Worries of an intimidated prospective international student
Dear all,
A few months ago I was offered a place to study Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at the University of Sheffield. I am 18 years old and come from the Philippines, as suggested by my username.
There are three things that make me very intimidated by the idea of studying in the UK. Any information or past experiences on the matter would be very helpful.
Sidenote: I also received an offer to study at a large state school in the US on full scholarship.
1. Academic rigor:
To me, and I may very well be mistaken, the US is more lax academically than the UK. This may be due to how general subjects are usually taken in the US, while the UK is more oriented to specific careers. For example, the subjects in BMS are veeery specific to the course (some of which I thought I would only see in medical school) while the subjects in the US state school seem to be more general ("Biochemistry", "English", etc.) I am used to a heavy workload (IB graduate here whoop whoop!) and I can study hours in a library, but I am still very intimidated by how much I actually have to invest in my education in order to get top marks.
2. Lifestyle:
I don't drink, and I do not intend to in the next three years at Sheffield. I know Americans drink, but my perception right now is that the British social scene revolves around drinking in bars, etc. I am afraid that I might not be able to make friends, and that I am better off socially in the US.
3. Future prospects:
My parents and I feel that the UK is not very welcoming of international students, and that there is a much more significant amount of activities and student jobs available for English/European students. Is this true, or would you argue that there is still a significant amount of things to do available for internationals? This is particularly focused on the visa restrictions of the UK. I would really like to have a nice, complete CV by the end of the three years in my (albeit limited) free time.
Again, any help on any of these are very welcome and will be very appreciated! I also apologise for the generalisations... Thank you very much!
A few months ago I was offered a place to study Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at the University of Sheffield. I am 18 years old and come from the Philippines, as suggested by my username.
There are three things that make me very intimidated by the idea of studying in the UK. Any information or past experiences on the matter would be very helpful.
Sidenote: I also received an offer to study at a large state school in the US on full scholarship.
1. Academic rigor:
To me, and I may very well be mistaken, the US is more lax academically than the UK. This may be due to how general subjects are usually taken in the US, while the UK is more oriented to specific careers. For example, the subjects in BMS are veeery specific to the course (some of which I thought I would only see in medical school) while the subjects in the US state school seem to be more general ("Biochemistry", "English", etc.) I am used to a heavy workload (IB graduate here whoop whoop!) and I can study hours in a library, but I am still very intimidated by how much I actually have to invest in my education in order to get top marks.
2. Lifestyle:
I don't drink, and I do not intend to in the next three years at Sheffield. I know Americans drink, but my perception right now is that the British social scene revolves around drinking in bars, etc. I am afraid that I might not be able to make friends, and that I am better off socially in the US.
3. Future prospects:
My parents and I feel that the UK is not very welcoming of international students, and that there is a much more significant amount of activities and student jobs available for English/European students. Is this true, or would you argue that there is still a significant amount of things to do available for internationals? This is particularly focused on the visa restrictions of the UK. I would really like to have a nice, complete CV by the end of the three years in my (albeit limited) free time.
Again, any help on any of these are very welcome and will be very appreciated! I also apologise for the generalisations... Thank you very much!
It's absolutely possible to socialize with people when you don't drink. It genuinely might be slightly harder because people like going on nights out and they like getting drunk and stuff, but if that's not for you, just make that clear to people, be firm and you can still make friends when you socialize with them.
There would be plenty of horny Caucasian men in the UK that would make you feel very 'welcomed' indeed! 
Original post by filipina
Dear all,
A few months ago I was offered a place to study Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at the University of Sheffield. I am 18 years old and come from the Philippines, as suggested by my username.
There are three things that make me very intimidated by the idea of studying in the UK. Any information or past experiences on the matter would be very helpful.
Sidenote: I also received an offer to study at a large state school in the US on full scholarship.
1. Academic rigor:
To me, and I may very well be mistaken, the US is more lax academically than the UK. This may be due to how general subjects are usually taken in the US, while the UK is more oriented to specific careers. For example, the subjects in BMS are veeery specific to the course (some of which I thought I would only see in medical school) while the subjects in the US state school seem to be more general ("Biochemistry", "English", etc.) I am used to a heavy workload (IB graduate here whoop whoop!) and I can study hours in a library, but I am still very intimidated by how much I actually have to invest in my education in order to get top marks.
