In the U.S.
Since I first got into university, I have always dreamt of being an exchange student. I went to the University of Missouri (MU) for an academic year. MU is known for not only its great education in the mid-west of America but also because it has the lowest tuition among state universities. Although I had the opportunity to experience American campus life, it was not easy because of financial difficulties. Based on my experiences, let me tell you a few tips to save your money in a variety of ways to help with your satisfactory exchange student life in America.
First of all, you need to find a part-time job on campus. Officially, it is not allowed to work as an international student with J-1 visa on campus. However, if you make a social security number and then get special permission from the international center, you can be hired in any facilities on campus such as the dining hall, residential hall, etc. The International Student Center Service is there to help. Second, you can reduce your payment by using school rental programs. On campus, there are a lot of dormitories which are really expensive. If you choose a place which is located at off-campus, you can save a lot of money. If you are concerned about the commute, you can apply to the Mizzou Bike Share program for free. Most importantly, the biggest difference between America and Korea is the price of textbooks. If you rent textbooks at the MU Student Center, you just pay a little and then give that back at the end of the semester. Third, you should join some school communities. Many communities on campus offer free food and stuff. The most useful community is called ‘Free & For Sale’ which manages selling and buying used goods such as a standing lamp, a desk, and a chair etc. Students who stay in America for just one or two semester need to check that out to save their money.
Unfortunately, universities in America are not generous to international students, in terms of scholarships. They only take care of their domestic students who have citizenship or a U.S. green card with wide variety of scholarship programs. However you don’t need to be daunted. Keep an eye on the currency exchange rate, send your money at once and lastly use a check card from an American bank.
Studying abroad will train you to study with different people with different cultural backgrounds and to understand their differences by living in a healthy environment for study and interaction. Of course, responsibility and a sense of challenge are must-have qualifications as an exchange student, but these are some realistic matters that need to be considered and prepared for in advance. Be wise with those tips that I mentioned above. I hope you have a wonderful experience without being worried about financial problems.
By Kim Han-na, Guest Reporter