Computer science student Ananta Bhowmick feels that moving across the globe from Bangladesh was one of the most enriching experiences of his life.

“It allows me to observe and compare different cultures between my home country and the one I am living in,” he said.

According to the Annual Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education, during the 2023-24 academic year, there was a 7% increase in the number of international students studying at U.S. higher education institutions compared to the previous academic year. 

Among the students of this academic year, around 1,126,690, 29.4% are from India, 24.6% from China and 3.8% from South Korea. Nonetheless, according to IIE, in total more than 210 different places of origin sent students to the U.S.

In the academic year 2023-24, New York University received 27,247 international students, followed by Northeastern University-Boston with 21,023 and in third place, Columbia University with 20,321.. 

According to SUNY Oswego’s Associate Provost for International Education and Programs Director Joshua McKeown, the biggest challenges international students face when they arrive at the university are the language and the difference in learning and teaching compared to their home countries, although this varies depending on the student.

The number of international students SUNY Oswego receives each year varies greatly.

“The last few years have been especially unpredictable, but we typically have between 200 and 300 students per year,” McKeown wrote.

The university currently has international students from 27 different countries and offers a variety of activities and lectures to help them integrate.

“The college campus offers a residence hall specifically designed to promote cultural awareness and engagement,” Shirley Retz, mental health counselor at Hart Hall, said.

Hart Hall is a residence hall that houses many international students as a “global living and learning center.”

Additionally, the campus provides spaces for international students to connect with other international students through clubs, organizations, community spaces and support groups.

“We also promote the hiring of culturally diverse faculty and staff through our Visiting Scholars programs and hiring initiatives,” Retz added. 

Originally from Turkey, English for Academic Purposes professor Ebru Altay Damkaci shared a similar sentiment about international students. She began teaching English in 1997 and has been working at SUNY Oswego since 2012. Today, all of the students she teaches are international.

“I went through the same learning process that my students are going through at their age, so I can really relate to what they’re going through. I understand the challenges they face,” Damkaci explained. 

For the professor, international students are attracted to studying in the United States for several reasons, such as the opportunity to improve their English language skills through full immersion in academic and everyday environments.

“In addition, studying in the U.S. is often seen as a path to better career opportunities. Obtaining a degree from an American institution can open doors professionally, not only in your home country, but also internationally,” Damkaci wrote in an email. 

According to Korean Film and Screen Studies student, Wonjae Shin, who has been living in the United States for 3 years, he had some culture shock at first, but over time he got used to his new home country.

“The way of thinking of Koreans and Americans is very different. So I had to be open-minded and relearn everything. I also didn’t speak English well, so I tried to communicate as much as possible with the native speakers to improve,” he said.

The different cultures and experiences he learned in the U.S. keep him motivated to continue studying in the country. 

A Business Administration and Management student, Moe Pyae Hmu, left her home country of Myanmar earlier this year to study in the United States.

“I think my dream motivated me to leave my country and tell myself that I can pursue a better future by studying in the United States. At first, I was very excited because it was my first time here and I also got to experience different cultures and communication,” she said.

Meanwhile, the search for a better education in the field of interest for Bhowmick was what motivated him to move to another country.

“When researching different countries, I found that the United States offered some of the best programs in computer science, as well as great opportunities for innovation and hands-on learning,” he said. 

Despite being far from their home countries, all three international students said that meeting other people of the same nationality helps them reconnect with their culture even when they are far away.

“I met a lot of exchange students and international students from Korea in college. Having them as friends makes me feel less lonely and makes me proud of wherever I am,” Shin said.