2. Lifestyle:
I don't drink, and I do not intend to in the next three years at Sheffield. I know Americans drink, but my perception right now is that the British social scene revolves around drinking in bars, etc. I am afraid that I might not be able to make friends, and that I am better off socially in the US.
3. Future prospects:
My parents and I feel that the UK is not very welcoming of international students, and that there is a much more significant amount of activities and student jobs available for English/European students. Is this true, or would you argue that there is still a significant amount of things to do available for internationals? This is particularly focused on the visa restrictions of the UK. I would really like to have a nice, complete CV by the end of the three years in my (albeit limited) free time.
Again, any help on any of these are very welcome and will be very appreciated! I also apologise for the generalisations... Thank you very much!
A few months ago I was offered a place to study Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at the University of Sheffield. I am 18 years old and come from the Philippines, as suggested by my username.
There are three things that make me very intimidated by the idea of studying in the UK. Any information or past experiences on the matter would be very helpful.
Sidenote: I also received an offer to study at a large state school in the US on full scholarship.
1. Academic rigor:
To me, and I may very well be mistaken, the US is more lax academically than the UK. This may be due to how general subjects are usually taken in the US, while the UK is more oriented to specific careers. For example, the subjects in BMS are veeery specific to the course (some of which I thought I would only see in medical school) while the subjects in the US state school seem to be more general ("Biochemistry", "English", etc.) I am used to a heavy workload (IB graduate here whoop whoop!) and I can study hours in a library, but I am still very intimidated by how much I actually have to invest in my education in order to get top marks.
2. Lifestyle:
I don't drink, and I do not intend to in the next three years at Sheffield. I know Americans drink, but my perception right now is that the British social scene revolves around drinking in bars, etc. I am afraid that I might not be able to make friends, and that I am better off socially in the US.
3. Future prospects:
My parents and I feel that the UK is not very welcoming of international students, and that there is a much more significant amount of activities and student jobs available for English/European students. Is this true, or would you argue that there is still a significant amount of things to do available for internationals? This is particularly focused on the visa restrictions of the UK. I would really like to have a nice, complete CV by the end of the three years in my (albeit limited) free time.
Again, any help on any of these are very welcome and will be very appreciated! I also apologise for the generalisations... Thank you very much!
I've done a lot of comparison on UK/USA universities, including talking to people in both...US universities cover things in a lot more breadth, whereas UK do a lot more depth. A US undergraduate once said he came to the UK and knew less about his chosen career than a second year UK student.
Apart from perhaps medical school, it is of my personal opinion that at undergraduate level, UK is better. But y'know, postgrad studies in America!
I think to a certain extent you'll be doing a lot of work anyway; in the UK it'll just be more focussed on your subject matter and heck you seem like an intelligent person who enjoys a challenge, so you'll thrive. University is going to be a step up wherever you go, so don't let difficulty scare you away.
On point 2...I unfortunately moved out of UK when I was 11, only returning in 2012 - so, instead of looking like someone who was born and raised here, I looked like an african immigrant. However, British people aren't *******s. They're quite polite, most of the time; I'm a muslim and I don't drink but I have never had issues making friends. If you think about it this way, you are definitely not going to be the only person not drinking! You'll meet similar people (and you seem like a fairly academically oriented person so there'll be plenty of those) to yourself. Plus, even if you make friends who do drink, you don't have to drink with them - even if you did go out with them you could just have a coke or something (unless you'd rather not be in a bar).
Provided you don't hiss at alcoholics angrily you shouldn't have a problem making friends.
Besides, I don't think people will pull the racist/immigrant card; partly because 99% of people have the common decency not to do that (at least to your face), and partly because you're not exactly just flying here, sleeping about in a council house and claiming benefits money - you're paying for education. I'm not an international student but I've met various international students - both those studying and those in interview stages with me. People tend to just generally be interested on your background more than anything, so be prepared to answer the occasional question. I'd advise searching about on the forum and seeing if you can find another international student (at Sheffield, preferably) - or perhaps you could contact Sheffield and ask if they could put you in contact with a student or two so you can start making friends. Search around on the forums...people aren't going to bite. You'll be fine - heck, when you come to the UK, I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND! XD
As for point 3, I really don't know what kind of visa restrictions you have. It may be worth contacting whichever relevant offices you need to - if you want to do paid summer placements then you may need a work permit. If so, well the solution is simply to organise it far in advance!
