<p>I'm an international student, and planning to apply to American colleges. At the moment I know very little about the life of international students in America. I have some questions.</p>
<p>1) When searching and selecting schools, does location (rural vs. suburban vs. urban area) matter much for international students? What are the differences?</p>
<p>2) Can international student do internship off-campus? I heard the rule doesn't allow them to work off-campus, is that right? Can you guys tell me more about this. Can on-campus internship help much in terms of gaining real-world workplace experience? I mean on-campus internship boss cannot be as tough as off-campus boss, which will be the kind you expect after graduating?</p>
<p>I have some thoughts in response to question #1. In an urban or suburban area, you can find culture (and possibly kindred spirits from your part of the world) in the city you are near. This might be nice, especially around for holidays. In a rural area, most of the music, arts, sports, and food will be at the college or in a small town nearby, so you need to be sure you really love the college itself and that it has enough programming to satisfy your "outside of class" life needs. Some rural colleges have a rich array of cultural opportunities; others, less so. Some rural colleges have easy access to a city by public transportation; others don't. In my opinion, it would be good for most international students to have access to a city. However if you love hiking and camping and being at peace in the outdoors, you might really favor a rural campus. I think the urban vs. rural question is just as important for an international student as it is for a student from the U.S.</p>
<p>Many eons ago when I was in college, I was happy to be in an urban/suburban area because I particularly liked being able to take advantage of the live theater, restaurants, and shopping available in the city near me. It just depends on what you are looking for.</p>
<p>Since most international students do not have access to a car, it may be worthwhile to check and see if rural or suburban campuses are in communities with public transportation. Many international students have always had public transportation available wherever they've lived, and may not realize the extent to which Americans are dependent upon their own cars.</p>
<p>You should take your question about work experiences to the International Student Forum. Look for anything by B@r!um. She is one of the "resident experts" on the rules about working with an F-1 visa.</p>