The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
Namaste, everyone! My name is Shivani Harshad Merchant and I’m an international undergraduate student from India. I am a sophomore Computer Science and Engineering major at the University of Arkansas, and am eager to share my experience as an international transfer student with you!
I feel that being an undergraduate student studying abroad is a great mission. Being all alone by yourself without your parents at the age of 18 and flying all by yourself in the midst of hundreds of unknown people – studying, cooking for yourself, dealing with all of the stuff related to financials, finding housing, settling down by ourselves, etc. …These are all things we have never faced before while living with our parents.
The most difficult thing about being an international student to me is leaving our own home and coming to a new and different place where no one will be familiar with us. Though I felt handling everything by myself was a bit of a difficult task, now I can say that it has helped me grow as a person. The things I deal with in my everyday life have helped me understand how to recognize people and perceive the facts and reality of life much better, which I could have never learned if I were still back home.
Why I Chose to Study in the USA
I originally was planning on getting my bachelor’s degree in India and then continue my master’s degree education in either Canada or the United States. A lot of people dream of studying abroad and getting the most prestigious degree from the best university out there—I had that dream as well! But with the guidance of my parents and teachers, I decided to pursue both my undergraduate and graduate degrees abroad.
The idea behind this decision was that I could start from the basics in the same place where I’m supposed to earn my graduate degree, as well as where I hope to eventually get a job. This way, I thought I would become much more familiar with the education system here from the start, and it would prepare me for continuing my master’s degree.
I’m lucky that my family supported my goals. My parents have always been a great support to me my whole life and they have always stood beside me to make sure I accomplish everything I set out to do. I can truly say that parental love is the only love that is truthful, selfless, unconditional, and forgiving. I don’t think I would be where I am today without the support I’ve received from my family.
Shore of Lake Fayetteville
Why I Decided to Transfer from the University of South Carolina to Arkansas
I started my freshman year at the University of South Carolina. However, after completing my first semester I realized that as a student in the field of Computer Science, I needed to be in an environment with an engineering focus. I felt that I needed to find a better fit for me. That’s why I decided to transfer and continue the rest of my studies at the University of Arkansas, getting more opportunities to learn about the developments in the field of Computer Science in the process.
Moreover, I wanted to transfer to a state that I was somewhat familiar with because of the pandemic. I was a bit familiar with the U of A, so it seemed that it would be easier to transfer here. I really had a hard time during this pandemic, so it was great that the transfer process was not that difficult, and I received support from the International Students and Scholars Office.
If you would like to know the most important factors you should keep in mind while transferring to U of A, keep reading!
What to Consider when Transferring to a Different School
Start Early
I would advise anyone who wants to transfer to start preparing a semester in advance so that you have sufficient time to get ready and gather all the required documents.
Start your application early because as soon as you complete it, the International Admissions and the International Students and Scholars Office will be asking for many documents and preparing them takes time. So be sure to practice proper time management so that in the end everything is done smoothly and without any stress!
Check the Credit Transfer Policy
Make sure to check the Transfer Credit Policy of the U of A so that the courses which you are taking in your current institution will be accepted by U of A or else that credit hour for a particular class may not get counted towards your degree. There is also a useful Transfer Planning Guide.
Maintain your GPA
Keep in mind, maintaining the required GPA is a key factor for getting admission in your dream major. Check the minimum GPA requirement and strive to obtain a high GPA because you may want to apply for transfer scholarships where a high GPA is very important.
Transfer Scholarships
There are several scholarships available for transfer students. If you aim to get one, be sure to maintain a high GPA (I would say higher than 3.0) to be able to compete for a scholarship. One of the things that I like the most at the U of A is the availability of so many scholarships for every student coming in from different backgrounds.
Just by planning and maintaining good academics we can receive several scholarship advantages. It’s also important to keep in mind that each department provides scholarships for currently enrolled students as well, so be sure to explore what your department and program offers.
Check in with the International Admissions and the International Students and Scholars Office
The staff at U of A is so helpful and even during the Covid-19 pandemic, they gave me the utmost support. From starting with the application procedure to getting to Fayetteville—everything went so smoothly thanks to them.
As a transfer student, it’s important that you keep in touch regularly with the International Admissions Office by contacting iao@uark.edu and the International Students and Scholars Office at iss@uark.edu. The admissions team will help you check the status of your application and watch out for any missing documents on your application checklist.
I’m so blessed that Arkansas has become my home in just a few months. My happiness can’t be expressed in words but I’m so grateful for God who is helping me walk towards a beautiful life with so many kind people. I made friends here who are generous and have always supported me during tough times. After completion of my UG program, I aim to get a job as a Software Engineer and soon I will start my Master’s degree. I know I had some struggles initially after coming to the USA but now I can say that my experiences are shaping me into a better human being.
One piece of advice I would like to give is this: though I know classes right now are a bit tough because a lot of our studies take place online, you can still enjoy learning and find some good to take away from this experience. You can study anywhere you want to; you can enjoy homecooked meals, and you can repeat watching the recorded lectures as many as times as you want to really grasp the material.
Just be confident and believe in the decisions you made for your career. and remember to live your life to the fullest! Enjoy every moment of being in the USA and don’t forget to capture all of those memories in pictures. No matter what the circumstance, you can find beauty in every day.