Once you're sure you're allowed to work in the UK, be on the ball! Inform (relevant) staff members that you're interested in summer placements. If they know you want to do it straight from the start of the year you're chances are better. Don't rely on staff members though - find out what local companies there are (especially if any of them have connections with Sheffield). Volunteer to do extra stuff for the tutors or something in your free hours.
If you go back to Philippines in the holiday, there's nothing stopping you from picking up some work experience there (though it might be harder to get paid work experience) - in fact, boasting such a wide range of work environments is probably in your favour.
Original post by filipina
Dear all,
A few months ago I was offered a place to study Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at the University of Sheffield. I am 18 years old and come from the Philippines, as suggested by my username.
There are three things that make me very intimidated by the idea of studying in the UK. Any information or past experiences on the matter would be very helpful.
Sidenote: I also received an offer to study at a large state school in the US on full scholarship.
1. Academic rigor:
To me, and I may very well be mistaken, the US is more lax academically than the UK. This may be due to how general subjects are usually taken in the US, while the UK is more oriented to specific careers. For example, the subjects in BMS are veeery specific to the course (some of which I thought I would only see in medical school) while the subjects in the US state school seem to be more general ("Biochemistry", "English", etc.) I am used to a heavy workload (IB graduate here whoop whoop!) and I can study hours in a library, but I am still very intimidated by how much I actually have to invest in my education in order to get top marks.
A few months ago I was offered a place to study Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at the University of Sheffield. I am 18 years old and come from the Philippines, as suggested by my username.
There are three things that make me very intimidated by the idea of studying in the UK. Any information or past experiences on the matter would be very helpful.
Sidenote: I also received an offer to study at a large state school in the US on full scholarship.
1. Academic rigor:
To me, and I may very well be mistaken, the US is more lax academically than the UK. This may be due to how general subjects are usually taken in the US, while the UK is more oriented to specific careers. For example, the subjects in BMS are veeery specific to the course (some of which I thought I would only see in medical school) while the subjects in the US state school seem to be more general ("Biochemistry", "English", etc.) I am used to a heavy workload (IB graduate here whoop whoop!) and I can study hours in a library, but I am still very intimidated by how much I actually have to invest in my education in order to get top marks.
I don't drink, and I do not intend to in the next three years at Sheffield. I know Americans drink, but my perception right now is that the British social scene revolves around drinking in bars, etc. I am afraid that I might not be able to make friends, and that I am better off socially in the US. There's no point lying, a lot of the social life of UK students relates to drinking one way or another. That said there's no reason you have to drink, one of my good friends at uni was Muslim and therefore didn't drink - he was normally more up for going out than most of us, probably because he wasn't nursing a hangover from the night before!
There's also plenty of clubs/societies and societies at university where the core activity will not involve drinking - my advice would be to get yourself into a few of these at the beginning of term and then stick with the ones you enjoy and where there's a nice bunch of people.
Again - I can't really comment on what it's like in the US, although I imagine that there is less of a bar/club culture just as a result of the age restrictions.
3. Future prospects:
My parents and I feel that the UK is not very welcoming of international students, and that there is a much more significant amount of activities and student jobs available for English/European students. Is this true, or would you argue that there is still a significant amount of things to do available for internationals? This is particularly focused on the visa restrictions of the UK. I would really like to have a nice, complete CV by the end of the three years in my (albeit limited) free time.
My parents and I feel that the UK is not very welcoming of international students, and that there is a much more significant amount of activities and student jobs available for English/European students. Is this true, or would you argue that there is still a significant amount of things to do available for internationals? This is particularly focused on the visa restrictions of the UK. I would really like to have a nice, complete CV by the end of the three years in my (albeit limited) free time.
I don't think that's down to a lack of welcome though, in fact many of my friends from my uni years (and my gf) are internationals. They're just the ones who decided to mingle at the beginning, join societies and generally get involved with uni life.
(edited 9 years ago)
In the US, unless you study Engineering (maybe also Business, not sure), you have to take the "Core Curriculum" of the Arts and Sciences. You have to take certain amount of credits on foreign language, history, humanities, science, etc. I look at the structures of UK universities and am amazed on how focused they are, allowing students to get a Bachelor's degree in 3 years.
