The Top Mistakes for International Students To Avoid

Beginning your educational experience in a foreign land is exciting, but it can be a struggle. Every year there are thousands of overseas students who make similar blunders that have a detrimental impact on their studies, their bank balance and the overall experience of life in another country. We can make sure you don’t get caught out by these mistakes. In this guide, we outline the biggest mistakes that international students make — and show you how to avoid them.

Embarking on the Journey without Preparation

Many students get on to their international education journey without being adequately prepared for it. This tends to cause the sort of issues that are actually very simple to prevent.

Procrastination on Applying

One of the biggest mistakes I see students make is waiting until it’s too late to begin applying. There are usually deadlines at universities, and visa processing can take time. A few students think they can accomplish everything in a month or two, but that’s almost never led to good results.

You should begin preparing at least 8-12 months before your proposed departure date. This leaves time for you to:

• Research different universities and programs
• Plan for mandatory exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, GRE or GMAT
• Gather all necessary documents
• Write strong application essays
• Apply for scholarships
• Complete visa procedures

Not Researching Your Destination Country

Others choose a country simply because their friends are going there, or they’ve seen it in movies. They don’t study what life is really like in that place.

Check the following before you make a decision on your study destination:

• Weather and climate patterns
• Average cost to live in various cities
• Cultural norms and social customs
• Public transportation systems
• Healthcare facilities and insurance requirements
• Safety and security conditions
• Part-time work opportunities and restrictions

Factor	Why It’s Important	Where to Research
Climate	Determines the kind of clothing you might need and how comfortable or uncomfortable it can be	Weather websites, student forums
Living Costs	Informs your budget plan	University webpages, student blogs
Culture	Makes it easier for you to adjust	Cultural guides, YouTube vlogs
Work Regulations	Will decide your part-time job options	Government immigration pages
Health	Rules ensure that you remain healthy	University health services pages

Money Talk: Financial Errors That Cause Harm

Financial matters were some of the most stressful concerns for international students. Mismanagement of funds can mess up your whole study abroad.

Not Creating a Realistic Budget

Students often don’t realize just how much money they will need. They don’t factor in everything, mostly tuition, and then they forget all kinds of stuff.

Your budget should include:

• Tuition and academic fees
• Accommodation (rent, utilities, internet)
• Food and groceries
• Transportation costs
• Health insurance
• Books and study materials
• Phone and communication
• Personal care items
• Entertainment and social activities
• Emergency funds
• Travel expenses (instead of going home during breaks)

A general guideline is to tack on 20% more to what you think everything will cost in order to accommodate the unexpected expenses. Stuff breaks, emergencies occur and costs can increase.

Dependence on a Single Source of Funding

Some students rely solely on their parents or a single scholarship. If that source of money runs into trouble, they are in deep trouble.

Smart students diversify their funding sources:

• Family support
• Scholarships and grants
• Part-time work (where legally allowed)
• Campus jobs
• Emergency savings
• Online freelancer jobs (check your visa laws)

Failing to Open an Account Locally

Charging everything on your home country’s credit card has a down side: You’ll rack up international transaction fees. These relatively modest costs mount over time to create totals in the hundreds of dollars.

Why having a local bank account is beneficial:

• Avoid foreign transaction fees
• Pay rent and bills easily
• Receive payments from part-time jobs
• Establish a financial history in your new homeland
• Get better exchange rates

Errors In Academics That Will Get You Lower Grades

Your primary objective is to obtain a good education. Do not allow these academic blunders to impede your progress.

Skipping Orientation Programs

Some folks might think orientation is boring, but that’s where you get the lowdown on your university. Students who skip orientation often flounder for months, attempting to solve problems that were covered on the first day.

Orientation teaches you:

• How to register for classes
• Where to find academic resources
• Campus safety procedures
• Student support services
• Library and research facilities
• Academic integrity rules
• Whom to call when you need help

Not Using Available Academic Support

Universities provide plenty of free services to aid students’ success, but international students frequently forgo utilizing them because they are too shy or believe they need to figure things out on their own.

Take advantage of:

• Writing centers for essay help
• Math and science tutoring
• Office hours with professors
• Study groups and peer tutoring
• Language support programs
• Academic advisors
• Library research assistance

Ignoring the Syllabus

The syllabus is your guide to every class. It spells out just what your professor wants, when assignments are due and how you’ll be graded. Students who are not careful, or don’t even look at, the syllabus miss crucial due dates and other requirements.

