The plane lands in Washington, D.C., sunset shines through the airport windows and a red, blue and white flag with 50 stars and 13 stripes flutters in the sky as you step onto American soil. The excitement rises in your soul, and that's when you know that your truly exceptional journey of education, dreams and opportunities begins.
As an international student, I know that your time at Central Michigan University will be life-changing and rewarding. You should also already be incredibly proud of yourself, as you are the best-of-the-best and you made it here.
However, the hard part also starts now.
Being an international student is as enriching as challenging. Here are just some things to be prepared for that I have learned from my experience in the United States and at CMU:
Insurance, insurance and more insurance
You will face a legal obligation to insure everything from a car to your health.
CMU has a mandated health insurance policy for international students, called Geo Blue. During the 2023-24 academic year, it cost $1,532.16. It will be automatically billed to your student account and cover you from the beginning of September to the end of July; however, this insurance does not cover your dental or eye doctor. CMU advises you seek out separate plans for those, such as Delta Dental and VSP Vision.
If you are living off-campus, you will need to have home or renter's insurance. Your landlord will normally provide you with information on how to get a policy. I live in an apartment, and my annual insurance bill was about $295.
It is also a legal requirement to have a car insurance if you are planning to drive. These are much more expensive than health or home ... especially if you are a new driver. Prices can range from $100 to $900 a month.
What's up with transportation with Mount Pleasant?
From my experience, the U.S. provides much less public transportation than my home country of Ukraine, or Europe in general. I was able to get a train from Lansing to Chicago, and you will be able to find public transportation and different taxi services in larger cities.
However, in Mount Pleasant there is I-Ride, a bus service that you can schedule in advance or wait for at a bus stop. During the academic year, shuttles stop on and off campus every half hour. The cost for an adult to ride is $2 per trip.
If you are planning on getting a car in the U.S., you can get your driver's license through the Michigan Secretary of State's office. In addition to the above-mentioned car insurance, be prepared to pay a 6% sales tax and registration fee when registering your title with the Secretary of State and getting your license plate. You could look for cars for sale on Facebook's marketplace or at a dealership; but watch for digital scammers -- there are a lot of them, and they are smart.
What do I need to know about housing?
If you live in the dorms, which is required for the first two years if you are pursuing a bachelor's degree, the system will be pretty simple and straightforward, and Residence Life will take care of you. I lived in the dorms my first two years on campus and worked as a resident assistant, and had a great experience.
However, living off campus also has its advantages, such as having your own kitchen and private space. You are going to sign a lease with a landlord, which usually lasts one academic year unless you resign it. There are lots of technical and legal terms in your lease, but those are designed to protect both you as the tenant and the landlord. For further information, check out Housing 101 on the Guide to CMU tab at centralmichiganapartments.com.
I rent from United Apartments, but there are many other companies in town. United Apartments' prices range from $795 for a two-bedroom apartment to $1,215 for a four-bedroom one. You should know that is only the monthly price to occupy the space ... you will also need to pay for utilities, previously mentioned insurance and other charges unique to each apartment and living situation, such as pet rent.
How do I make money?
Everything in the U.S. is expensive: car, housing, tuition, food and entertainment. It is a good idea to have some savings when coming here and be prepared to spend a lot. A way to make a little bit of money is working on campus.
International students on F1 visas are allowed to work only on campus and for up to 20 hours a week during the academic year. Usually, the campus pay is minimum wage ($10.33 per hour), and it is hard to get all 20 hours a week, not to mention how hard it is to get a job in the first place.
If you are looking for a job, be prepared to work. It might be helpful to look for a job within your field (for example, I'm studying journalism and I'm working for the student media company, Central Michigan Life) and have some experience, motivation and interest. You have to be on time, dress professionally and put a lot of effort into what you do.
O brave new culture
Being an international student is a lot, and you should admit it. You will have nights when you cry because you miss home, evenings when you are desperately looking at all of your bills and days that are filled with a foreign language and food.
Cultural differences will add to all those struggles. For example, I am always cold, because Americans like their air conditioners and iced coffee. You, on contrast, might be too warm or bored in a small city. But this is also your opportunity to represent your country and break those stereotypes or hostilities.
The best advice that I can give is have a connection with your home. Call your parents and grandparents every day, ask how they are doing, send them pictures and tell them you love them. Make sure to make your home food and find a store in Michigan that has your traditional products. Find a comfort movie in your native language, take care of yourself and your mental health.
You can also join international student clubs to make friends or ask International Student Services and Scholars for help.
It is a long and bumpy road, but it gives life experience that will make it unbreakable, open doors to your dream profession and bring people to your life that might become your best friends. Whenever obstacles come, know that you are already a hero, you are not alone and you will overcome them. Whenever successes come, enjoy every second of them and grow.
Don't be afraid to ask for help, make connections, become comfortable with uncomfortable and work hard, because in the end of the day, it is worth it.
You can do this.
Masha Smahliuk is Central Michigan Life 2024-25 managing editor. She was born and raised in Ukraine.