International Students
The international student population at CMU encompasses students from diverse backgrounds. International students struggle disproportionately with mental health issues, as they face additional pressures and stressors in their transition to college life. In addition to transition stressors, international students often have to:
- Adjust to an entirely new culture
- Face a language barrier that impacts their ability to communicate and connect
- Live physically farther away from their support network of family and friends
While academic stressors often impact university students, international students may experience the effects more intensely than domestic students. Coming to the United States creates additional stress, as students navigate wide-ranging life changes from differences in climate, dietary options, transportation, language ability, or lifestyle choices. This can oftentimes lead to culture shock.
For many international students, studying in the U.S. means they are now apart from the social supports like academic advice and social outlets in their native country. Furthermore, if a student has low English proficiency, it can cause anxiety as they struggle to perform at the high academic levels that they achieved previously in their native language. Friends serve as a surrogate family for students in a new country, and the lack of language needed to make friends may be a significant obstacle for the international students as they adjust. Additionally, some international students may find the teaching styles in the American classrooms different from the lecture style they were accustomed to in their home country. The disparity in educational services provided could lead to unfulfilled expectations on the part of international students, which can lead to mental health stressors.
These transitions may come with feelings of anxiety, sadness, isolation and being overwhelmed. Sometimes, these feelings might be expressed physically, such as experiencing headaches, difficulty focusing, loss of appetite, or physical pain that may be unfamiliar or uncommon for you. Typically, transitional stress decreases with the passage of time in the new culture, with accessing resources and building a community of support.
Because the international student population is incredibly diverse, we recommend you check out the resources we have for the identity that you most align with. Additionally, this page provides CMU specific resources that can help with academic success and connecting with others.