Taking Only Convenient Classes Based on Schedules

Actually, some students select classes simply because they “fit well into their schedules” or allow them to sleep in late. They may lead you to take coursework you are not interested in or that won’t count toward your degree.

Instead, choose classes based on:

• Degree requirements
• Your interests and career goals
• Professor ratings and teaching style
• Even work across all courses
• Pre-requisites for the next courses you want to do

Social and Cultural Mistakes

It is difficult to acclimate to another culture. These flubs can actually have the opposite effect.

Only Hanging Out with People from Your Home Country

Of course it’s natural to prefer to socialize with people who speak your language and share your culture. But if you only fraternize with students from your country of origin, you’re missing out on the complete international experience.

This limits your:

• English or local language improvement
• Cultural learning
• Professional networking
• Overall personal growth
• Future job opportunities

Try and get into a variety of groups or clubs. Yes, it’s squirmy-making at first, but that’s how growth happens.

Not Learning Basic Social Customs

Each nation comes with its own social mores. What’s considered polite in your country might be rude elsewhere. Failing to understand these practices and not learning them can make you seem unfriendly or disrespectful, even if that is not your intent.

Being Afraid to Ask Questions

Most international students remain puzzled about things because they feel too ashamed to ask anything. They worry they’ll look stupid or annoy people.

Professors, staff and your fellow students expect to hear questions from you! That’s completely normal. To ask questions is to be engaged and interested in learning.

Health and Wellness Mistakes

Your physical and emotional well-being impact how successful your studies will be.

Not Getting Proper Health Insurance

Some students save money by going without health insurance, or worse they purchase the cheapest option without knowing what is covered. Health care is very expensive in many countries, and for those without insurance it costs thousands of dollars for one visit to the hospital.

Make sure your insurance covers:

• Doctor visits
• Emergency room care
• Prescription medications
• Mental health services
• Dental care (often separate)
• Vision care

Ignoring Mental Health Struggles

It’s hard being an international student. You’re managing academic stress, cultural adaptation, language struggles, homesickness and perhaps financial concerns — all at the same time.

Many students suffer emotionally, and a lot try to “tough it out.” This often makes things worse. The vast majority of colleges provide free or low-cost counseling services geared to students.

Don’t wait until you have a crisis. Seek help when you notice:

• Constant worry or anxiety
• Difficulty in falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
• Loss of interest in activities
• Difficulty concentrating on studies
• Feeling overwhelmed all the time
• Changes in appetite
• Thoughts of harming yourself

For additional mental health resources, visit the International Student Mental Health.

Not Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

Students are usually too busy with studying to take care of their health. They eat junk food, they don’t exercise and they don’t sleep enough. This catches up with you fast and impacts your grades and mood.

Create healthy habits:

• Instead of getting takeout every day, cook a healthy meal
• Sleep 7-8 hours as minimum
• Work out (a lot of colleges have free gyms)
• Take breaks from studying
• Keep in touch with family and friends at home
• Join sports or recreational activities

Legal and Immigration Mistakes

These errors can come with grave repercussions, including deportation.

Not Following Visa Rules Strictly

There are particular terms that your visa has about what you can and cannot do. Violating these rules, even unintentionally, can mean losing your visa and getting sent home.

Common visa rules students break:

• Working more hours than allowed
• Working off-campus without permission
• Not maintaining full-time enrollment status
• Overstaying a visa in the country

Read your visa conditions to the letter and comply with them flawlessly. When in doubt, ask your international student office—don’t guess.

Forgetting Important Document Renewals

Passports, visas and health insurance all expire by a certain date. Students sometimes lapse in renewing these documents and find themselves in legal jeopardy, or without financial backing when they end up needing it.

Set calendar reminders:

• 6 months before passport expiration
• 3 months before visa expiration
• 1 month prior to insurance running out
• Before any travel documents expire

Not Maintaining Copies of Essential Documents

Documents can be misplaced, or stolen. It’s difficult, time-consuming and expensive to replace them if you don’t have copies.

Store digital and physical copies of:

• Passport and visa
• University acceptance letter
• Health insurance card
• Bank statements
• Academic transcripts
• Birth certificate
• Vaccination records
• Lease agreements

You can store digital copies on a secure cloud and email copies to yourself.

Communication Mistakes

Good communication is key for successful life as an international student.

Not Improving Language Skills

Many students believe that their language skills are already adequate, and do not spend time improving them. But academic language is not conversational language. You must have strong skills to comprehend lectures and write papers and discuss.

