International Students
Academic Adjustment Problems
Whatever their educational backgrounds, most foreign
students in the U.S. find certain aspects of the American system of higher education
novel. The aspects to which they are most likely to have to make some adjustments are the
following:
- having to select from among a number of possible
courses rather than following a completely prescribed curriculum.
- being assigned an academic advisor rather than
simply reading about courses that must be taken.
- specializing later rather than earlier in the
undergraduate program and thus having to take courses outside one's area of interest in
order to obtain a "liberal education."
- having to take objective-type tests (such as
true-false and multiple-choice) rather than, or in addition to, subjective-type (essay)
examinations.
- dealing with a sometimes complex system for
registering for classes each term.
- having relatively frequent assignments and
examinations or quizzes rather than being left to work more independently and at a
leisurely pace.
- encountering classmates, especially at the freshman and
sophomore levels, who seem ill-prepared for post-secondary work and not very highly
motivated to succeed.
- being expected to raise questions and participate in
class discussions rather than sitting quietly and accepting the teacher's word on all
matters.
- encountering competitiveness among students,
especially in professional or graduate level classes.
- having to analyze and synthesize the material to
which they are exposed, especially at the graduate level.
- being expected to use the library extensively.
- having a great deal of importance attached to grades.
- having to do what they might consider menial tasks in
laboratory courses.
- being liable to punishment for activities deemed to
constitute "cheating" or "plagiarism."
--- The Handbook of Foreign Student
Advising, by Gary Althen
