Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada (Chicago Guides to Academic Life)

Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada (Chicago Guides to Academic Life)

Each year, 700,000 students from around the world come to the United States and Canada to study. For many, the experience is as challenging as it is exciting. Far from home, they must adapt to a new culture, new university system, and in many cases, a new language. The process can be overwhelming, but as Charles Lipson’s Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada assures us, it doesn’t have to be. Succeeding is designed to help students navigate the myriad issues they will encounter—from picking a program to landing a campus job. Based on Lipson’s work with international students as well as extensive interviews with faculty and advisers, Succeeding includes practical suggestions for learning English, participating in class, and meeting with instructors. In addition it explains the rules of academic honesty as they are understood in U.S. and Canadian universities. Life beyond the classroom is also covered, with handy sections on living on or off campus, obtaining a driver’s license, setting up a bank account, and more. The comprehensive glossary addresses both academic terms and phrases heard while shopping or visiting a doctor. There is even a chapter on the academic calendar and holidays in the United States and Canada. Coming to a new country to study should be an exciting venture, not a baffling ordeal. Now, with this trustworthy resource, international students have all the practical information they need to succeed, in and out of the classroom. Charles Lipson is professor and director of undergraduate studies in political science at the University of Chicago. He is the author of Doing Honest Work in College : How to Prepare Citations, Avoid Plagiarism, and Achieve Real Academic Success , as well as How to Write a BA Thesis and Cite Right , all published by the University of Chicago Press. Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada By Charles Lipson The University of Chicago Press Copyright © 2008 the University of Chicago All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-226-48479-2 Contents Foreword, by Allan E. Goodman....................................................................................ixIntroduction.....................................................................................................xiii1 What to Bring with You.........................................................................................32 Passports and Visas: A Quick Overview..........................................................................73 The First Ten Things You Should Do Here........................................................................124 The Biggest Academic Challenges for International Students.....................................................215 Succeeding Academically........................................................................................276 Thinking Creatively: Going Beyond What the Professor Said......................................................427 Working as a Teaching Assistant, Lab Assistant, or Research Assistant..........................................498 Avoiding Plagiarism and Doing Honest Work......................................................................569 The Culture of Universities in the United States and Canada....................................................7310 Settling In...................................................................................................11511 Learning the Terrain..........................................................................................12412 Learning the Language.........................................................................................13613 Identification Cards..........................................................................................14114 Earning Money.................................................................................................14415 Managing Money: Bank Accounts, Debit Cards, and Credit Cards..................................................15116 Spending Money: Shopping at Local Stores, Malls, and Online...................................................16417 Getting Around: Buses, Bikes, and Taxis.......................................................................18218 Getting Around: Cars..........................................................................................18919 University Housing and Meals..................................................................................20920 Apartment Rentals.............................................................................................21621 Kids and Family...............................................................................................22622 Health Care...................................................................................................23223 Campus Life...................................................................................................24724 Telec