<p>I'm entering my senior year at a NESCAC school in a couple of weeks. I actually think this is a really important thread. Although I agree with most posters that Americans are easier to get along with than most other people... I still have mainly international friends. I obviously have many American friends as well but my truly good friends at college are also international students. Why is this? I have a theory:</p>
<p>For most international students, coming to the U.S. for college is their one change for success (and success for most of us is often defined in terms of $$$, prestige and honor). Hence, we are extremely motivated students--if we fail there's not going to be anyone around to pick up the pieces. We have to make it right the first time around. However, I find that the situation is rather different for many American students: U.S. and international students are at the same (or at least at a very similar) level academically when they leave high school but once they start college international students excel (a surprising amount of the Americans at my college went to the top prep- and public schools in the U.S.). I think there is a simple explanation as to why many American students don't work hard: they don't have to! Many just need a bachelor's degree (GPA irrelevant) from a decent college so their parent's/contacts can legitimately set them up with a cushy job. To many of them the degree is a matter of formality. Let's be honest--who would work themselves to death if they did not have to? I think this is one major factor. </p>
<p>The other major factor, I think, is socioeconomics. Many international students just can't keep up with the expenditures of their American peers. At my college it is not unusual for kids to be driving around in BMW and Lexus cars (there's even a guy who drives a Porche). Personally, I can only dream of affording vehicles like that... hell, I don't even have a driver's license. Having cars and lots of money (I mean 100s of dollars per week) to spend make Americans more mobile than many international students. They can easily get around, travel during breaks, etc. Also, being more comfortable financially they do not have to take up on-campus jobs. These jobs are fairly popular with int'ls for the reason that it might be the only place where they can earn some money for their day-to-day expenses. I even know people who help support their families back home on their 20h/week library or dining hall jobs! In other words: while many Americans get out and about in the weekends, many intl's stay on campus studying or working.</p>
<p>I have come across many ivy league kids through my time in college and I can confidently say that I think the majority of int'l kids at my college would kick their asses academically any day. However, one thing you will notice when you come to the U.S. is that success is about much more than academics. Getting involved in clubs, networking, and other activities that help improve one's social skills are regarded as extremely important (at least in the NESCAC context). Unfortunately, it is my observation that int'l kids don't embrace ECs and rather just study. This explains why at my college 4 out of the 5 magna cum laude recipients a couple of years ago (yes only five students managed a GPA of 3.9 or more at my school) were int'l students...</p>
<p>I have many int'l friends who have worked very hard and landed themselves Wall St. jobs out of college. I also know of many renowned (American) slacker kids who have landed even better Wall St. jobs out of college... through their amazing social networks.</p>
<p>That said, there are also some exteremely smart American students around (obviously). The only problem is that they are easy to miss amongst all the rich trust fund kids (just like int'ls). They are smart people with fantastic work ethic who often aim for grad school programs after college. In my experience these kids are often the sons and daughters of middle class intellectuals. Then there's the probably most marginalized group of all: working class American kids. These kids really lack a community and many of them are very uncomfortable with the affluence of their peers. They are also often extremely hard working (albeit aiming for a professional career as opposed to academia)... in a way they are vey much like many int'l students with the main difference being that what can be considered upper middle class salaries in, say India, is only below average in the U.S., i.e. most int'l kids are middle class in their home contexts but become financially strained once they get to the U.S.</p>
<p>This turned out really long and slightly confusing but I still hope my point comes across.</p>