16 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
ORIENTATION ISSUE 2020
International students prep for Fall Quarter By GRACE WU
the daily northwestern @gracewu_10
Being an incoming international student comes with its challenges, from potential culture differences to starting college farther away from home than most peers. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated circumstances, creating a situation that is even more strenuous than the typical year’s. On July 24, U.S. Immigrantion and Customs Enforcement announced that any incoming international student would not be allowed to stay in the United States if their coursework is entirely online.The announcement came after ICE redacted a previous ruling that any international student taking entirely remotely classes would not be allowed to remain in the country. Due to the pandemic, some consulates around the world are currently closed. Some students had to push their visa interview appointments back by weeks or even months due to the rapidly evolving circumstances. In addition, U.S. consulates in some countries are currently not giving out visas, which makes it virtually impossible for many incoming international students to obtain an F-1 visa now. Whether you are or are not able to make it to campus in time for Fall Quarter, do not fret, as student organizations and the Office of International Students and Scholar Services have been putting together resources and events that will be accessible to international students regardless of physical location. The International Students Association and
OISS have also been working together to provide “resource-based information events” and social events for international students once the school year begins, Weinberg junior and ISA co-president Sana Kharbanda said. For starters, the International Student Orientation, which takes place prior to Wildcat Welcome, will be offered entirely remotely. In addition, the programming will be offered across a variety of time zones to accommodate students, Kharbanda said. It is unclear exactly how ICE’s July 24 update will impact incoming Northwestern international students, but you should reach out to your OISS advisor (and even your international peer adviser) for recommendations as to what course of action to pursue for Fall Quarter. ISA, a student-run organization, has been active on Instagram, providing updates that pertain to the international student community. This upcoming academic year, ISA aims to provide resources that are not offered by the University, according to Kharbanda. For example, the student group will distribute resource guides focusing on topics such as course recommendations, financial resources and mental health resources. ISA also plans to host dialogues and workshops regarding professional topics, such as job- and internship-searching from an international student’s perspective. “What we’re looking (for is) to provide that level of support in any way that we can,” Kharbanda said. “We know that…students tend to have a lot of questions, so we want to be able to address those because we have members in our organization who (have) been (through) these processes and are willing to provide
that level of mentorship as well.” In addition to connecting with peers through ISA and nationality-based student organizations, upperclassmen international students recommend — safely! — mingling with students in other student organizations and, if you live on-campus, who live in your dorm. Due to the restrictions on large-scale gatherings, it is likely that many events will be hosted online. However, don’t force yourself to socialize virtually if you find it too strenuous. “Put yourself first,” Kharbanda said. “If you think that you don’t want to put yourself in that position, and you think you feel weird about going to these online events, that is also totally fine because once you get back into the normal groove of things, it’s not like everyone (already) made their groups and you’re going to be missing out. I don’t think it’s going to be like that at all.” As for academics, incoming and transfer students are not expected to register for Fall Quarter classes until Wildcat Welcome. The Daily previously reported that at least 46 percent of undergraduate class spots are expected to be entirely remote. For international students who will be taking fall classes from their home countries, upperclassmen international students recommend considering the types of classes to take, such as the mode of delivery or the class size. “I would advise against taking discussion classes because…discussions tend to be really stimulating,” Kharbanda said. “If you aren’t able to attend those, then I think you’re missing out on a big learning part of the class. I think it would be a smart move to lectures right now rather than discussion classes.”
Kharbanda said she took her Spring Quarter classes from her home in New Delhi, India, which has a 10-and-a-half-hour time difference from Evanston. She said her professors were “lenient and understanding about attendance” due to the time difference, all lectures were recorded and there were multiple teaching assistant sections to accommodate the different time zones. Some international students are planning on staying in their home countries for at least Fall Quarter. McCormick freshman Isaac Winoto said he chose to stay home in Jakarta, Indonesia due to the increasing number of cases in the U.S. and the current political climate. He said that the four other Indonesian incoming freshmen — three others of whom are in McCormick — have made plans to take similar classes and study together to create the feeling as if they were on-campus. Given the impact of the pandemic on the academic plans of international students, Winoto said he thinks the University should provide a “mini-orientation” when the majority of the incoming international students are able to come to campus. He also praised NU for already hosting an informative panel for international students regarding the latest developments. “I think the University has taken steps that are really informative for us — the international students,” Winoto said. “Also, knowing a lot of international students might not make it to campus this fall…we also had breakout games (for bonding after the main talk).” gracewu2023@u.northwestern.edu
#AndTransfers: Everything you need to know half the student population and will probably double your social circle over the course of a meal. Whatever you do, don’t discount the freshmen in your classes, down the hall or in your clubs — they’ll become some of your closest friends.
