Lin, Miranda. “Students of Different Minds: Bridging the Gaps of International Students Studying in the US,” n.d., 12. US-China Education Review A 3 (2012) 333-344

Northwestern University

There is one article that looks at the experience of international students in the United States, focusing on their struggles and the challenges they face  academically and socially as international students. The focus on the psychological and emotional impacts as a reason for their relative academic struggles is unique to this study, which explains why this study recommends an increased emphasis on bridging the cultural gaps between schools and international students to make sure they can excel in challenging, unfamiliar environments as well.

Students of Different Minds: Bridging the Gaps of
International Students Studying in the US

A qualitative research was conducted, where a case study protocol was utilized. Data for the study was collected through interviews to gain insight into each participant's experiences specifically. This study takes place in Southeastern United States. The participants were conveniently drawn from the population of 2000 international students enrolled in a public university of nearly 45,000, and 6 students were finally asked to join the study. These participants were all. in their 20s and came from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Turkey and Spain, and their fields of study were also different: with some in education, engineering, international relations etc.

Methodology: Students of Different Minds: Bridging the Gaps of International Students Studying in the US

The purpose of this research project is to examine international students’ attitudes and perceptions about their academic, cultural and social experiences in America in order to bridge their cultural gaps. The paper argues that with an increasingly internationalized world, it is time for the higher education to address issues of diversity in its policy to enforce multiculturalism and help ensure the success of international students

Purpose of Research: Students of Different Minds: Bridging the Gaps of international Students Studying in the US

Data obtained from 90 minute interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. 

 In the process of data analysis, the following questions emerged for content analysis:
(1) What things were similar and dissimilar with things back home?
(2) Was age, gender or home culture that caused the participants to react differently to certain situations or
problems faced? 
(3) How did prior encounters affect their reactions to situations in America?
(4) How much do those previous experiences affect adjustment periods?
(5) How large a factor is personality?

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