**Phil, the University of Reading representative, is out of the office this week so our student ambassadors Anja and Amy are using this account to reply to threads**
Hi filipina (and others!)
I just wanted to say a bit about my experience, as I think it's quite relevant! I'm actually from the US (I lived there from ages 5 to 17) but I am just finishing my undergrad degree in the UK. In terms of academic rigour, the level is different from uni to uni across both the US and the UK. However, one thing you should know (but you seem to already) is that undergrads in the US are expected to complete general education courses totalling a certain number of credits (it depends on the college normally). The type of studying is also very different between the US and the UK- in the US, it's more like secondary school in that you'll have more contact hours and guided learning (tests, etc), whereas in the UK it's often more individual and marks are based on bigger, more all encompassing, projects.
Drinking can be a big part of uni for some students, but there are plenty of students who don't drink (or don't drink often). For example, at Reading we have an RU Not Drinking Much? society that organizes alternative events for students that don't want their social life to revolve around drinking. If you do decide to go to the US, it might be worth checking out where your college falls on the Party School lists. But even this can be misleading, there is a variety of students at all unis!
Finally, I'm an international student, and I've thrown myself into activities and never been held back! You can still work up to 20 hours a week while studying (see: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Study-work--more/Working-during-your-studies/How-many-hours-a-week-can-I-work/) and there are lots of societies to get involved with! I would also always recommend volunteering, as I spent a lot of my time doing this and it has really helped my CV, my confidence, and my career prospects.
I hope that helps a little bit, but if you have any more questions or concerns feel free to ask!
Anja
Final Year, English Lit and International Relations
Hi filipina (and others!)
I just wanted to say a bit about my experience, as I think it's quite relevant! I'm actually from the US (I lived there from ages 5 to 17) but I am just finishing my undergrad degree in the UK. In terms of academic rigour, the level is different from uni to uni across both the US and the UK. However, one thing you should know (but you seem to already) is that undergrads in the US are expected to complete general education courses totalling a certain number of credits (it depends on the college normally). The type of studying is also very different between the US and the UK- in the US, it's more like secondary school in that you'll have more contact hours and guided learning (tests, etc), whereas in the UK it's often more individual and marks are based on bigger, more all encompassing, projects.
Drinking can be a big part of uni for some students, but there are plenty of students who don't drink (or don't drink often). For example, at Reading we have an RU Not Drinking Much? society that organizes alternative events for students that don't want their social life to revolve around drinking. If you do decide to go to the US, it might be worth checking out where your college falls on the Party School lists. But even this can be misleading, there is a variety of students at all unis!
Finally, I'm an international student, and I've thrown myself into activities and never been held back! You can still work up to 20 hours a week while studying (see: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Study-work--more/Working-during-your-studies/How-many-hours-a-week-can-I-work/) and there are lots of societies to get involved with! I would also always recommend volunteering, as I spent a lot of my time doing this and it has really helped my CV, my confidence, and my career prospects.
I hope that helps a little bit, but if you have any more questions or concerns feel free to ask!
Anja
Final Year, English Lit and International Relations
Hi, first let me tell you I am actually the admissions tutor for BMS at Sheffield, (so if you would like any additional specific information please do get in touch).
1. The previous responses are correct in terms of the differences between the US and UK degree systems, and this is to do with depth and breadth. UK degrees are more focused and in depth, while in the US they are much broader. If you want to really concentrate on BMS then the UK would allow you to do this.
2. In terms of lifestyle we have a huge variety of societies, and I have popped a link to information on these here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/get-involved/societies/
Although there is an aspect of drinking being a part of the social scene for students it is by no means the only thing going on. Our societies are really diverse, and we also have opportunities for volunteering and sports activities too.
3. Take a look at our "We are international campaign"http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/global/we-are-international/ and you will get a feel for the fantastic welcome we give to our international students. Take a look at our overseas BMS case studies: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/bms/prospective_ug/international
We have a whole variety of work and voluntary experiences for all our students (both home and overseas) to take part in, including the Sheffield Graduate Award, SURE scheme.
