immersed in it and find out what will work for you. Learn the good things about American life, mingle more with Americans and understand their way of life.
3. Studies first: If you think you are finding it hard to excel in a particular subject, make sure that you go to your University’s career services division and ask them for help. Do not be embarrassed and do not wait as they will offer tutoring services and help you succeed. If you do not have a scholarship, you are paying a hefty sum to study here and helping you succeed is the University’s responsibility as well. Keep good working relationships with your professors as unlike in India, they have good contacts with industry and can serve as future references for you. Finally, do not plagiarize and ruin your life.
4. Forget working in gas stations: These are rumors that people will tell you. Your visa is the most closely monitored visa in the country and every move you make is easily traceable. Follow all immigration rules, especially with regard to part-time internships or work using optional practical training (OPT) permits.
5. Beware of Indian body shoppers: Yes, there are shady IT recruitment firms run by Indians here who can lure you into jobs that offer an H-1B work visa and other benefits even before you graduate. Be cautious about their intentions and always consult with your international students office before you sign off on anything.
By the same author: Hillary vs Trump: The great American hunt for the lesser evil
6. Stay with Desis, but not all the time: Eating dal fry and chapatti and mingling with your own group every day won’t get you anywhere. If you are interested in a job, network early, try and set up informational interviews with firms in your town. And, do Skype interviews with those far away. Develop a robust LinkedIn profile so that prospective recruiters can contact you much earlier in the process. Remember, Americans mostly make the hiring decisions. So, learn etiquette, resume writing skills and how to succeed in a job interview. Note that your university’s career services division will help you with this and more.
7. Be culturally sensitive: America is a melting pot of multiple ethnicities, races and cultures and you are arriving at a time when there are lots of talk and events surrounding racial intolerance. Try to learn, understand and empathize before making judgments.
8. Smell good: Sweat and jasmine might go well back home, but not here. Grab a few deodorants and always be clean and make it a point to smell good. Yes, Americans consider smell one of their pet peeves. Wear deodorants always!
Enjoy your academic experience, make use of all resources that are available to you and launch a global career valued everywhere. And, you are not alone as the U.S. hosts 4.5 million international students annually, double the number of its nearest competitor, the United Kingdom.
You will love it here and with a positive attitude, a flexible outlook and a friendly nature, you will succeed! Last but not the least, always remember you are a Keralite and we can survive anywhere!
(Sarat Pratapchandran is a US-based writer whose career spans content management, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. A master’s in mass communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and Kerala University, he now works as a fund raiser for a major US-based health sciences university)
