Alumni Tips

Bindi Patel has a master’s degree in economics from Boston University. (Photograph courtesy Bindi Patel)

A U.S. degree has countless benefits; it prepares you to become a global leader and change-maker in your field. But for international students, adjusting to the U.S. higher education system might bring some challenges along the way. In preparation, it is crucial to connect with alumni, enrolled students and international student communities, and learn from their experiences.

I completed my master’s degree in economics from Boston University in 2017. Here are five things I wish I’d known before leaving for my higher studies in the United States, which would’ve made my transition easier.

Make the library your second home: Before leaving for the United States, many people had advised that I make the university library my second home. I didn’t realize what that meant, until I started my classes. It essentially means that every hour spent in a lecture needs two to three hours of study in the library. It is a crucial investment of time to ace your coursework, assignment submissions and, most importantly, to get good grades.

Network and maintain a rapport with your professors: I wish I’d known how important this is to get a foothold in the job market. In all likelihood, your professors know people employed in big firms or companies of your interest and can help with recommendation letters. Once classes begin, I would suggest that you start interacting with your professors, be it to ask coursework-related questions, or to get to know more about them and their academic background, or to learn about the job market. Networking is key!

Strengthen your basics: It is very important to have your basic concepts in place, which I didn’t know until I began grad school. Generally, professors assume you know your basics and your coursework will focus on more advanced studies. I suggest you go through all the available course-related information on the university’s website and get a general idea of what you would like to pursue. If a course really interests you but you don’t know the basics, consider taking a prerequisite course or a summer class.

Manage your time: Before coming to the United States, I wish I’d known how crucial it was to manage time. Knowing how to cook quickly, doing laundry and managing coursework all at once was not easy. I suggest you learn to cook, consider doing laundry on weekdays, and spend your weekends on coursework and assignments. Avoid eating takeaway food every day to maintain good health.

Use available resources: Most of the time, I realized, students are not aware of the multiple resources available at their university. Facilities to review and rewrite résumés, job portals, assistance with academic papers and online catalogues at the library are just a few such examples. The best part? These resources are all free of cost.

Bindi Patel is an alumna of Boston University.

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