Absolutely. This first semester has taught me how to be absolutely fearless, how to show no understanding, and how to care only for my own benefits. Seriously, how many times did I show help to local students who didn’t know anything about math? What did I get in return? Nothing. They often appealed to my morals of understanding another people, by saying that they “tried real hard…” to solve the HWKs; and I often showed them a lot of assistance, and often explained step-by-step every single question (while spending my own time!).
To adapt, I will remove all my morals, values, and beliefs. You just have to be a robotic machine, doing your job, without any feelings. That’s all.</p>
<p>A good thing out of this situation is that you learned a very valuable life lesson: Not everyone is grateful. (You’ll definitely be able to witness this when you start driving). It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of life.</p>
<p>On another note it seems as if you feel you were a victim in this event. You felt that you were mistreated because you had to study for an exam and do various projects to while others students left home to their families after they finished with their exams. You felt you were mistreated because no one told you that all the information dealing with the university can be found on the website. Which are situations where no victims exists…at all. </p>
<p>You don’t have to throw out your moral, values, or beliefs to have an enjoyable college experience. Odell the most important thing out of this is that you learn from your first semester. Learn from your mistakes and make appropriate solutions.</p>
<p>Despite things being even worse at my alma mater (all the same problems, except more intense and even more problems on top of the other ones), I definitely understand the issues you are having at Tech, though not from an international-student prospective. However, I think what both myself and others cannot understand, is why you decided to attend Texas Tech in the first place if you had/have other options? Texas, and really the entire South, is known for having a poor public transportation system, even in the largest cities. There is not even very many cities in the North that has a good public transit system. And as far as politically / socially, the claims made about the South and <em>especially</em> Texas are no exaggeration. That “southern hospitality” quickly ends if you are not a Hardcore Christian Conservative Republican, unless you pretend to be one. And among public schools in Texas, Texas Tech is known to be among the most conservative, and also located in one of the most conservative cities in the state.</p>
<p>If you can do so, don’t bother focusing your efforts on figuring out how to make TTU work. Keep trying to make the most of it while you are there, but focus on just transfering to a school in a town/city with a better public transit system (and/or a better method of taking care of internationals during breaks), with a significantly more liberal / open-minded student body and/or town, with a residential / active campus atmosphere, and with higher admission standards / reputation. In your selection, I advise you to thoroughly check:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The school’s own website with stated admission policies, admitted student class profile/statistics, housing options, extracurricular activities, etc…</p></li>
<li><p>USNWR Rankings and Profiles (flawed, but a necessary evil to check). Besides the data about the schools, higher reputation (though a higher ranking does not equate to a higher reputation 100% of the time) schools attract higher quality student peers.</p></li>
<li><p>Check the school’s Carnegie Foundation profile through the Institution Lookup on their website. Especially pay attention to the Undergraduate Profile and the Size & Setting. Check the Classification descriptions if you want more info, but the more selective the better. USNWR uses some silly statistic of how many people schools reject…Carnegie checks the actual statistics of the actual people that attend the school. TTU is only “selective.” There is one class higher than that, “more selective.”</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The setting of TTU is “primarily residential,” and there is one class higher than that, “highly residential,” indicating a more “intact” campus / student population. A “lower transfer-in” is even theoretically better (TTU is “higher transfer-in”), because that prevents school selectivity from being under-reported (selectivity is only calculated from non-transfer students) by having somewhat high standards for first-time students and low standards for their large amount of transfer students, resulting in overall weak admission standards. Furthermore, transfer student scores are not reported in the following #4.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Check the school’s National Center for Education Statistics profile through the School Search. Click “More Information” at the top of the pop-up profile window for even more detailed stats. In just one example of data, the middle 50% of SAT scores for TTU first-time freshmen is 1010-1200.</p></li>
