The beginning of the school year is anxiety-invoking enough, but add a global pandemic that changes all the rules, and students are scared and confused.

Incoming college freshmen who will enter a brand-new environment during a pandemic get a double dose. In addition to navigating the campus landscape, learning how to study for exams, and becoming familiar with college life, students will also have to adapt to social distancing and wearing a mask to help thwart the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

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Students Offer Tips to Incoming Freshmen

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Many say they feel lost and need guidance on how to take on college during the pandemic, which closed many campuses earlier this year and will open them only partially in a few weeks.

"My advice to incoming students is to come to campus with an open mind, fully prepared to step out of their comfort zone and ready to invest themselves in the college experience," Alphonso Garrett, director of admissions and recruitment at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, wrote in an email to VOA.

"Although Fall 2020 may be a non-traditional semester in terms of student experience and class delivery due to social distancing, universities like UMES are completely dedicated to student success and satisfaction," Garrett wrote.

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Students Want Campus But Will Leave If COVID-19 Surges

Nadjia Haskins, a rising sophomore studying bioengineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, sent this advice to VOA for incoming freshmen: "Do as much research on your school as possible, because you could get there, and not like it. You might think it's great on paper or on the internet. But when you get there, chances are it's different, and you might not like it."

She also suggested that students double check their freshman course load to ensure it meets the direction of their degree path.

"Also, check what you're supposed to be taking as a freshman for your major, because if you don't know, then you don't know what classes to sign up for," she added.

Many schools have a degree/credit audit system that you can find online by going to your institution's website and logging in to your account.

Tuition and financial aid

"If you plan on going to college but you don't know if you have the funds for it, I recommend going towards a community college," advised Christian Gonzalez, an engineering student at the College of Southern Maryland. "It's a lot cheaper."

The average total cost of attendance at all four-year institutions was $32,595, compared with $15,766 to attend two-year schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics for 2016-2017.

"Also, I would say stick with a full load of classes, form study groups which are very important for each class, visit your professors, and always pay attention to your syllabus," Gonzalez said.

"Because, when I gained the syllabus, I was able to time manage a lot better about where I can delegate my work and my time into study," he said.

Many colleges and universities offer student volunteers as peer advisers who work alongside admissions counselors to help new students adapt to the new environment.

Emma Sonnier, an orientation peer adviser and a student majoring in mathematics with an education minor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has the following advice for students: "I would encourage incoming students, if they can, to live on campus because you'll at least get kind of used to what good independence is like."

"I think the second most important thing is just getting to know people, whether that be virtually or in person, like if you can go to classes in person, talk to the person that's six feet away from you, like, especially if you don't think you're going to be really good in that class," she said.

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Another tip, Sonnier said, is to make connections on your campus "because it's so important."

"If you're indecisive of what you want to do in life, don't feel bad because, like, 80% of undergrad students will change their major. So, if you're, like, really confused about what to do, don't worry about it, basically everybody is," Sonnier said.

"An estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college as 'undecided' and an estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduation," author Virginia N. Gordon said in the book, "The Undecided College Student: An Academic and Career Advising Challenge" (Second Edition).

Leyla Middleton, a rising junior majoring in biology at Morgan State University in Baltimore, told VOA: "Don't go to college thinking you're invincible. Things can and will happen to you and those around you. But, I just finished my sophomore year, and coming in as a freshman, I would've never thought any of the experiences I've had would've happened to me or people around me."

Also, bring a TV, Middleton said, "especially if you're not the type of person who likes to go out" to parties and large social gatherings.

"I wish I would've known before I started college that it's not as hard as people make it to be," said Micayla Minnis, a student studying psychology with a business minor at Towson University in Maryland. "If you keep up with your work and manage your time well, then you will succeed."

Staying in control

A recent HuffPost article put it succinctly, suggesting students keep an "old school" calendar, be resilient, have a regular routine, be self-aware, ask for feedback, and use mistakes as learning opportunities.

