r/InternationalStudents

A year ago I packed my bags and flew to Singapore. New country, new chapter, zero family around. Just me, my laptop and a whole lot of uncertainty.

Honestly? It’s been the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

When you live with family there’s always a safety net. Someone to share the load when you’re exhausted, someone to cook when you’re overwhelmed, someone to just be there. Living alone strips all of that away and at first, it’s terrifying.

But then something shifts.

You start figuring things out on your own. You manage your finances, cook your own meals, navigate a foreign city, get through a breakdown at 2am with no one to call and somewhere in all of that you realise you’re more capable than you ever gave yourself credit for.

Studying abroad alone teaches you things no classroom can. Real independence, not the kind your parents let you have at home. Patience with yourself when things go wrong. How to build a little community from scratch in a place where nobody knows your name. And a kind of gratitude you never felt before, for the small things, a home cooked meal, a friend who texts to check in.

Loneliness and growth really do live in the same season. Nobody warned me about that.

If you’re on the fence about studying abroad alone, just go. It will change you in the best way possible.

Anyone else living this? Would love to hear your stories 🙌

Hi, i did my undergrad in the US in data Sciences, now ill be honest i messed up alot. I def not blaming but my school isnt the most supportive of foreign students. My parents never wanted me to stay back after graduation but i insisited i do for OPT so they supported that. I got my OPT approved via an unpaid internship and then i couldn't manage a paid opportunity to apply for STEM. I didnt know what to do so I enrolled in associates so I could buy time for Grad school. I messed up big time again due to financial constrains because life was not supposed to be like that. I had plans but financially i wasnt there and my situation made it worse. Everyone says I shouldnt be here and look elsewhere but Ive lived here for almost 8 years, i have a life, a man and not to be say much theres too many personal conflicts to go back home. I am specilized in cannabis science and policy analysis and ive gotten opportunities but none of them want to sponsor and are unpaid. Everyone who sees potential here says go to Grad school.

yo guys! I’m an international student and this is my first tax return, so sorry in advance for any dumb questions. I have to attach my 1042-S and W-2 to my paper return. First question: does the size of these forms matter? Can I just print the electronic versions I received and cut out the appropriate copies? The “detach here” and “fold here” notes on the 1042-S kinda stressed me out. Do you think the state or IRS cares about the paper size, or is it fine as long as it’s readable?

Second question: instead of folding the papers, can I use a large envelope to mail them?

I am currently in between the University of Toronto, Boston University and UW-Madison and I need help choosing between them. My major is biology/life sciences and I want to focus more on genetics, cell biology, molecular biology. I also want to continue with higher education after earning my bachelor's degree. I am an international student and I applied to the US and Canada because I wanted to have the classic US university life rather than the university life in Europe (in my mind the university life in Europe is much more individualistic) with a big campus, games and school spirit. During my application process, I always thought I would attend UW–Madison, since I had visited and based my university criteria around it but UofT and BU blind sided me. I still want to go to UW-Madison, I know for sure I will be happy there but I don't want to make an illogical decision for my future just because I see Madison as a so called "comfort place". What would be my best option considering the campus life and the academics I want, please help me make a choice.

Hey everyone,

As a student, I was constantly switching between different sites for simple tasks (calculators, unit converters, study timers, etc.). It was killing my focus, so I built a simple, free site called studenttoolbox.fun.

It’s basically a 'Swiss Army Knife' for students—no ads, no sign-ups, just the tools you actually need for daily uni/college life.

Would love to hear if there are any specific tools you guys think are missing that I should add!

I'm an international student and next week I have 2 midterms of 2 important classes that I'm taking right now, calc 3 and differential equations.

I have to keep my GPA as high as I can to be eligible for scholarships when transferring to university otherwise I'll end up going back to my country since I'm not rich enough to pay for university.

Between the stress of work, bills, money issues, keeping my GPA high, being behind in both my classes (since the program is only 8 weeks instead of 16), and basically trying to barely survive I just lost the will or the desire to study.

I need a break but I can't afford it, if I mess up these two classes my GPA would drop and my chances of getting a scholarship would go from small to nothing. I feel like I'm burnt out, but I don't know what I can do about it, If I don't study right now, I know I'll regret it so bad in the future but I can't push myself. I hate complaining but I'm loosing it.

So I am currently an undergrad graduating in May and I have a job offer lined up. I applied for OPT but I am unfortunately part of the 39 countries so my adjudication is up in the air.

Would there be a way for me to ask my DSO to extend my program for a year and use one year of CPT to work my job and then go to OPT if the pause is lifted by then??

I'm a senior in highschool, staying with host family.

I was going through a brun-out(from school and my studying abroad life)

so I became quiet and cold ngl.

and then my host mom suddenly became mad at me. She doesn't ask me what to drink for me but she asks everyone except me and she sees me with side eyes even though I didn’t do anything. also she doesn't answer when I say goodmorning.

I was going through a burn-out I just became quiet and just stayed in my room. what is the matter? I didn’t do anything.

I need to do laundry so I need to go downstairs but I might likely see her cuz she's always downstairs(livingroom) and the stairs are close to the living room.

She used to be emotional and bi-polar but it's too much....

I AM AFARAID TO GO DOWN.

I’m a UK student looking for some honest advice on my chances of getting into a US university. I want to major in Marketing and potentially minor in media /advertising.