<li><p>Check school profiles / reviews / discussions on **<strong><em>, Cappex, </em></strong><strong><em>, </em></strong>***, here, and Google.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Of course, sometimes a school might be a near-perfect fit despite not fitting the exact rankings/classifications/ratings, etc… that you might think would be optimal. So be careful about using one attribute to automatically rule a school out.</p>
<p>Anyway, sorry for the long-winded response. Just making sure you know all the sources of information since, based on what you seemed to have been looking for in a school, you made a big mistake picking TTU as your first school to attend. I know I did not know all the sources of information at first, and my school ended up being an even bigger disaster.</p>
<p>As for being mor focused on the original topic: I tried for four years to “make the most” of my school, never giving up til the end. It just was not a fit, and I don’t recommend anyone ever assume that a school will be a fit if they can “just make it work” eventually. If you’ve already given it your best shot, get out of there now while you can.</p>
I definitely had acceptance from other prestigious universities; however, their cost is too high to afford, and Texas Tech is the cheapest choice. </p>
<p>I will try my best to adapt to the environment at TTU, and try to take necessary steps.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with Lubbock, but there’s an IHOP less than a mile away from Texas Tech, which was open on Thanksgiving, along with several Chinese restaurants. Wal-Mart is also a mile away, along with a few grocery stores that are even closer.</p>
<p>@warbrain
how would you cross the streets when there isn’t a singe line for pedestrians? Yes, Wal-Mart is not far (around 2.5 miles min.); but if I do shopping there, how I am gonna carry all that food back? I barely made it on foot to McDonals, and, besides the fact that I had to run across the highway (with cars moving at max. allowed speed; maybe even faster); I felt very unsafe walking alone in the night. Lubbock is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S.!</p>
<p>From the “run across the highway” comment and the distance, I suspect the OP went west across the campus, rather than east to University Ave (which has crosswalks and sidewalks, and a dozen or so places to eat).</p>
<p>This is another culture shock thing. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are the only two days of the year that most Americans expect pretty much everything to be closed - even the Walmart Supercenters in my area close for most of both days. Chinese restaurants are a good bet both days, but that’s something you only learn by experience.</p>
<p>@allyphoe
First, Chinese restaurant is like 12 miles away; it’s very far. Once I acquire a car, I will eat everyday there; instead of ridiculously expensive food that TTU offers with low quality customer service, and the food itself tastes like a piece of molded paper. The sellers of that food can really hold the title of offering the worst customer service ever. Most part of them appear to have serious issues with hearing, and I had to literally scream the name of the food that I am ordering.
They also do appear to be some immigrants from Mexico or South America, who don’t know English well, and often they interact with each other in Spanish.</p>
<p>In this case, you got what you paid for… Really, you should look into doing some transfer applications. Four years is a lllooonnggg time to stay at a college in the situation you are in. You can find some colleges at the same level of prestige with better public transportation and a less conservative viewpoint toward foreign students. You will, however, still need to figure out living/food during breaks no matter where you go. Although if you were in a more welcoming environment, maybe someone would invite you to their home over the shorter breaks.</p>
<p>You seem to be insulted by my very thoughtful response with some suggestions about helping you, so maybe something was lost in translation. Our community has many foreign exchange students and culture shock is something that is very real and for you to be making comments about “lack of culture” in that part of TX, is like saying you would understand living in every community you visit because you consider yourself a cultured/educated person. What your definition of “culture” is, and what a “culture” really is, is different. The culture of TTU could be defined by the behavior you are observing on that campus, and that may be its culture. (which sounds like you do not want to be part of and I understand that) As for dismissing an international organization which assists people, I was only suggesting something along those lines, IF you were not being helped by the university you are attending. I assumed you would have reached out to them first. The International Institute assists immigrants, foreigners and others who face linguistic and cultural barriers to become self-sufficient, active members of the community. It also serves as an international center, providing resources promoting global understanding and connections. Maybe you can find a better resource in your own area. It sounds like you are very frustrated and unhappy, but your are experiencing culture shock whether you are homesick or not. This is a common occurrence for those studying or living in a foreign country. There are several stages of culture shock and you should read up on it. My family has worked closely with foreign students and this can be very common. I was just trying to give you some suggestions to help your adjustment, but you can always leave Texas. The United States is very diverse. I don’t think anyone is here to argue with you over your personal opinions and how you feel about where you are going to school. Every experience is a learning opportunity. It is your life and you can make your own decisions. You deserve to be happy. I hope things turn around for you. Best wishes.</p>
