Every year, there are always a few students that look a little more lost, more out-of-place than the average freshman. They aren't from Buffalo, Rochester, New York or even Long Island. They aren't even from the United States.
They are international students who come to the United States to go to college, and a surprisingly large number of them come to UB. This year, 3,334 international students from 98 different countries are enrolled at UB, and that number includes undergraduate, graduate and research students.
"UB was one of the first schools to accept international students because the goal was to increase diversity here," said Steven Shaw, director of international admissions. "Also, UB has welcomed international students since the 1800s and this program has been a great asset to this university."
UB offers a diverse community of students, and Shaw says there are many factors that affect an international student's decision to attend school overseas.
"The cost of living and studying here, combined with the ranking and excellent reputation of the university, make it an attractive place to study; and the academic reputation of the university is certainly a factor which attracts many foreign students," said Shaw.
According to Shaw, international students are attracted to UB because of the characteristics of a large city present, as well as their desire to be immersed in the culture of an American university and the opportunity to meet other students from across the globe.
He also said that UB offers an active international recruiting program where recruiters travel to countries in Asia, Latin America, Canada, South Asia and selected European countries to meet with schools and students.
"We do very well in Asia because UB has a great reputation there. We have worked with schools, counsellors and students in Asia for many years and we always get a strong response," said Shaw.
Emma Spooner, a senior American Studies major, is an exchange student from the United Kingdom. She agrees that studying at UB is a great opportunity and also sees studying in the United States as a great chance to travel within the country.
"Buffalo seemed like a great place to study for a year. I really want to travel while I'm here and it's a good location," said Spooner.
Other characteristics that attract international students to UB are the variety of academic courses and fields offered.
Antii Kuusisto, a sophomore history major from Finland, said that UB gave her a warm welcome as an international student.
Shaw said international students not only have to worry about adjusting to their new environments, but the process of getting here can be difficult due to regulations for obtaining social security cards, strict visa regulations and the cost of flights.
Sumie Shimoe, a junior economics major and international student from Japan, said that for her the best thing about being at UB is living in dorms, because it is a big social difference from the living situations of students in Japan. She also sees living in the United States as a great opportunity to be able to improve her skills in speaking English.
"The living arrangements in the dorms is a benefit socially, because I don't experience that in Japan. There, students live at home or in apartments. I also find life here advantageous when it comes to improving my English," said Shimoe.
Shimoe also finds it a challenge integrating into campus life and she says UB offers a variety of international student clubs to help her meet other Japanese students as well as students from different countries.
Shaw says that international students choose to study overseas for a variety of reasons, but the reason they choose to study at UB is because this university offers a wealth of programs and services.
Not only does UB provide them with a great learning experience, but also they bring with them a cultural diversity, which benefits the cultural and societal awareness of the American students, Shaw said,
"I think international students come to UB because they know that academically, we offer the best programs. UB offers them internships and research opportunities and exceeds their academic and social expectations," he said. "We love having them here because they provide the American students with a wealth of knowledge about other countries and cultures."
Additional reporting by Juby Kuriakose
