Success Strategies for International Students Chetan Tiwari, PhD Associate Professor Department of Geography

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges ▪ Communication ▪ Time management ▪ Work/Academic ethics ▪ Interaction with undergraduate/graduate students/faculty ▪ Familiarize yourself with campus resources ▪ Manage you graduation date ▪ Don’t isolate yourself ▪ Be responsible for your own success

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges: Communication ▪ Don’t hesitate to ask questions – if you don’t ask, people assume you know/understand – E.g. “Where do I find the right datasets for assignment 1?” ▪ Be direct – E.g. “On assignment 1, do you care if I use publicly available data that may not be 100% accurate, but it more up-to-date?” ▪ Salutation – Dr., Prof., Madam, Sir, Chetan, “Boss” – Ask if you don’t know! ▪ Eye contact ▪ if u hv time tmr mrn cn I meet u in ur off?

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges: Time Management ▪ Please don’t be late! – If you’re taking a bus, don’t take the last one! – Use a “loud” alarm! ▪ Time spent on research versus TA versus having fun – Need to balance the three – If you are consistently being asked to do more than 20 hours/week on your TA/RA/GA, let the professor know – Take time off – spend a weekend camping at a state park – Use campus resources ▪

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges: Work/Academic Ethics ▪ Plagiarism – Be careful ▪ “Sharing” homework assignments – Don’t assume it is OK – Ask your professor if you can do that as a group and what her/his expectations are? – Don’t try to “fake it” ▪ Understand class, departmental, and university policies – Decisions are not arbitrary – Don’t hesitate to ask ▪ Writing Assistance – Get help if you need it (Graduate School, Library)

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges: Interaction with Students/Faculty ▪ If you are a TA, document interactions with undergraduate students – Communicate by – Set clear expectations – In case of exceptions, let your professor know immediately ▪ Your fellow graduate students are your colleagues ▪ Interact with graduate students/faculty members in your department – Friday seminars – “Happy Hour” – Don’t isolate yourself

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges: Campus Resources ▪ Use campus resources – Be familiar with them – Use them! ▪ Stress Management – Being away from family – Minimal social support – “Culture Shock” – Too much work, too fast ▪ Time Management ▪ ODA Resources

Successfully Navigating Academic Challenges: Other Thoughts ▪ Manage your graduation date – Implications of CPT/OPT/H1B, etc. ▪ Getting a Drivers License (and a car!)! – Get one ASAP! – Find a friend who knows about these things! ▪ Understand how healthcare works – ASK, ASK, ASK! – “How much will this cost me? Can I get this done cheaper?” ▪ Don’t isolate yourself – Find a housing co-op – Socialize!