For most college students, moving away from their families and into a college dorm is a huge adjustment. Yet this adjustment is even bigger for Bryn Mawr’s 13% international student population. These students face an added set of barriers and anxieties that many domestic students may not have considered.
The process of finding Bryn Mawr looks very different for all international students. For freshman Katerina Achliopa from Greece, resources encouraging her to apply to US colleges were offered. Her high school had a visit from Mount Holyoke College. “I saw that there were schools like women’s schools, so I started searching about them, and I found Bryn Mawr which I really liked. From the moment I saw the website, I was like ‘Wow, this is a really cool school.’”
However for others like Fatma Ayad from Libya, the journey to Bryn Mawr was far more independent. “It was a very long time of research because we don’t have any resources in Libya on how to apply and stuff. My main resource was Reddit, it was literally perfect for everything.”
Several students mentioned financial aid as a factor that encouraged them to apply, as Bryn Mawr is somewhat rare in offering need-based aid to international students, according to the Yale Young African Scholars program.
After committing to the school, students must coordinate with the Office of International Student and Scholar Advising and prepare for the transition ahead. “I was really excited. We received a lot of preparation for coming to school, we received a lot of information in advance,” said Achliopa. “From the Office of International Student [and Scholar Advising], we got a questionnaire about when we’re arriving, what time, how we’d be getting there…so they can be ready for us.”
Sara Mandour from Egypt experienced some anxiety prior to her arrival. She shared, “It was really stressful before coming with the visa process and travel and all that… I was scared, of course, to come to the US. I came alone and I did not know anybody here at Bryn Mawr before coming… There were pages on Instagram saying people here aren’t nice… But honestly, the moment I got here, I was like, ‘Oh that’s not that bad.’..I thought it was going to be 100 times scarier. But everyone was so nice.” Mandour mentioned that meeting people online through a class of 2028 Instagram group chat made the process much easier.
Ayad felt her unique high school experience made her transition smoother. She said, “Arriving here was not very scary, but I feel like I would be an exception because I’ve been here in America before as an exchange student. It’s just that this time, I was like completely independent so there was not like a host family waiting for me or anything.”
However for Mandour, never having been to the United States before was somewhat overwhelming. Mandour explained, “My flight was 21 hours which was a lot…The moment I landed at the airport, I felt, ok, I’m here right now, it’s actually happening.’ I feel like before that, I hadn’t really processed what was happening. And then the moment I landed, I was like ‘Wow. I’m alone now. And I’m actually doing this. And I’m not 18 yet. And this is actually happening!’”
For Achliopa, travel issues proved to be a setback. “Arriving as a first-year, especially international student, was interesting…We’re supposed to arrive one day earlier than everyone so we can have an international student orientation. My flight got delayed and arrived there two days late. I informed the international student [office] and Dean MB.” She mentioned that the Office of International Student and Scholar Advising made things much easier. “When I arrived, I immediately got an email from the Assistant Dean of International Students Patricia Lausch. She helped me with the things I lost when I was late…She helped me do the things I needed to do for like my registration into the country and my immigration things, to schedule my social security travel trip. Stuff like that.”
Yet support from the college was not always sufficient, with several students mentioning a lack of transport offered from the airport to campus. Achliopa described, “I know some of my other friends go to different schools and they’re international students, most of them got picked up from the airport by the school. We actually do not have a service like that…So the students have to find their own way, like get a taxi or an Uber. And that can be very difficult especially when you’re traveling internationally for the first time in your life…My roommate’s parents were kind enough to come and pick me up from the airport, but I was really anxious to take an Uber or taxi. I know a lot of people have talked about bringing back the service of picking students up from the school.”
Ayad shared a similar experience, saying, “It was a bit scary using Uber for the first time, but I had to do it, and I did it, and it was fine.”
Once students arrived and Customs Week began, other difficulties included a banking trip that Achliopa and others described as poorly organized. International students were taken to several banks to open accounts, however they were mostly closed or required an appointment. Achliopa wound up having to schedule an appointment and return on her own another day.
Ayad described what she sees as a general lack of programs specific to international students. “They’re doing the bare minimum, I would say… For example, when I arrived here, I was like, ‘ok, I need to buy a lot of stuff. I need to buy a pillow and blankets.’ But I didn’t know where to start with that. Like where should I go, what stores should I go to? So I would have really loved if they had shopping trips specifically for international students.” She mentioned a presentation about taxes and an ice cream social during customs week as international student-exclusive events, but little since.
Mandour, however, felt the support from the school was very robust. “From the moment I got here, the college was trying to show us that there were so many resources for help. Especially as internationals. So I did not feel as unsupported as I thought I would be. And the people here also made it very easy,” said Mandour. “I haven’t really been in contact with the International Office other than for papers and stuff. But whenever I need something…as an international student…I get the help immediately. We have Patti [Lausch] and Nora [Weiser Woods], they have been really helpful…They help us transition here smoothly.”
She also described a strong support system within the community of international students. “It feels nice to know that whatever I’ve gone through, a lot of people have gone through it as well…maybe domestic students haven’t gone through it, but I know I’ll find other students that have gotten through it as well.”
Ayad also described a program offered to international students where two people are paired with a host of sorts who organizes outings and hangouts with them. The host is often a member of the Bryn Mawr faculty. Ayad said that she really enjoyed learning about Korean culture from her host.
Ayad mentioned that opportunities like this to socialize with other international students were positive, because “It’s really hard as an international student to make friends and form friend groups. Especially with domestic students. They already have their own bubbles.”
Mandour also mentioned the challenge of a new social environment, saying, “I feel like I should have pushed myself out a bit more in the beginning. I was afraid to approach people, I think I still am. I think everyone here is very nice but they’re also very introverted, which is not something that I’m used to. In Egypt, like you could get into a room where you don’t know anybody, and in two minutes you’d be friends with anyone. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just I’m introverted as well. It’s hard to find people who initiate the approach.”
However, both students say they have now found a good group of friends who they are happy with. Nearly three months into school, Ayad, Mandour, and Achliopa all described feeling entirely settled into the college.
