Mistakes International Students Make in Graduate School

Mistakes International Students Make in Graduate School

Graduate school for most majors involves unprecedented velocity and volume of work. Typically lasting 18-30 months, a Master’s program is the ultimate academic challenge for most candidates. Moving to America from a few thousand miles away is not an easy task. It’s easy for students to feel overwhelmed by the combination, but the rewards far exceed the difficulties. It’s just a matter of maintaining perspective and making smart decisions.

Here are 8 prevalent mistakes that students make and tips to avoid them: Y

Mistake #1 : Skipping out on social and professional networking

A majority of international graduate students hail from Asian countries, where there is little or no emphasis on networking. The academia in America is multi-cultured, and one could learn tremendous amounts from such diversity.

Try getting out of your comfort zones; interact with students from myriad backgrounds and nationalities. Network with industry folks and connect with the right people. Most of your professional ambitions in America are fulfilled if you follow this suggestion correctly.

Top Tips: Maintain a crisp LinkedIn profile. Actively participate in group projects with diverse groups. Establishing healthy relationships with Professors and industry folks go a long way

Mistake #2: Focusing too much on finding a campus job

Due to the exorbitant fees structure of American grad schools, many students focus primarily on finding a summer internship or a fulltime visa-sponsored job or a temporary on-campus job. This helps pay bills, but in the “finding” process, learning takes a significant blow.

Top Tip: In the early days, focus on academia, as this builds upon your skills and strengths which increase your market value. Thus you increase your effective outcome trajectory by leveraging the time invested in your post grad education.

Mistake #3: Not investing enough on improving communication skills

Several international students (even those with a strong English education) struggle to communicate in America. This often becomes a social and professional barrier.

Top tips: Accent reduction classes are too expensive and time is limited in graduate school. Utilize opportunities to talk to Americans while waiting in a queue, or using public transport, or ordering food etc. This implicitly is making you work on your “American English.” and making you an effective communicator. Try sharing an apartment with students of similar interests but different nationalities. Novelty breeds learning in this respect.

Mistake #4: Neglecting health and physical activities

Health takes a major blow in grad school with those countless night outs in the library, combined with unhealthy American fast food. I’ve seen graduate school students put on weight, develop poor vision, and age considerably in 2 years, as well as experience a drastic change in physical appearances. Drinking and smoking become a well-known escape for de-stressing which in the long run hurts you more. Being in top health avoids illness, which can become extremely costly in terms of money, poor academic performance, and time.

Top Tips: Try taking at least 15 minutes out every day to play a sport. In order to avoid unhealthy all-nighters, start working early on assignments. Avoid drinking too much at parties and try quitting all forms of smoking. Turn to activities such as yoga and meditation (they do work wonders sometimes).

Mistake #5: Larger picture with finances

International graduate students usually have visa constraints, which prohibit them from working outside campus. Most students take out their monthly expenses from their on-campus jobs which are usually just above the minimum pay. They cut corners by sharing small apartments, eating cheap food, doing physically demanding jobs, which drain them physically. This leads to academics and learning being affected. Instead of leveraging the tens of thousands of dollars spent on their graduate program, students get lured to gain a few hundred dollars a month. The loss is much more than the gain.

Top Tips: Treat that extra hundred dollars as an investment, work hard for it, and give back your returns. Be grateful for every cent you earn and respect money when you have it. Learn how to have fun with no money; the best things in life are free. Don’t get bogged down if you feel constrained by money.

Mistake #6: Disregarding your intuition

Most grad students follow the herd and choose course work or career paths recommended by peers or seniors. Most of their career choices are influenced by whether it might lead to a job or a great GPA. Little or no heed is given to what they truly like to study or truly want. In the long run, they end up with career choices that are forced upon them, doing something all their lives they don't desire or enjoy. Do not fall into this trap.

Top Tip: Believe in what you love and try to be the best at it. Learn how to take risks; it’s perhaps the only time in your life you can afford to take risks.

This is a quote from my most revered idol, someone who truly helped me make the toughest professional and personal decisions in graduate school:

“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other opinions drown your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Mistake #7: Ignoring your own interests and hobbies

Whether it’s music, dance, writing, blogging, hiking, sports, partying, dating or reading, don't stop doing activities that truly make you happy. Being happy makes you enjoy more work, which makes you more productive. It enables the "creative juices" to flow into your work.

Top Tip: Take 15 minutes out of everyday to do something that instills positive energy in you. In the long run, you will not get burnt out like other colleagues. Colleagues will like you more because of your positivity.

Mistake #8: Observing instead of experiencing American culture

Having lived and worked in Europe and Asia, I believe American culture is truly unique and deeply fascinating. Give up those unrealistic Hollywood movies and serials you’ve been watching all your life. Instead, try those Coors Lights on tailgates, carve those pumpkins on Halloween, attend those college football matches, crash those fraternity/sorority parties and participate in fantasy leagues, and develop interest in American sports such as football, baseball, or basketball. You’ll start loving it in no time and make some amazing new friends in the process.

At the minimum, try respecting American culture, norms, and beliefs just like the way you would want your own culture to be respected when people visit your country. Learn how Americans communicate and grant the minimum courtesy that is expected. Don’t be ignorant.

America loves nurturing, respecting, and retaining great talent and that’s what makes it one of the greatest places to start your professional life. Enjoy your time here and make the most of it.