Choosing a University

by Ayrea | April 12, 2007 | Newsletters 0 Comments

U.S. Language and Culture

April 12, 2007
Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions a young person has to make, even when assisted by parents. Many factors ought to be considered before the final choice is made. Some reasons are pretty obvious, such as the university offers my major; or the university has a strong academic major in my field; or the university offers international students a safe place to live and study. One major reason that is frequently misunderstood is the following: this university does NOT have a lot of international students from my region of the world.

All too often, young students who feel unsure about which university to choose limit themselves by choosing a university where their friend(s) will attend or will choose a university because many other students from their nation or language group are studying there. This selection criteria becomes even more common if the student comes from a non-English speaking background. However, for students who are learning English or are trying to improve their English ability, it becomes even more important that they search for a university where they will NOT be able to speak their native language with other students on a daily basis. They need to be in an environment where they will be compelled to practice English all day long, seven days a week. In such a place, students will learn proper English much more quickly and will become effective in written and spoken English thus enhancing their future career opportunities.

The cultural dimension is equally important — if not even more important. If a student chooses a university where many others from his/her ethnic or language group study, the temptation will be to join the existing ethnic group
unintentionally. If a student from Japan, for example, chooses a university where many Japanese students are studying, he/she will likely feel “peer pressure” to not genuinely adapt to the new, American culture in order to maintain an affinity with the group of Japanese students. The resulting reservation to participate in the American culture limits the student’s learning experience. The student will remain at the “tourist level” of understanding of American ways. Such superficial learning about American culture will hinder the student’s future advancement in the professional world if he/she must interact with American client, associates or counterparts.

All international students need to realize that their university experience in the U.S. is not just about learning facts, mathematical formulae, and other information. Their time at any university should be a total learning experience both inside and outside the classroom. By engaging the local American culture, they have the opportunity to become effective leaders in a multicultural environment. At the very least, they should become bi-cultural, fully able to function in a U.S. workplace or back home in a multinational company.

How many American companies are there in your nation or area? How many job opportunities await you in one of those companies if you learn the subtleties of U.S. culture and become effective in cross-cultural communication and international relations? Choose a university where you will be one of only a few from your ethnic/language group in order to greatly enhance your learning experiences at the university. Let ELI 360 help you search for the ideal place for you.