Most international students spend only a fraction of their time studying in the classroom. College life means distributing and managing time between tons of activities ranging from work, study, extra-curricular activities to participating in different events, but at the end of busy college day where do most students go? For most of them, they tend to live inside the University Campus.
Living inside the university campus has its perks and benefits, they get to experience university life from a wider perspective, which is extremely important for creating a harmonic and cultural synchronization between international students and the community.
According to Christine Guevara, the Executive Director of Campus Health and Wellness at St. John’s College in New Mexico said that it is the easiest way to adjust in a new country by letting your institution arrange housing and meal plans for you.
According to statistics provided by universities, 15.6% of students lived on campus in between 2015-16, and it is still not clearly described how many international students live on campus.
University is a place where students eat, learn, sleep, and make new friends. According to the policies, most of the colleges accommodate new students for a year, and even some colleges allow up to four years of accommodation for international students.
Living on campus helps students during their stay at the campus, as the necessary resources and equipment are in their reach; it helps them achieve better overall better grades.
The living experience differs from numerous ways when it comes to living at the campus. Universities offer students two styles of accommodation. One is the apartment, and the other is traditional-style accommodation.
The apartment consists of four bedrooms and two baths which is excellent for privacy, but on the other hand, traditional accommodation accommodates two students in one room with a common bath and both sharing other resources in the hall.
Even in the traditional format of rooms can vary, such as St. John offers the option of single-occupancy dorm rooms for students. Many students are happy with this type of room format as it provides them with personal and private space, an essential need of students following a strict schedule.
Some privacy-oriented students are reluctant to have roommates with them, but according to officials, it is a new way to experience university life and build long-lasting friendships. Many students get in touch with their roommates via social media.
Some colleges provide the liberty of choosing roommates while others don’t, as told by Mandee Heller Adler, founder, and president of International College Counsellors based in Florida.
In the University, some dorm rooms are already equipped with basic furniture, and other personal items are placed by the students. Universities help students to get the necessary items from the market via shuttle service, saving both time and money for them.
Alder also suggests bringing items such as stuffed animals, photos, flags, and other comforting items in a dorm room. That will help them feel connected to faraway friends and family during their stay abroad.
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