<p>As a word of warning, a Chinese restaurant is going to be staffed by some immigrants from China (and sometimes Central / South America) who don’t know English well. And they’re going to talk to their coworkers in their native languages. They aren’t going to be talking about you, unless you’re a total jerk to one of them.</p>
<p>You know, none of us are trying to convince you that your experience is invalid. Honestly, I suspect that I personally would find many things not to my liking were I a student at Texas Tech. But in the end, what are you going to do about it? You can rail about how things should change, but the fact remains that the only thing you can change is your behavior and your attitude.</p>
<p>When my son spend a year at school in the Netherlands, he was expected to figure out his own housing. Which he did. And figure out his own food. Which he did. And figure out what to do on all kinds of unfamiliar national holidays. Which he did. And no, the school did not send out a bulletin warning all of the international students there that they would need to fend for themselves. As students attending the university, they were expected to check out info on the university website and apply it to their own situations as necessary.</p>
<p>Basically, you are a student at the university who is expected to be capable of reading your housing contract/meal plan, and to read all those signs and articles reminding students of special dining hours/closings etc.</p>
<p>As far as starving, lots of restaurants are open and packed on Thanksgiving…you should have gotten together with a group of other students remaining on campus, and either cooked your own meal, or gone and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as part of experiencing this country.</p>
<p>Are foreign students at universities in your own country treated any differently?</p>
<p>Same for my kid in Finland. But I think the OP wants to whine… However, I also would not want to attend Texas Tech. But complaining to us is not going to fix the situation. If you want advice on transferring, that would be a legitimate direction for the OP to take this discussion in.</p>
<p>I’m a current Texas Tech freshman. I understand some of your points, but I honestly think most of your problems are because of ignorance and lack of socializing. </p>
<p>I agree that there isn’t many international students at Tech. I have yet to meet one myself; but honestly you have to expect that going to a university in the middle of west Texas. You are also correct that many of the students have conservative beliefs. However, I have met PLENTY that are democratic; you just have to search around. I completely see your point about the students not welcoming foreigners, but that is just how it is with many of the students being from almost all white small towns. I relate to your frustration, but I promise you not everyone is like that. </p>
<p>You are completely wrong about it “being a struggle for local students to get A’s”. Obviously you haven’t met many people; I’m in the honors college and know a lot of Lubbock locals who do extremely well. So please don’t insult them like that; there are plenty of smart people at Tech who aren’t internationals. Are you in the honors college? If not, consider applying. I’m a pre med student who made over a 2000 on my SAT, and I have met so many people equal or smarter than I am through the honors college. Tech has some really great students that came because of great scholarships, it just seems that you haven’t met them yet. Not everyone fits your average student chart, so please no one take that to heart. </p>
<p>Oh and Tech is a party school for sure… Have you ever even been by Chitwood? There are lots of parties, and they aren’t hard to find. That doesn’t mean everyone participates though.</p>
<p>Yes Boston has less of a community feel. That’s expected with a suite style dorm with many upperclassman. Many people choose that dorm to not socialize. Murray is a suite style as well, but there is definitely socializing. Maybe you just got unlucky. The honors wing in Murray is great. </p>
<p>You don’t need a gun to live off campus; that’s one of the most ignorant things I’ve ever heard. It depends where you live, but crime isn’t as bad as people claim. </p>
<p>I’m sorry that people don’t make an effort to be friends; again just keep trying to meet new people. No matter where you go there will be rude people.</p>
