Navigating the American Life-style: Socially and Academically – Milligan Stampede

Studying within the United States brings each alternatives and challenges for worldwide college students. Milligan University serves as a second house for college kids from all over the world, bringing various views to campus and lecture rooms. Differences in expectations, requirements and necessities form the transition many worldwide college students expertise. 

Sophomore Emily Haas of Hildesheim, Germany, compares Milligan to her expertise again house. 

“German universities often don’t have attendance policies, lectures are held in big auditoriums and your final grade is often determined by one exam at the end of the semester,” Haas stated. “When I talked to my mom, who studied business at the University of Cologne, about Milligan for the first time, she was shocked by the student population. Her major alone had more people than all of Milligan’s undergraduate and graduate students together.”

According to Becky Robertson, affiliate registrar and first designated faculty official for worldwide college students, Milligan has 99 worldwide college students, together with 85 lively college students and 14 on non-compulsory sensible coaching. OPT standing permits F-1 visa worldwide college students to work within the United States for as much as one yr. 

Milligan represents 40 totally different nations in its scholar physique as of the spring 2026 semester. The high three nations embrace Germany with 14 college students, the United Kingdom with 12 college students and Spain with 9 college students.

International college students usually encounter a distinct tutorial model in contrast with that of their house nations. Classroom dimension, educating model and workload are widespread variations highlighted by worldwide college students. 

Senior Nicolas Moshe Motau Jr. of South Africa stated that in his house nation, lessons are normally larger. 

“Teachers do not have a deep connection with their students like here at Milligan,” Motau stated. “But at home, technical experience is prioritized more to integrate what we learn into the real world while learning it.”  He added that college in South Africa runs year-round and that the content material is usually harder. 

In distinction, Joselin Martinez, a senior from El Salvador, stated education within the United States feels tougher. 

“At home you don’t necessarily have school the whole day until you go to high school or  college,” Martinez stated. “In elementary or middle school, you either go in the afternoon or in the morning.”

David Siebenaler, teacher of historical past and humanities, has taught a spread of worldwide college students throughout his time at Milligan. 

“I try to be more attentive to their perspectives on Western, especially American, history and culture. When we cover material that focuses on their specific national or cultural background, I invite those students to offer corrections or additional information that may enhance the classroom discussions,” Siebenaler stated. “I also try to be more aware of using idiomatic expressions that create barriers to communication.” 

Robertson stated she usually encourages worldwide college students to make use of tutoring, the Writing Center and the Counseling Center once they really feel they want further assist. 

Siebenaler added that tutorial assist is crucial, particularly for college kids balancing athletics or heavy workloads. 

“I feel that it is incumbent on me as a teacher to help them navigate the linguistic challenges that they might face, especially when it comes to writing essays for exams or other written assignments,” Siebenaler stated. “Since many are also athletes, time management is a major issue as well. The humanities program involves a significant amount of reading, so completing those reading assignments might be more time-consuming for those international students whose first language is not English.” 

Beyond teachers, cultural changes themselves might be tougher and take a toll on college students’ psychological well being. 

“Most of my experience has been people here being individualistic, making it hard to socialize,” Motau stated. “At home, it’s very hard not to. We have a word, ‘ubuntu,’ which means ‘I am because we are.’ This very line is why we as South Africans are very outgoing, we try to build relationships with everyone in any community, and it has been very misunderstood when I do it here. That just makes it hard.” 

Martinez makes an analogous connection to Motau’s level, saying her house nation strongly emphasizes household and relationships.

“Back home, family is closely tied, and I think that is one of the things that I miss,” Martinez stated. She added that cultural habits typically have an effect on her day-to-day life. 

“I was taught that you don’t eat until everyone sits down and has their food,” Martinez stated with fun. “One time we went out to eat with older people, and my friends were eating and finished before they even got their food. They asked me why I wasn’t eating yet, and I had to explain that I was waiting.” 

Motau additionally famous meals as a significant cultural distinction between the United States and South Africa. 

“Most of what we eat is non-processed, no unnecessary preservatives and extra sugars added, and so forth. On top of that, the norm of how to eat this is always in its healthiest way; such as grilling as opposed to frying, and natural-blend drinks as opposed to fizzy drinks,” Motau stated. “I always lose weight just from diet change alone whenever I go back to Africa, because of what we eat.”

To assist navigate these challenges early within the faculty yr, Milligan holds a global scholar welcome luncheon throughout the second week of lessons. The occasion connects college students with campus sources and different worldwide college students, Robertson stated. Gift baggage are included on the luncheon with objects equivalent to toiletries, towels, sheets and blankets.

Despite the challenges, college students say the expertise is value it. 

“Overall, the experience has shown me perspectives I never could have imagined existed,” Motau stated. “It showed me just how privileged I am to be where I am, to be who I am and to have the people around me.”“Living abroad changed me in ways I can’t even describe,” Haas stated. “I think it made me a better person overall, simply because it taught me to listen and to put myself in other people’s shoes. I think the world could be a better place if everyone tried that at least once in their life.”
“Don’t be scared, I remember I almost didn’t come because I was so scared,” Martinez stated. “It can be hard, of course, but throughout doing this you get to meet so many people from so many different places and you get to learn about different cultures other than your own. I would say go for it.”

Photo: Milligan Village (Photo Credit: Emily Haas)