By HALEY FULLER
the daily northwestern @haley_fuller_
You know the basics of college, like how to survive on the minimum amount of sleep and maximum amount of coffee, but Northwestern is still going to be different. Welcome to one of the most enthusiastic groups on campus — we’re so happy you’re here.
It’s okay to miss your old school
As excited as you might be for starting at NU, it’s still normal to pine for your friends or the coffee shop with the barista who would know your name and your order. You might accidentally call a building by the name of your old school’s equivalent, but so have the transfers who have come before you. The adjustment to NU might not — and probably won’t — be immediate, but your PA group, new friends and old friends will be there for you as you navigate the maze of the Technological Institute.
Lean into Wildcat Welcome
You’ve been through college orientation before. You’re not entirely bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, excited to be living on your own for the first time. If you’re anything like my peer adviser group, you’re going to be exhausted with little energy to do anything besides the required meetings, many of which will be virtual. You may have already attended events similar to the True Northwestern Dialogues, or TNDs, and bonding activities, but embrace introducing yourself over and over and lean into the cheesiness and awkward moments on Zoom — you’ll probably learn something and make some new friends. If nothing else, you’ll bond over your mutual boredom and exhaustion.
Befriend other transfers
They’ll understand your experience better than anyone else. Returning transfers can guide you through the rough patches and give you insider tips, and other new transfers will be going through the same ups and downs. The transfer family is like no other, and you’ll smile every time an administrator welcomes the class of 2024 and all of you scream “AND TRANSFERS!”
Fight for every class you took at your old school
Some of your classes may not count for distribution requirements or anything other than electives when you first get your transfer credit report evaluation from the Office of the
Don’t compare the beginning of your old school to the beginning of NU Daily file photo by Zack Laurence
Transferring is tough, but it’ll be easier if you ask for help, lean into the awkwardness and soak up everything you can.
Registrar. Petition for them to count — you earned those credits. Some may end up as general credits, but it’s well worth the five minutes of filling out the form.
Go to your adviser
You’re probably entering NU with enough credits, but still wondering if you’ll graduate “on time,” if you can study abroad or if you can take electives. Go to your adviser at least once a quarter and let them help you. They’ll have recommendations for courses you’ve never heard of and will help you lay out a plan from your first quarter through graduation.
Do what makes you happy
It’s the simplest piece of advice, but with less time on campus, you’ll want to soak up everything you can. Identify an organization you
want to join before you arrive and get involved as soon as possible; it’ll make the transition much easier. Don’t waste your time doing something that makes you miserable. If you want to join a club, do it. Always wanted to take Hebrew? Take it instead of the elective you feel like you should take but are dreading.
Freshmen are friends, not food
In a desperate attempt to not relive freshman year, you might distance yourself from the kids who haven’t lived in a dorm before and are extra loud at night, loudly declaring yourself a sophomore or junior. However, freshmen are the unsung heroes of the transfer experience. They somehow know about what’s going on, what events are worth going to and which distros aren’t too hard. In their rush to make friends during Wildcat Welcome, they’ve met what feels like
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This was the best advice I received all year. After a particularly bad day in October, I called a friend from my old school and told her I wished I hadn’t transferred. I didn’t have as many friends, wasn’t as involved and didn’t feel entirely comfortable in the new environment. She reminded me that a year earlier, I felt the exact same way. It didn’t matter that NU was the better fit; it had only been a month, so how could I have expected to already have nine months’ worth of friends? Go at your own pace and remember that the transition will take some time, and that’s okay. Soon you’ll have a great group of friends and interesting classes, and you’ll be a part of clubs and organizations that you love. Even at the perfect school, you won’t get as far in one month as you did in nine at your old school. And if all else fails, don’t forget that if you can get through the college process twice, you can get through anything. haleyfuller2022@u.northwestern.edu
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