Ways to improve:

• Read newspapers and academic papers a day
• Never use subtitles when watching movies and TV shows
• Practice speaking with native speakers
• Join conversation clubs
• If you can, record yourself speaking and play it back
• Take additional language courses if necessary

Missing Important Email Communications

Colleges and universities transmit important information via email. There are many important deadlines, schedule changes and opportunities that students who do not regularly check their university email may miss.

Access your university email daily. Set up your phone for notifications so you don’t miss important messages.

Not Advocating for Yourself

If you are having trouble in a class, having housing issues or being discriminated against, you have got to be the squeaky wheel that demands help. Lots of students endure silently because they don’t want to get anyone in trouble, or they don’t know whom to talk to.

You have people at your university whose job is to assist you:

• Academic advisors
• International student office staff
• Housing coordinators
• Student advocates
• Counseling services
• Diversity and inclusion offices

Housing and Living Situation Mistakes

Your living situation, how and where you live, impacts everything about your student experience.

Not Reading Lease Agreements Carefully

Certain students sign housing contracts without getting a good look at them. Later, they’re shocked by rules they weren’t aware of or fees they didn’t anticipate.

Before signing any lease:

• Read each line of the contract
• Just ask about anything you don’t understand
• Be clear on the notice required to move out
• Understand all fees and deposits
• Check what utilities are included
• Learn the guest/roommate rules
• Take pictures of the existing condition of your property

Living Too Far from Campus

Opting for the cheapest housing further from campus can backfire. You’ll waste time and money commuting, and may be at a disadvantage in participating in campus activities.

Consider:

• Travel time to campus
• Transportation costs
• Safety of the neighborhood
• Availability of food stores and services
• Availability of public transportation

Allowing House Rules to Not Be Established with Roommates

Roommate disagreements are also the frequent result of misunderstood expectations. Don’t automatically assume your roommates share your attitude toward cleanliness, noise, guests or sharing.

Discuss and agree on:

• Cleaning schedules
• Quiet hours
• Guest policies
• Shared expenses
• Food sharing or separation
• Use of common spaces
• Temperature settings

Time Management Mistakes

Time management is very important for your studies and life in general.

Procrastinating on Major Assignments

There are those of us who will wait until the last minute to begin big projects, or to study for exams. This causes a lot of stress that is not necessary and the work usually suffers.

Divide big projects into smaller ones and set a due date for each. If you are supposed to submit a research paper in eight weeks:

• Week 1-2: Select and begin researching topic
• Week 3-4: Outline and research
• Week 5-6: Write first draft
• Week 7: Revise and edit
• Week 8: Last look over and send in early

Over-Committing to Activities

It’s wonderful to get involved with clubs and activities, but some students say “yes” to everything and burn out. You won’t be able to do it all, particularly when you’re acclimating to a new country and academic system.

Pick 2-3 things you actually like to do; not ten clubs you will never visit.

Not Scheduling Any Downtime

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. You need time to be free, have fun and rejuvenate.

Schedule time for:

• Hobbies and interests
• Exercise and physical activity
• Socializing with friends
• Exploring your new city
• Video calls with family
• Just doing nothing

Career and Professional Mistakes

You’re also preparing for your career in the time you spend as a student.

Not Building Your Professional Network

Some students just concentrate on grades and they don’t understand that connections are just as important for career success. You never know who you will cross paths with in the future. The people you meet in college can help you find jobs, internships and opportunities for years.

Build your network by:

• Attending career fairs
• Joining professional student organizations
• Interacting with lecturers and guest speakers
• Using LinkedIn professionally
• Participating in industry events
• Doing informational interviews

Skipping Internship Opportunities

Having real work experience on your résumé when you go job-hunting after college really makes all the difference. The upside is the students with only academics are disadvantaged and those who have internships on their resume get hired even as a Junior in College.

Seek internships early, even if they are without pay or part time. That experience and those connections can be very important.

Not Using Career Services

Most universities also have career centers that provide assistance with preparing resumes, cover letters, interviews and job searches. These services are not widely accessed by international students, who believe they are meant only for local students.

Career services can help you:

• Write an effective resume
• Practice interviews
• Find internship opportunities
• Learn about work visa options
• Network with employers that hire international students
• Develop professional skills

Technology and Security Mistakes

In the digital age, a technical mistake can prove costly.

Not Backing Up Important Work

Computers fail, files become corrupted and accidents occur. Students who don’t have backup versions of their work may lose whole projects or research.

