This text helps international students make informed decisions about pursuing higher education in the United States, and choosing an institution. Serving as a guide to new arrivals beginning their education, it enables students to successfully navigate within the American cultural and educational systems.

Preface In a way, we are all strangers. Very few of us stay in one place. We all come from somewhere. We move looking for knowledge, better lives, better opportunities, and new challenges. We are searching for peace, love, happiness, and freedom. We want to travel and explore. We try to find professions and occupations suited for our needs, skills, and talents. No matter what makes and motivates you to study in the United States--a long-planned and awaited journey or a sudden occasion--you are taking a decisive step in your life. To be successful in college is not easy. It is especially tough if you are new to this country. The language, the customs, the rules, the weather--everything could become a new hurdle for you. There are many questions that can confuse any student. What is the correct visa? How do I choose the right college? What is the right program for me? How do I take notes in class? How do I get help? What shall I watch on television? How can I remain optimistic? This book addresses these and many other questions and problems that almost every foreign student will face on a college campus. This book will help you overcome the initial myths and fears related to visas and will help you understand higher education in the United States. It also advises how to plan your day and how to get the most from the printed sources around you. It discusses how to organize your semester, make appointments, and plan ahead. It gives tips on how and where to talk to your professor. It trains you in productive note taking and essay writing. The book provides you with basic tools of critical thinking. It shows how to use American television, newspapers, and the Internet more effectively for your education. It will help you to understand American customs. From this book you will learn more about American conversations and greetings, celebrations and holidays, eating habits and shopping. Once you make the decision to study in the United States, you will find that many advisors will emerge who have your best interests at heart. Listen to their advice, but make sure that you base your decisions on solid evidence. Let your decisions be informed by your own careful research. Once you have made a commitment to an institution, you should follow the process that the school presents to you and be timely in meeting your deadlines. Once you arrive in the United States, take advantage of the resources available at your college or university. A companion website is available for this book: www.prenhall.com/success Throughout this book, the web symbol, at left, will indicate when topics are explored in more detail on the website. We hope this book will steer you in the right directions. Remember that this will be a unique opportunity, so take responsibility for making it a productive and positive one. Good luck in your journey! A note for students and advisors Advising students in the area of visas related to education is a complicated process. People who are not qualified to give advice in this area often give students conflicting or confusing information. The Foreign Student Advisor at the school you attend should be fully trained, and you should follow his or her advice. A professional association represents advisors; it is called the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA). This organization provides information, training, and resources for Foreign Student Advisors. Much of what is presented in this book that is related to visas was either directly or indirectly influenced by the NAFSAManualand the U.S. Department of StateCode of Federal Regulations.Information about NAFSA can be found on the Internet at www.nafsa.org. Remember, however, that ultimately the U.S. Department of State issues visas and the Immigration and Naturalization Service grants status and permits ent