<p>Yes, Tech doesn’t really cater to international students. That’s because there are so few. But your whole thing about having to cross the highway for food is such an exaggeration. On University Avenue (which has plenty of crosswalks with the traffic signals and is only maybe a 10 min walk) has at least a dozen places to eat. Freebirds, Raising Cane’s, IHOP, Chili’s, Which Wich, etc. </p>
<p>I have had the same struggles with professors, but my friends at UT and other Texas universities have had the same. Use rate my professor or talk to other students to find out which ones are good. Not every professor at a large public university is going to be great. It will get better once you get out of basic classes.</p>
<p>Yeah, many of the students came to socialize. That is part of the American mentality of college for some people. Again, there are plenty of extremely academically oriented students that aren’t internationals.</p>
<p>I think no matter where you go you are going to have many of the same problems. You have not met the right people yet, nor have the right attitude to do so.</p>
<p>You seem to have this attitude that the university should coddle you and tell you this and tell you that with regard to everything that happens on campus.</p>
<p>Yes, you are an international student and I understand that living here and going to school here is an adjustment. But you are 18. You are an adult. You are not going to be spoon-fed all the information that you will need to live your life. Part of being a college student is learning how to be proactive, doing research online, playing around with your school’s website and brochures to find out info.</p>
<p>The school is not obligated to send out mass emails or make online announcements that food won’t be served, or that there even IS a calendar. You should be proactive and look for these things online, and email someone if you can’t find something. When I need to book tickets, I go to the calendar, look at the breaks, and book my flights. If I need to find some grade or course requirement, I look in the school course catalog. If I need to mail a transcript, I look up the address online to see where to send it. I’m telling you: 15-20 minutes of online surfing will find you basically everything you need to know. </p>
<p>You need to accept that you’re going through culture shock and you need to understand that complaining about every aspect of the university is not going to get you anywhere. It will only set you back further and hinder you from progressing. You could look into transferring to another school, but you have already mentioned that TTU is the most affordable option. Give people a chance and live with what you have. Things will fall into place if you practice some patience and optimism. No university is perfect, and no university is going to pander specially to the needs of a whiny international student.</p>
<p>I cannot believe that there were not signs posted at all the dining venues reminding students as to what the holiday hours/closings would be, that the campus paper (physical and online) did not have reminders, etc.</p>
<p>Apparently OP got the message that the university was closed for the holiday as far as classes…</p>
<p>For his own reasons, he chose to attend school in the U.S., and in Lubbock, Texas. But it seems that he is not embracing the experience in any way. </p>
<p>While Lubbock has it’s own particular culture (and assuming the OP researched schools when he was applying, location/student culture should have been part of the research) it’s no different than any other part of the U.S. having it’s own culture, whether it’s Miami, or LA or NY or Montana.</p>
<p>When my sons took their studies abroad, I encouraged them to go off the beaten track (i.e., not just where all of the other American students congregated) so they could actually get involved in the culture of the country they were in. Otherwise, why go abroad? This OP might have been happier if he had stayed in his own country.</p>
How can I walk 4 miles on my way back, when I ate all that food?
I visited Chinese restaurant when my parents where in Lubbock. Even through the staff was mainly composed of Chinese people, they were all well-manered affluent English speakers. Yes, they do communicate between each other in their own language; but they do so in a very moderate manner, and all of them seem to be very mannered and incredibly nice (antipode of food-serving staff in university). On the other hand, the immigrants from Mexico/South America that university hires, have no manners, no respect, and they speak very loud in their Spanish language. They also appear to have big hearing difficulties, as I had to repeat my orders 3-4 times before they could hear me. </p>
<p>
Good! I will buy 1-2 of these. </p>
<p>@redraidergirl</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>How can I “socialize” when I send 40 Facebook friend-requests, and not a single person accepts one? How can I “socialize” when I try to talk to other students, and they respond “Yeah, whatever”? It’s pretty much impossible for a person with a high-level culture, education, and nurture, get along with a kid, who’s empty inside, and came to “have fun.” There are cases when people are just incompatible, and there’s nothing you can do if that’s the case.