Use the 3-2-1 backup rule:

• 3 copies of your valuable files
• 2 different types of storage (computer & external drive or cloud)
• 1 copy off-site (cloud storage)

Engaging in Financial Transactions Over Open WiFi

Public WiFi is both convenient and insecure. Logging into your bank account or typing in passwords on public WiFi can result in identity theft or a hacked account.

For sensitive activities:

• Use your phone’s data connection
• Get a VPN if you can
• Wait until you’re on a trusted network

Not Protecting Personal Information

Think twice about what you post, and who you post it for. International students are frequent targets, because they don’t know the scams in town.

Never share:

• Your passport or visa with strangers
• Bank account details
• Social security or ID numbers
• Your home address with people you are not close to

  

Frequently Asked Questions

As a foreign student, how much should I have for emergency savings?

The goal is to be able to cover at least 3-6 months of living expenses. This should include covering your rent, food, utilities and everyday essentials if you’re hit by unexpected issues — like a family emergency or out-of-the-blue medical expenses — that prevent an on-time deposit of money.

Am I allowed to work while studying with a student visa?

This will depend upon the type of visa you have and the country. Many student visas permit restricted part-time work (usually up to 20 hours a week while in school and full-time during vacations) — though rules vary by country. Regularly check the conditions of your visa and comply with them precisely.

How do I make friends if I am shy and my English is not perfect?

Begin by joining low-pressure groups such as study groups, hobby clubs or community organizations that you share interests with. Don’t be hung up on perfect English — most people appreciate attempts to communicate. Get on the internet and join any number of international student groups where you’ll meet people who are all going through the same thing.

I’m failing a class, what do I do?

Explain the situation to your professor right away — don’t sit on it. Most teachers will help students who demonstrate they care and are making an effort. Visit your academic adviser to consider alternatives, including tutoring, lightened course load or, in the direst situations, dropping the class. Many colleges have grade forgiveness policies when it comes to repeated classes.

If I’m an international student, can I change my major after arrival?

Broadly yes, but depending on the university this may also have visa consequences and vary in process. Some are more selective than others. Discuss any changes with your academic adviser and international student office first. If your new major is completely altering the course of study, you might be required to update your visa.

How can I cope with homesickness?

Homesickness is completely normal. Keep in touch with the family via routine video calls, but also work to build a life where you are. Get involved, make friends, see your city and establish new traditions. If homesickness is extreme and starts to interfere with your day-to-day, go talk to a counselor.

What if my visa is denied?

If your visa is refused, check the refusal notice to know why you were rejected. Problems may include that the documentation is not sufficient, proof of financial support for example, or worries about the intention to come back home. You may reapply once you have corrected the specific concerns. If the matter is complicated, you may need to seek advice from an immigration attorney.

Do I need to bring medications from home or should I buy them while traveling?

If you rely on any prescription medications, bring a reasonable amount (2–3 months’ worth) along with the original prescription and a signed letter from your doctor detailing their medical necessity. For prescriptions you would like to keep filling, locate a local doctor who can prescribe them for you. Certain drugs can be bought over-the-counter in one country and prescribed in another, so do your research before you travel.

Final Thoughts: Prepare Yourself for Success

As an international student, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have: studying abroad. You’ll receive an education, knowledge, friendships and memories that last a lifetime. But it is also hard, particularly if you bring not just your physical self, but also your avoidable mistakes.

The students who make it are those who:

• Plan ahead and prepare thoroughly
• Ask questions when they’re unsure
• Leverage support resources that are available
• Venture into new social and academic territory
• Attend to their physical and mental well-being
• Organize themselves and budget their time
• Strictly comply with all legal and visa requirements
• Develop transferable, academic and workplace skills

But, remember, everybody screws up in some ways—that’s part of learning and growing. The trick is to catch mistakes early, learn from them and refine your approach. And cut yourself some slack when things do not go perfectly.

You are facing what many other international students like yourself have faced before — and built successful lives upon. Begin by not making the typical mistakes I’ve shared in this post, and being vigilant about solving problems as soon as they crop up, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help when it’s needed.

Your journey to an overseas education is literally your investment in You and your future. Do it right by being smart, staying informed, and actively trying to avoid these common missteps. The time and energy you invest today will benefit all areas of your life forever, both personally and professionally.

Best of luck with your studies abroad! You’re about to go on an incredible journey that will change your life in ways you don’t even know yet.