By Elina Urrutia I Staff Writer I
Students from all over the world choose to study at CSUSB each year, but what makes CSUSB so special to international students?
To begin questing for answers students from different countries were interviewed regarding the topic.
“I chose CSUSB because compared to other schools, CSUSB is one of the most diverse campuses in Southern California,” said Gina Yeh, an international student from Taiwan.
“The university also offers an English language program in which if students pass a certain level, we can get the TOEFL waiver.
The TOEFL waiver, also known as the Test of English as a Foreign Language exempts students from having to take lower English classes because they have proven proficiency in English.
“Overall, I am pretty satisfied with this university,” said Yeh.
“I have made many local and international friends from many different cultures in which I get a chance to practice English with every day.”
Many times, as local students, we are unaware of the programs and benefits that we have access to as students.
“I chose CSUSB as my host university because I am a psychology major and this university offers a great psychology program,” said Kim Haejun, an international student from Korea.
Haejun continued, “Throughout my stay I have improved in my English speaking skills from the classes I have taken, the professors I have worked with, and the friends I have made.”
“The only thing is that I think that CSUSB should have more places to enjoy nearby—It is so isolated from everything,” continued Haejun.
Although CSUSB provides a breath taking scenery, to some it may lack nearby commercial areas.
This can push students to get out of their comfort zone.
“I chose CSUSB because I found it easy to apply and I knew people here that could help me throughout my stay,” said Eduardo Garcia Garate, an international student from Mexico.
“I did not really expect anything from CSUSB but I did expect the academic aspect of it to be a bit more difficult,” said Garate.
“The program helped me learn a lot more English and also a lot more about the academic system in the U.S. compared to the academic system in Mexico,” said Garate.
“Although I am an international student, CSUSB gives me the opportunity to be a full-time student and also work on campus,” Garcia Garate said.
CSUSB not only offers students a wide variety of majors, courses, and extra-curricular activities but also provides students with an opportunity to have a flexible work schedule on campus.
“Overall, I enjoy the CSUSB in general, it is a great campus and has a nice landscape,” said Garate.
Being one of Southern California’s most diverse universities creates great opportunities for all of our students to form friendship and form connections with people from all over the world.
Our student body is composed of all kinds of different cultures, ethnicity, languages, programs, activities, etc. and that is what makes us special.
That is what makes CSUSB home to international students.
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