POLL: International students compare SMC to schools in their home countries

Studying in a different country can be difficult. Except that you have to adapt to a new culture and speak a foreign language, you experience a lot of new things. From clubs and grades to the size of our library, SMC international students compare SMC to the schools in their home countries.

Name: Jae Soon Park

Major: Political Science

Home Country: South Korea

1, What made you apply for SMC?

My friend recommended me to go to SMC because SMC is good for transferring.

2, What do they like about SMC?

I like SMC because I can interact with people from different countries.

3, Did SMC meet your expectations?

I did not expect the difficulties of finding parking spots and registering classes.

4, How is SMC different from schools in your country?

In Korea, schools are based on listening lectures. Students usually don't speak up in the class, don't have group works or discussions. professors talk and students take notes. Students focus on getting good grades than learning. Students don't participate in school activities like clubs. Since I came to SMC, I've had group work, discussion. Students speak up in the class to get involved. Classes are more focus on interaction with people. I like the system. Also, students join school activities.

Name: Joel Thong

Major: Communication

Home Country: Singapore

1, What made you apply for SMC?

I want to transfer to USC and SMC is a good college for transferring.

2, What do you think about SMC?

I like SMC because I've had a chance to meet many great professors and both domestic and international friends.

3, Did SMC meet your expectations?

I think SMC meet my expectations somewhat, but only thing that I didn't expect was that it is hard to take classes.

4, How SMC is different from schools in your country?

In my country, schools are very competitive and inflexible. Students care about their grades. They don't really focus on learning. In SMC, I have more spaces to learn. Students, of course care about their grades but they also care about learning or acquiring knowledge. Professors encourage students to get involved in the class.

Name: Kentaro Tanaka

Major: Film

Home Country: Japan

1, What made you apply for SMC?

I wanted to go to a famous school in Los Angeles to study film.

2, What do you think about SMC?

I like SMC because professors and friends that I met here are really nice and humor.

3, Did SMC meet your expectations?

I was impressed by the size of library because I've never seen such a huge library when I was in Japan. The nicest library I've ever seen before. But I was kind of disappointed with club activities. I joined a film club and I expected the club more professional but it was not.

4, How is SMC different from schools in your country?

Japanese schools have more rules. I cannot go out without professor's permission during the class. SMC has a lot of freedom. Everybody is so independent and free.

Name: Carl Jacob Phillip Edwardsson

Major: Business/Finance

Home Country: Sweden

1, What made you apply for SMC?

I wanted to study in different country and the weather is nice here.

2, What do you think about SMC?

I think SMC is a nice school. I like to interact with people, especially people from different countries.

3, Did SMC meet your expectations?

SMC has a lot of students and I cannot enroll classes that I want. That's what I didn't expect.

4, How is SMC different from schools in your country is hard ?

It is kind of hard to compare because I've never gone to any university or college in Sweden. There is no community college in Sweden and education is free, but here, I have to pay a lot of money on education. When I was in Sweden, I just took 1 or 2 subjects during a semester, but I have to take 4 or 5 subjects in SMC.