My background:

- GCSEs: 5, 6-5(combined science), 6, 6, 6, 6, 8

- Currently doing a Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketing Apprenticeship (finishing Feb 2027) I will most likely go into full time work in this field once the apprenticeship is finished

- Qualification is roughly equivalent to 2 A-levels

- Will be applying for Fall 2027 entry

Extracurriculars:

- Competitive Allstar Cheerleading

- Worked on TEDx-related projects

- Marketing apprenticeship (real work experience in digital marketing)

(I’m also working on a non profit, this will launch next month)

Questions:

1.	How competitive is my profile for US universities?

2.	Are there specific universities that might suit my background?

3.	How realistic is getting financial aid as an international student like me?

4.	Does my apprenticeship help or hurt my application compared to A-level students?

I’d really appreciate any honest feedback or suggestions especially from other international students or people familiar with US admissions.

I’m a international student in the usa and i feel im done with this country, i lived here before changing my status to f1. i started my school this year and im considering to finish only my associates and then move to france/italy/london and finish my studies there. did anyone have any advice or experience on this?

im a fashion business student

Hey everyone, I created a WhatsApp group chat for incoming bachelor’s students going to the University of Trieste this year.

The goal is to connect early, share info (visa, accommodation, etc.), and get to know each other before arriving.

If that’s you, DM me and I’ll send you the link.

Hello!
I'm going to Buenos Aires for an exchange, and I am wondering if anyone knows of any orientation activities for students in July or August.

Hi all,

I’m an international new grad from a top CS school (graduating May 2026) with 3 SWE internships. Currently recruiting for full-time roles — had a few interviews and onsites but couldn’t convert.

Noticed Amazon/Meta new grad hiring seems frozen recently. Also didn’t get a return offer from previous internships.

Feeling a bit stuck — any advice on improving interviews or adjusting strategy (startups, smaller companies, etc.)?

Appreciate any help 🙏

I'm planning to study abroad in China in 2028 (likely my junior year at UNC), and I'm trying to figure out what my options are.

I'll be double-majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology, so my main priority is finding a program where I can stay on track and transfer credits back to UNC.

At the same time, I do want to use the experience to reconnect with my Chinese heritage and improve my Mandarin, but that would be more of a secondary goal (like taking language classes alongside my main classes).

I'm mainly wondering:

Are there universities in China that offer strong English-taught courses in areas like psychology or social sciences?

How realistic is it to transfer credits back for my majors?

Would a university exchange program be better than an independent study abroad program for my situation?

Are there specific programs or universities you'd recommend?

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences, especially from people who studied abroad in China while pursuing similar majors.

i have very low bachelors marks (58%) and general course in ba and i want to study psychology. I am learning german but i wont be able to learn it before applying for course so i have to study in English taught program which i know is very competitive. Can someone help me?

Im a caribbean student figuring out where to go as theres little architecture opportunities here in the caribbean and i have no interest in uwi etc, I had looked at the best schools to go to and canada showed up with ubc and mcgill and I couple others

i lowk wanted to go to america to study when I was younger but given the current political climate I am absolutely not going there i like myself alot!

Im writing csec this year and going to do cape, I did mock exams and got all 1s and a 2 in maths (which can change) so im not too worried for csec besides maths im doing an extra subject and have good ecs like a journalism course and whatever else I did in the 5 years at my secondary school

When I looked at ubcs req it said social, maths, art, and English and i have a 99 p2 56 p1 in English, 97 p2 55 p1 social and art my journal is completed and I did all 6 pieces already and maths is a work in progress w 84 p2 and 42 p1. (But im doing 3 other classes rn and theyre all 90%+) and im still applying to us schools cs i hv alot of family there and ill probably take the SATS if needed but I really would like to not go there atm.. and it doesnt looked like it'll get better in the next two years

I looked at the ubc subreddit and lowk scared myself a bit and idk if ubc is right for me tution was my main problem but now im seeing that student life is dead and I hearing that abt mcgill aswell.

I dont know where else to apply and europe is on my back up list I saw a good school in the UK(i think im Manchester) and the UK has good opportunities for caribbean students but I only hear that about nursing. I still have 2 whole years of cape to do but I wanna figure this out way before and have alot of backups

I really did like ubc tho but also Vancouver is hella expensive and I didnt have much interest in learning some French for mcgill but I will if I have too any other recs??? Uoft was also on my list but its the highest tution out of the 3.

Sorry if this sounds a type of way im stressing myself out and im supposed to be studying rn 😣

Hii, is there anyone attending the BSc in management at IFM next year? I have been admitted and would like to connect with someone else.

Hi! I just recently moved to Australia from the Philippines and I won’t be home for a while.

I have braces and my question is that will dentists here accept removing my braces even though I didn’t get them done here? I wanted to continue my treatment plan but I don’t mind getting them removed as well if that’s better.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm a teacher, and I'm helping one of my students' grandparents. They live in China and want to send their grandchild to the UK for university (foundation year + 3-year undergraduate). They want to study for an art degree and want to know which one is the best one to study at if anyone knows anything about these universities and which ones they would recommend.

Here are the five options:

· University of the Arts London (UAL) – Foundation: £24,660 – Undergraduate: ~£30,890/year – 4-year total: ~1.09 million RMB – Central London location

· Kingston University – Foundation: estimated £21,400 – Undergraduate: £21,400/year – 4-year total: ~796k RMB – Greater London (Kingston upon Thames)

· University of Southampton – Foundation: £28,245–£35,095 – Undergraduate: £22,300–£28,000/year – 4-year total: ~880k–1.11m RMB – Mid-size city, south coast

· University of Manchester – Foundation: estimated £24,000 – Undergraduate: ~£30,000/year – 4-year total: ~1.01m RMB – Large northern city

· Goldsmiths, University of London – Foundation: estimated £23,000 – Undergraduate: £25,850–£28,900/year – 4-year total: ~950k–1.01m RMB – South East London

Thanks in advance for any insights!