This link will help you see the opportunities and support available for overseas students from our careers service. http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/inter
I hope this has helped allay any concerns you might have. As I said above, please do get in touch directly if you would like more information.
1. The previous responses are correct in terms of the differences between the US and UK degree systems, and this is to do with depth and breadth. UK degrees are more focused and in depth, while in the US they are much broader. If you want to really concentrate on BMS then the UK would allow you to do this.
2. In terms of lifestyle we have a huge variety of societies, and I have popped a link to information on these here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/get-involved/societies/
Although there is an aspect of drinking being a part of the social scene for students it is by no means the only thing going on. Our societies are really diverse, and we also have opportunities for volunteering and sports activities too.
3. Take a look at our "We are international campaign"http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/global/we-are-international/ and you will get a feel for the fantastic welcome we give to our international students. Take a look at our overseas BMS case studies: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/bms/prospective_ug/international
We have a whole variety of work and voluntary experiences for all our students (both home and overseas) to take part in, including the Sheffield Graduate Award, SURE scheme.
This link will help you see the opportunities and support available for overseas students from our careers service. http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/inter
I hope this has helped allay any concerns you might have. As I said above, please do get in touch directly if you would like more information.
Hey I’m a business and marketing student in Glasgow, and waswondering if I could just ask a quick question for my dissertation:When choosing to study at a UK University, what factors aremost important in your decision?Thanks!
I’m a business and marketing student in Glasgow, and waswondering if I could just ask a quick question for my dissertation:When choosing to study at a UK University, what factors aremost important in your decision?Thanks!Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Getting to Know Your Tutors & Lecturers: Making the Most of Your Learning Environment
- Engineering @ Edinburgh - 2nd-year entry w/o Further Maths (a little terrified!)
- LSE Graduate prospects
- A Short Guide To Getting Around KU Campuses and Commuting to Kingston University
- Physician associate
- Exeter uni vs Sussex uni?
- Durham or Bristol
- Job prospects for international BSc Nutrition Graduates?
- Creative Arts and Mental Health MSc at Queen Mary University of London
- Gap year or uni??
- Oxford (MPP) vs Cambridge (MPP) vs LSE (MPP)
- What is the vibe/culture/stereotype of studying at Imperial College London?
- About the course, department, career prospects and life in sheffield
- How is MMU fashion business & manager course?
- Did i pick a dead course?
- choosing between Warwick or Bath
- Final year Uni choice
- Uni response time
- Queen Mary International relations with Business management
- prospective student for BSc Sociology at the LSE
Latest
Last reply 1 minute ago
Amazon Project management apprenticeship 2024Last reply 2 minutes ago
Official University of Bristol Applicant Thread for 2024Last reply 4 minutes ago
What super curricular activities should I be doing??Last reply 4 minutes ago
Official University of Sheffield Offer Holders Thread for 2024 entryLast reply 5 minutes ago
CPS Pupillage/Legal Trainee Scheme 2024 (2025 Start)Last reply 5 minutes ago
JK Rowling in ‘arrest me’ challenge over hate crime lawLast reply 5 minutes ago
Official UCL Offer Holders Thread for 2024 entryLast reply 7 minutes ago
AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1 (Higher Tier triple) 8463/1H - 22nd May 2024 [Exam Chat]Last reply 7 minutes ago
Official Cambridge Postgraduate Applicants 2024 ThreadLast reply 9 minutes ago
emmanuella's study discussions #2: taking breaksLast reply 11 minutes ago
Official Dental Hygiene and Therapy (Oral Health Science) 2024 Entry ThreadDentistry
2862
Last reply 12 minutes ago
How many people in a flat in uni accomodation is too many?Last reply 12 minutes ago
Official University of St Andrews Applicant Thread for 2024Last reply 13 minutes ago
Official Durham University Offer Holders Thread for 2024 entryLast reply 14 minutes ago
LSE International Social and Public Policy and Economics (LLK1) 2024 ThreadLast reply 15 minutes ago
LSE anthropology and law 2024Trending
Last reply 1 week ago
If you could instantly become fluent in any foreign language which one would it be?Last reply 3 months ago
About the NCUK IFY Program for university Studies in the UKTrending
Last reply 1 week ago
If you could instantly become fluent in any foreign language which one would it be?Last reply 3 months ago
About the NCUK IFY Program for university Studies in the UK