I finished my first semester with 18hrs and 4.000 GPA; now tell me how “ignorant” is that? Especially if compared to an average Tech student, who takes 12-13 hrs, fails 1-2 classes, and gets Cs in other classes. I also had more challenges than anyone out there; being away from your normal life, dealing with incompetent professors, arguing your grades, studying very seriously for every single exam,–it’s just indescribable to “tasks” that American students face.
Probably, the only ignorant people out there are people who came there to have fun, who miss and fail classes, and who think that they are superior to everybody else.
Now tell me how, students can expect me to be “nice”, after all that I have been experiencing? If being “unwelcoming of foreigners” is what they have to offer me, they are going to get the same in return (for example, never holding the door for other people and screaming at squirrel for sitting on my bike).
I had a Chemistry class of around 250 students; the average score was 46-56 out of 100 (basically an F). Now, tell me how “smart” is that? The ONLY students who were getting As and Bs were mostly international students. It’s indisputable that international students have a much higher GPA than other students; for example, all international students that I know have received <em>4.000</em> GPA, while I keep hearing from other students is, “professor is kinda bad u kno…”
As for Honors College, 1) My advisor said that I don’t need it for my major 2) It’s NOT any harder than regular classes, according to TTU web-site 3) the only difference is the class size, and the way of learning. Therefore, I decided not to apply there.
You can’t possibly dispute that most students DO fit my average chart. Even though I haven’t approached many other students, I DID observe them, and know their grades, so I am pretty sure in the composed profile of an average TTU student.
Oh, and also, don’t tell me that your SAT is higher than mine. You seem to forget that I totally self-studied for the exam, and I attended a high school in non-English language. So my 2030 that I got, is equivalent to 2380+ to a normal scale. If I had given you the entrance exam of my country, I doubt you could be even competitive with the lowest-level students here. Therefore, my 2030 is an unmatched achievement, that many are dreaming of, and are incapable of achieving.
Party in Chitwood?! Isn’t it a dorm on campus? How would you drink your beer w/o campus police intervening?
Absolutely true! Despite Boston being the most expensive dorm out there, I didn’t have electricity for 2 months, and the smell of rotten eggs is always present in our wing. And our CA always conducts low-quality useless meetings, and gets unbelievable benefits for such activities. I wish I could become a CA myself. The Boston staff also tried to fee every student for mundane things, and fees come at least 250$+.
This information comes from one of students that I spoke to. He said, “OK, if someone breaks into your apartment, you don’t wanna die, right? So you should have a gun to be secure from criminals. Wearing ballistic vest wouldn’t hurt either.” Lubbock is one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S.–some 1900 students are victims of violent crimes each year. I was personally confronted by some desperate person, who offered me to have a smoke with him (I ran away like hell).<br>
how it’s an exaggeration? I was very hungry, and I had to come to the other side of the street, and cars were just moving. I had to run across the highway, and there was a car that I didn’t see, and it stopped very abruptly (asphalt friction sound), the driver honked heavily, and I barely escaped being hit by a car–all thanks to university which closed all food places, which is totally inexcusable no matter what.
Where do I meet them? </p>
<p>Please give your suggestions, people!
I will definitely buy that card, it was a good advice.</p>
<p>“Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” - Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the United States) </p>
<p>This thread just keeps going and going and going, so I have come to believe that you must be very lonely and enjoying the negative attention you are trying to provoke, by arguing and whining with everyone. It is almost becoming comical in a way. I am picturing you very hungry, running only in the narrow crosswalk on the divided highway, trying to avoid the bumper of a runaway pickup truck, whose driver is wearing a bullet proof vest and has a set of bullhorns on his grill, all while pushing your rolling shopping cart back from the Chinese food place after having a sophisticated conversation with at least those immigrants, who are more friendly and educated than the dumb Texans you have come to deplore. Come on guy…you keep setting yourself up for this, so maybe this is all a huge joke on us! If you are for real, look up the words humility and obtusity. I now keep coming back to read what new supposed na</p>
