Before you leave for the United States, you may want to think about your goals and expectations for the experience. Doing so can smooth your adjustment process and help you get maximum benefit from your stay.

You can think about these matters in your own mind, write yourself some notes about them, or discuss them with someone.

First, what are your goals in studying in the United States?

Second, what are your expectations? Whether you are aware of it or not, you have in mind ideas about what your experience as a student in the United States will be like. Those expectations help determine your reactions to the actual experience. Your expectations may be realized, but they may not be. Your experience can be more positive if you are aware of your expectations and think about how appropriate they are.

To help you consider in more detail your expectations or assumptions about being a student in the United States, you can click on each of the topics here. You will not know the answers to all these questions now. Even so, it helps to think about them.