Before moving to London to pursue a master’s in interior design at the University of Westminster, American national Alyssa Moseley frequented YouTube to learn about international student experiences abroad.
She says she was encouraged to make the move after watching videos of international students comparing the United Kingdom with the U.S. and their discussions of the differences in curriculum and the struggles of balancing schoolwork and leisure activities.
“It helped me prepare myself in adapting to a completely different culture and educational structure. But they also advised with some more casual topics, such as places to study, hang out and cheap eats,” Moseley says.
Prospective international students may initially use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the unofficial view of what it’s like studying at particular global universities. But potential applicants may also want to consider three other resources for detailed personal accounts.
[Read: 3 Benefits of International Student Ambassadors.]
YouTube. Many universities and individual international students have YouTube channels showcasing the international student experience. The videos can help quell concerns a prospective international student might have.
“All of our videos allow students to either familiarize themselves with AUC and student life on campus, or learn more about our wide variety of programs,” wrote Farah Saafan, senior regional media relations officer at the American University in Cairo, in an email.
Saafan says examples include social media ambassadors discussing their AUC experience as well as videos highlighting the school’s diverse student body, such as those captured in recent International Day and Season’s Greeting videos.
The University of Toronto‘s YouTube channel features videos of international students discussing life on campus, academic opportunities and why they chose the school. Steffen Reinhart, senior communications and student recruitment officer at the university, says the videos give prospective international students a sense of what it’s like to study at the school.
The National University of Singapore has international students coming from 100 countries, says a university spokesperson. The school’s YouTube channel features a video of international students from Malaysia, Mauritius, Indonesia, Germany, Macau and India discussing everything from campus community, faculty and academic programs to social life.
Two months before moving to London, Moseley says she started her own YouTube channel to document her experiences and “encourage anyone who is unsure of studying abroad to take that leap and just go for it.”
[Read: 3 Ways to Evaluate a Global University Without Visiting.]
University blogs. Many global universities have blogs authored by their international students and offer potential applicants the chance to directly contact bloggers.
For example, Temple University‘s Japan campus, Linköping University in Sweden and Queensland University of Technology in Australia have international student bloggers who detail their experiences in a new country and university.
The University of Westminster launched its international student blog in early 2015 to give international students a single platform to write about their studies in London, says Monika Parzych, an international officer at the university. She says students are encouraged to keep their own personal blogs and content is reposted to the school’s international blog.
“We would like to see the international blog as the virtual space that encourages prospects to connect with our current students and provides them with information at the source,” Parzych says.
Moseley now blogs for the University of Westminster on topics like traveling and studying and believes she serves as a unique resource, providing advice in both written and video formats.
“Blogging can only go so far visually,” Moseley says. “But blogging does provide better opportunities to sum up points and provide links to helpful resources.”
International student forums. In addition to exploring YouTube and blogs, prospective international students can use online forums to discuss a variety of topics related to earning a degree abroad.
[Read: 3 Mistakes International Students Make When Choosing a University Abroad.]
For example, potential applicants can visit The Student Room, an education website that has discussion forums about every U.K. university, says student adviser Hannah Morrish.
She says prospective international students can post questions in the forums to other applicants and current students. Students seeking to study outside the U.K. can visit the international study forum, she says, available under the site’s “university” tab.
“Meet applicants with similar aspirations to you and get advice on how to apply and things to consider like programs offered, visas and accommodation options,” Morrish says. Prospective international students should make sure to also get guidance from impartial professional advisers and universities, she says.
Similarly, Student Edge provides a forum for international students to ask questions about what it’s like to study in Australia.
“They can even find out about members’ firsthand experiences at universities and institutions across the country, and even where to buy the best coffee on campus,” says Simon Miraudo, editor and head of communications and membership at Student Edge.
At College Confidential, prospective international students can join the international students discussion forum to post on everything from seeking online prep courses for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, to the quality of food at U.S. universities.
There are also subforums for students considering studying at institutions in seven countries outside of the U.S.: Canada, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and the U.K.
Students just starting the admissions process “can share their experiences and concerns with others like them, as well as with those who have already navigated this maze,” says Sally Rubenstone, a senior contributor to College Confidential and a former admission counselor at Smith College in Massachusetts.
With all the resources available, Moseley hopes prospective international students will gain a deeper perspective on how valuable studying in another country can be. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she says.
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How to Use Student Experiences to Find a Global University originally appeared on usnews.com
