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Work on Campus as an International Student

By U.S. News & World Report

It is a very exciting experience to work in a foreign country as an international student. I’ve worked three different on-campus positions so far, and I feel that experience has changed and helped me a lot. With that in mind, I wanted to share some tips to help international students understand what working on campus is like — and how to make it a successful experience.

1. Find out about on-campus jobs: My university has a website that lists all the available jobs on campus and describes the minimum requirements that students have to satisfy in order to be eligible. Most positions are open to international students, and otherwise, it would be specified in the job requirements.

If prospective international students expect to work on campus, they should check schools’ websites beforehand and pay close attention to the job requirements. It is probably not necessary to check with the international students office about campus jobs, but if you need help on preparing for getting the job, that office is a good resource.

Some departments on campus may particularly need international students as student staff members, and once you get to campus, those departments will send out emails targeted to international students only. At my university, being an orientation leader is an example of this, because the department needed students with different backgrounds to make the orientation team diverse.

[Find out how international students can gain job skills with volunteer work.]

2. Take the first step: During the second quarter I was on campus, I heard that my university was recruiting students to be on the staff for orientation. I liked that idea and felt that I should try something new.

However, taking that first step is hard for me, because I was shy and didn’t feel confident enough to apply for the job. But I decided that at least if gave it a try, I could get some interview experience.

The result turned out good. I got the job and tried my best to fulfill my responsibility as an orientation leader, and the next year I got recruited again. It felt like a miracle — I would never have believed that I would be able to give presentations in front of 500 U.S. students in English.

As an international student, you really have to have a try things you have never done before and not to look down on yourself. You are better than you think you are.

[Read these four internship tips for international students in the U.S.]

3. Have a positive attitude: Having a positive attitude toward your job is essential to success. At the beginning of a job, international students may think, “I’m an international student and my English is not as good as others, so it is OK for me to do worse and others will understand why I’m not performing well.”

I’ve found these kinds of thoughts are rather common among international students when they start working. It’s good to realize that you may have a disadvantage as far as language goes, but the right attitude is to be aware of all the drawbacks you have and work harder to overcome them.

If you know other international students who work on campus, they would be another great resource to ask questions about what working is like and how to address problems.

4. Keep improving: The thing I liked the most about working on campus as an international student is that working is a process of learning. I worked as an academic peer adviser in my sophomore year.

At the beginning, I felt I was not very prepared to be a peer adviser and got nervous offering advice to students. However, I was able to improve and work on my weaknesses.

This was because of the great supervision system we have on campus. We have a staff meeting every week to talk over things to improve, and we also have one-on-one meeting with a supervisor. I was given a lot of feedback and suggestions from coworkers and supervisors. With those drawbacks pointed out, I was able to improve effectively. After the first month, I felt much more comfortable of being a peer adviser.

I also got help from the international students office. International students who work on campus often need to go through some complicated processes in order to be legally paid, and can struggle when working with other students if they are not proficient in the language. At my school, the international students office often holds special sessions to assist international students with overcoming those two difficulties.

[Learn how international students can explore job opportunities.]

5. Work as a team with your coworkers: When I first started my job, I thought that my coworkers might look down on me, as I might mess things up. After a while, I realized I was wrong. They were totally unbiased and treated me as a normal student staff member.

In the first week of my job, I tended to be quiet because I was afraid of making mistakes. However, my coworkers still asked me questions about things. This little interaction made me feel a lot more comfortable. I noticed that we were working as a team, and my coworkers will back me up. If I encounter a problem, we will get through it together. After realizing this, I became braver and more active.

I hope my personal experience gives you a rough idea of what working on campus can be like as an international student. It’s a beneficial experience to have while studying abroad, because you can learn so many things, such as leadership and communication skills.

However, it is also very important to remember that since there are specific rules for international students that govern employment, even on campus, applicants and students should check with the international students office to find out what they need to do to be able to work on campus.

More from U.S. News

3 Transfer Pitfalls for International Community College Students to Avoid

5 Ways Studying at a U.S. High School Can Strengthen a College Application

4 Academic Surprises for New International College Students

Work on Campus as an International Student originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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