Attending a university for the first time can be daunting. As a new student, there might be several things that you are worried about. Now imagine attending a university that is almost 13,000 kilometres away from home. This is the case for many Nepali students who decide to continue their further education in the United States of America.  

According to the US Embassy in Nepal, almost 12,000 Nepali students are enrolled in various universities in the US and Nepal is the United States’ fastest growing source of international students. As the start of the American academic calendar approaches, a fresh new batch of young people will soon leave Nepal with an aim of taking advantage of all the opportunities that an American education has to offer. 

If you are one of them, you might have several questions regarding what you should expect. This week, we asked some students who are currently studying in the US what advice they would give to a Nepali student about to start their university education in the United States? Here is what they had to say. 

Aaryan Kaphley 
Dickinson College, Pennsylvania

Just showing up to classes and graduating after four years does not capture the true essence of a college education. Rather, your college experience is what you make of it. Studying in a liberal arts college gives you a lot of flexibility, so step out of your comfort zone and explore. The most interesting class I took in college were all outside my major. You will meet a lot of cool people from all over the world in college, so take time to get to know them. You will be surprised to see how much you have in common. Also, have fun. 

Lunjan Shrestha 
University of Rochester, New York

Get out of bed. Go out. It’s easy to become antisocial and become depressed. So, socialize. Try to indulge in your interests. You probably won’t have more time and resources to your disposal than these four years. Seize every opportunity you have. You have four years to experiment and figure out what works for you. Try to go to every class. It might seem more convenient and efficient to study on your own but it will just be counter-productive. Get to know your professors well. You might not feel like interacting with them in the beginning but they will prove to be valuable assets in the future. Try your best to mingle with all types of people from different nations and backgrounds and build strong connections. I say this because it’s so easy to fall into the trap of hanging out with just Nepalis and forming a closed clique.

Sabrina Adhikari 
Marist College, New York

Personally, I don’t think students trying to study in the United States should stress too much about the Visa process – it’s not bad at all! Before leaving, it is always a great idea to communicate with your college about important details like orientation week and moving in. Most liberal arts colleges don’t require you to choose majors and minors right away so you can always take a plethora of classes to figure out what you want to do. At the same time, don’t leave the planning for later. It’s always great to know what you want to achieve during your stay there. In the classroom, try to participate and talk to you professor about your concerns, share your opinions, and ask questions. Time management is key to doing well in school and don’t forget to get your eight to nine hours of sleep every night even though it might be tough. Other than that, try to make a diverse group of friends, save money to travel, manage your diet well, and have lots of fun.

Spandan Marasini
Bucknell University, Pennsylvania 

It’s easy to find yourself sticking to a crowd that you feel most comfortable with, but college has been set up for you to reap the benefits of all its resources. Go for talks on geopolitical issues, join an intramural club, and have some fun at parties. Basically, do all that you can to make the most of your college days. 

Kalsang Wangmo
Trinity College, Connecticut 

You will find many opportunities in college like summer research and you can even get grants to do your own research. All you have to do is ask your professors and seniors, and mainly surf the college website on a regular basis to know what’s available. 

 
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