"Also, one thing that every student should bring to school is a storage container with a lock so that you can keep your stuff locked up," like laptops, money and food, "because I've know people who've had their personal items stolen."

Many upperclassmen have taken to social media to advise new college students.

"My advice for college freshmen moving away from home is to never let your roommates try to dictate your life and the choices you are allowed to make! you're allowed to mess up and figure out who you are! don't let somebody else control your mental health!" @RiopelleJordyn tweeted on May 24.

A study by Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019 found that students' use of alcohol was influenced most by the drinking habits of their peers, including the greater college community, and not just their roommate or others in the dorm.

@MonroeRebekah tweeted this tip for freshmen on May 21: "My advice for college freshmen: ALWAYS WRITE DOWN YOUR FAFSA PASSWORD WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT AGAIN."

FAFSA refers to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a form that college students use to apply for financial aid.

It’s tough to gain admission to Yale University, and it’s getting even tougher for international students as standout students from around the world set their sights on Yale.

The Yale Dale News, the campus newspaper, takes a look at the situation here.

Read the full story here.

Ruth Chane, a computer science major from Ethiopia, writes about her experiences settling into student life at Whitman College in the U.S. state of Washington.

"The community at Whitman College made sure I felt welcomed even before I stepped foot on campus," she says.

Read her essay here.

In The Student Life, the student newspaper for the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five liberal art colleges and two graduate schools in Claremont, California, student Rochelle Lu writes about readjusting to her Shanghai home after spending a semester in the United States.

Read the full story here.

Cedarville University in the U.S. state of Ohio says it’s got more than 140 international students representing 44 countries.

Here, the school interviews Jonathan Sutton, director of international student services. He talks about his job and the opportunities for international students on campus.

Read the full article here.

Morehouse College, a private, historically Black liberal arts college in the U.S. state of Georgia, offers a guide for international students interested in attending the school.

Among the tips to apply and thrive at Morehouse:

• Take advantage of the school’s orientation program
• Turn to the school’s Center for Academic Success for tutoring, support and more
• Immerse yourself in campus life via clubs and societies

Read the full article here.

The administration of President Donald Trump said on Monday it will review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the educational institution has shown inaction in tackling.

Rights advocates note rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 2023 attack.

The Justice Department said a month ago it formed a task force to fight antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Health and Education and the General Services Administration jointly made the review announcement on Monday.

"The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering Stop Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia University and the Federal Government," the joint statement said.

The agencies said no contracting actions had been taken yet.

"The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of the more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia University."

The agencies did not respond to requests for comment on whether there were similar reviews over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.

Columbia had no immediate comment. It previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism.

College protests

Trump has signed an executive order to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

Columbia was at the center of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests.

During last summer's demonstrations around the country, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned and student protesters were suspended and arrested.

While the intensity of protests has decreased in recent months, there were some demonstrations last week in New York after the expulsion of two students at Columbia University-affiliated Barnard College and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removal of a Palestinian studies job listing at Hunter College.

A third student at Barnard College has since been expelled, this one related to the occupation of the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia last year.

The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.

It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.

In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.

Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.

"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.

An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."

House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."

Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.

Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.

The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.

"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."

The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.

STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)

U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.

Read the full story here. (January 2025)

US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)

A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.

Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.

Read the full story here. (December 2024)

Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health reaches out to international students by detailing the international student experience at the school.

Learn more about housing, life in Boston and more here.

China issued its first national action plan to build a "strong education nation" by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a "strong country."

The plan, issued Sunday by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to establish a "high quality education system" with accessibility and quality "among the best in the world."

The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years.

High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth.

"By 2035, an education power will be built," the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase "high-quality" undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students.

The plan aims to promote "healthy growth and all-round development of students," making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates.

"Popularizing" mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said.

It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations.

The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education.

The Open Notebook, a site focusing on educating journalists who cover science, has complied a list of U.S. graduate program financial aid information for international students.

Read it here.