International Student Experience
Diverse perspectives. International Experiences.
Discover the unique stories and experiences of students from around the world who have made the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø their home.
Read our stories and catch a glimpse of our academic journeys, cultural backgrounds, personal growth and our amazing experiences at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has one of the best opportunities out of scholarships, internships, and diversity of classes and professors. And it is a wonderful place to start...
Alina Galiyeva (Kokshetau, Kazakhstan )
Alina GaliyevaÂ
Hometown and country: Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
Languages spoken: Russian, Kazakh, English
Major: Music (piano performance)
What are you favorite ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø classes so far?
Writing and acting classes are very fun!!
At the moment, what is your career goal?
Perform, play, sing, and create music. I want to do everything out of this and surround myself with art people.
Hobbies and Interests: I like taking some little musical videos. I like cooking sometimes and traveling to the new places.
What ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø clubs/organizations are you part of?
I have been a part of a pep-band, which is a band that plays during basketball games. But I want to join the Cofc Outdoors club. They do group hiking and little trips in South Carolina.
What is your favorite thing to do at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø on the weekends or after class?
My favorite thing to do in my free time is finishing everything that I did not finish out of the homework, but also going to the beach when it is summer, meeting my friends and going shopping together.
Why did you choose ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø?
I think it is the biggest and main question we ask ourselves when graduating from school, and now it is the start of a new part of our life. Always extremely exciting and stressful, but remarkably interesting. I also experienced the same thing.
You want to dedicate your four years to a certain thing that you will enjoy doing. You will meet new people, new cultures, unfamiliar places. It sounds scary, but you must believe in yourself and choose the place your intuition will be comfortable with.
For me, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was the most comfortable place: great weather, people from so many different states and countries, prettiest campus. I like cities like ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, not that big but historical and south. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has one of the best opportunities out of scholarships, internships, and diversity of classes and professors. And it is a wonderful place to start when you are going to a different country. Before applying here, I did huge research about everything and decided that this place is best for me. I have been here already for almost 2 years and am still so grateful for everything that I have, for everything that I accomplished.
"Felt Like Home"
Originally from Greece, Alex shares his experience and how the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has become his second home. Learn how this psychology major gets involved on campus, and connects with the international community at the College.
"To be part of this amazing community...
Originally from Mexico, Victor gives an inside look at being an international and transfer student at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. Follow his day as a finance major at the School of Business, explore his experience as a Hispanic Latino student, and see how he utilizes on-campus resources to succeed.
From day one, CofC has been incredibly welcoming and making me feel right at home!
Linh Bui (Hai Phong, Vietnam)
Linh Bui
Hometown and country: Hai Phong, Vietnam
Languages spoken: Vietnamese and English
Major: Management Major and Psychology Minor
What are you favorite ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø classes so far?
Abnormal Psychology and Lifespan Psychology. Both are very interesting classes!
At the moment, what is your career goal?
I want to be Human Resource Manager
Hobbies and interests:
I love going to the beach with my friends and shopping on King Street. I also like going to cute coffee shops to study with my suitemates and watching movies together.
What ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø clubs/organizations are you part of?
I’m in Psychology, Women in Business, and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Founders Club
What is your favorite thing to do at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø on the weekends or after class?
My favorite thing to do on the weekend in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is going to the beach with my friends (especially at night!) and shopping.
Why did you choose ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø?
I chose to study at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø for two reasons.
First, I think the location of the school is absolutely ideal. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is such an amazing city! It’s a very walkable city, I can walk to wherever I want to, or take the bus (which it’s free!). Since I don’t have a car here, it’s very convenient for me. There are a lot of fun things in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø to do like shopping, going to the beaches, exploring fun spots downtown, or getting food at some amazing local restaurants. I know that I will never get bored here in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
Second, the midsize campus at CofC is just the right fit for me. I feel that CofC is big enough to meet new people and explore different interests, but it still feels like a close-knit community at the same time. I got to see familiar faces everywhere and there were always people saying hi to me on the way to class. From day one, CofC has been incredibly welcoming and making me feel right at home!