How happy it is when you get admitted to the university of your dreams! A dream that is so real and palpable. This excitement and joy you can’t imagine: studying in the United States of America, where everything seems possible if you try a little harder. So I know you are not alone in this fascination, because I had similar feelings of the aesthetic and pride of studying in America. I couldn’t wait for the time my flight would take off. I started yearning for this day, the very first time my visa was handed to me with the inscriptions boldly written, University of Arkansas, United States of America. I began thanking God for this great opportunity and asked for His guidance through my journey.
It was my first time traveling to a foreign country for studies. I was very naïve about the state of Arkansas, as well as the town, Fayetteville. I became full of abstract thinking and imaginations of how the night falls and what the daylight would be like, and what the culture of the town and educational life was like. Those moments were filled with joy, and perplexity of the challenges I would encounter. So I started surfing the internet to know more about the town in which I was going to start my educational life. Fortunately, the University webpage was very helpful in giving clear information.
Photo Source: School St Posters
The International Students and Scholars (ISS) office sent me a chart on how to prepare, and some of the things I had to bring along. Most of my questions through emails were answered and I appreciated it greatly. I also want to thank Michael Freeman and Stacy Clay, who were constantly communicating with me before my arrival. Moreover, I started looking on the University website for information on the orientation process, what to bring, the housing system, and making friends through Facebook with students at the university so that they could help me with some personal questions about accommodation. These were really helpful in my search because it gave me clear ideas about where I was going and made some friends online before getting there.
I arrived at the U of A on the 28th May, a rainy summer day, after spending a night in the Candle Suite Hotel. What baffled me most was the emptiness I felt during that summer, since most of the students had gone to their respective places for summer vacations and I had no idea how summer would be until I got here. The first place I entered upon my arrival to the university was the Student Union. At first appearance, I was totally amazed by the warm welcome received at the union office and couldn’t hold my eyes off of how well it was organized. All staff available were ready and willing to help me out. I was then directed to the ISS office like a prince heading to his palace. I got to the ISS office and within a few hours after a welcome talk, they assigned me a temporal place to stay. This enabled me to feel at ease in searching for an affordable and convenient apartment for the rest of the semester. A few days later, I found a very good and nearby off-campus apartment through Facebook and the University housing webpages. I loved it then, and even now still live in it.
Something so important I never wanted to miss was the orientation day, because that was where all the answers to my questions lied. During the orientation day we toured campus, had dinner at the Fulbright dining hall together with the many students who had come from their distinctive parts of the world. Actually, that was the very first time of my socialization at the University of Arkansas. Besides, you can’t register for classes without going through the orientation process. It is a must for every newly admitted student at the U of A.
As for transportation within the town you need not worry, because the Razorback Transit has you all covered. From you apartment to campus and shopping centers like the Mall, Wal-Mart, the movie theatres or even the popular, Dickson Street. The Razorback Transit drives around town picking up and dropping off students on and off campus to their various departments and apartments at specified stops. You can view their movement toward or away from your spot through the university razorback apps. I got to know them during orientation.
Registration for classes was a little difficult at first, but with the aid of the ISS Office and my adviser during and after orientation, I enrolled in the required classes for the semester. The University assigns faculty advisers to every admitted student who help with class enrollment and other academic issues until you graduate from the school. In fact, my adviser has been extremely helpful to me since then. His door is always opened to answer my many questions and he guides me in making good decisions.
Obviously, making friends at the University of Arkansas is one of the easiest things when you are more involved with the plethora of activities held every semester at the school. The first events through which I made friendships were at the international students’ orientation and the ICT kickoffs, held at the Reynolds Center.
Some of the things that I could have brought more of were: jeans, snow boats, casual dress and traditional customs. As for warm coats, you can bring 2 or 3 because you will get them cheap here. I don’t think you should worry in bringing many books. Mullins library is stocked up with books you can borrow for a month or two. Besides, you can buy used or new ones at cheaper price at the University Bookstore or amazon online services. Do not worry about bringing too many clothes; you get them here cheaper and in abundance. What you can bring more from your home country are leather shoes and jeans. There will also be a shopping trip during orientation. Luckily, most items can be purchased after arrival, and perhaps they will even be cheaper here.
- Warm clothes:If you are arriving in the winter you will want to bring a good jacket. Temperatures can be as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit, normally ranging between 20 to 40 degrees F. The wind is usually cold and snows occasionally. Sometimes school can even close down due to too much snow. But in Fayetteville, there can sometimes be no snow all year round.
- Shoes: Good leather shoes may be expensive here, ranging from $50-$300, excluding tax. You may want to purchase them from your country depending on their prices.
- Electronics: With electronics, carefully check the voltage requirements of electronic appliances, some might be of no use in the U.S. The voltage used in the United States is 110V so make sure your devices are compatible with that.
-Joshua, Ghana
