Back to Student StoriesA Global Wildcat Perspective
Arshia on the AME bridge.
We host more than 4,000 international students and scholars from all over the world at the University of Arizona.
What’s it feel like to study abroad and find community here at the U of A? We asked Arshia, a junior Medicine major and W.A. Franke Honors Wildcat who lived in Iran and Turkey before coming to the United States. He shared his experiences as an international student navigating the University of Arizona.
Why did you choose to pursue your degree at the University of Arizona?
To be honest, the University of Arizona atmosphere, the story behind the words "Bear Down, the facilities of campus – such as the large swimming pool – and the closeness to California, where I have some family, as well as the scholarship offer, were strong reasons to choose U of A, for me.
What do you like about the U of A campus?
The U of A campus is very beautiful, and I like the super helpful staff and student communities. Additionally, I love how I can easily walk or use my bike to reach wherever I want on campus.
It’s a balanced life of working hard and playing hard. I love the freedom that we have here, and it’s a simulation of the future world, the world that we experience here as a higher quality of living in comparison to any other place, which we will be able to take with us to the future world after graduation.
What do you enjoy about Tucson?
Tucson is a beautiful city. I mostly enjoy seeing the mountains, the beautiful stars in the sky, the Monsoon season’s heavy rains, and the cacti that make the city special to me. In my hometown, Tehran, I don’t have these experiences.
Why did the W.A. Franke Honors College appeal to you?
When I learned about the Franke Honors College, the exceptional, smaller community appealed to me as a first-year student who was new to the university, city, state of Arizona, and the United States. The Franke Honors College provided me with the opportunity of closer support of the staff, and allowed me to be with enthusiastic people putting in effort and focusing on their goals. In short, the Franke Honors College appealed to me because it created a well-prepared atmosphere for growth and encouraged lifelong learning.
What is your goal after graduation?
While I could use what I learned after getting my bachelor’s for working in research or teaching science, I’m thinking of preparing for medical school and being a doctor.
How has the University of Arizona helped you work toward your academic and career goals?
The University of Arizona is a blessing for me. From the first day I set foot as a first-year student till now, I have had unbelievable support from the U of A. They started with the welcome ceremonies and continued by offering truly helpful resources. For example, by introducing the pre-med advisor so that I don’t feel lost on my way to medical school; the Think Tank to be able to solve my problems with the least stress about what I wasn’t able to comprehend in class; or making office hours available so that I can ask questions in a more personalized atmosphere. On the other hand, offering support to chill with fun activities that the ASUA or deans of students offer, such as Dog Days with the Dean.
How has the Franke Honors College helped you work toward your academic and career goals?
The Franke Honors College is a very interesting community. It gives me enthusiasm to continue my good work and be a lifelong learner, and makes it possible for me to go deeper into the details of academic topics related to my major that interest me. The ability to choose classes early makes it easier to choose classes that I really need, while the great advice of my honors advisor lets me know the direction I should move in and what to expect. The honors seminar gave me a chance to use what I learned in a real-world simulation, practicing it practically.
What advice would you give new International students at the University of Arizona?
My advice to International students contains my personal experience and different points of view.
- First and foremost, ask questions. Ask good questions from the Support, Outreach, Success SOS tables that are in the Bartlett Academic Success Center (BASC) building as well as the Bear Down Building, located near the main grassy area on campus.
- Don’t wait if you are experiencing challenges. For example, get help from resources like CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services), as needed.
- You will find friends, but it takes some time.
- Try to participate in fun activities on campus that you will see at specific times on the campus grassy area, which are for us students to recharge and continue our educational path stronger afterwards.
- Balance yourself by making relations with other international and domestic students while being connected to your own roots, as this will decrease the chance of being homesick.
- Last but not least, if you get homesick, try going to places that make you feel better. For example, during my first semester, I had food at a Persian restaurant in Tucson, to feel more like home, or visited a Turkish restaurant near campus because it made me feel better, as I lived in both Iran and Turkey before coming to the United States.
Why do students from across the world choose the U of A?