student networks lead international students to McCombs

By Andrea Ferdinand

Without a doubt, the McCombs MBA program is challenging. But consider what it would be like to enter the program with only a basic understanding of spoken and written English, no friends or acquaintances in Austin and little knowledge of American culture.

Twenty-five percent of McCombs MBA students face this challenge as international students. With the number of incoming international MBA students on the rise, current students from other countries are banding together to create both informal and formal networks to ease their transitions.

Student organizations, such as the Brazilian-American Business Group and the Indian Graduate Business Association, post “Student Survival Guides” on their Web pages to help prospective students make the decision to attend The University of Texas at Austin.

Last year, a group of Japanese students reorganized and expanded a Web site in the Japanese language that answers many questions prospective students may have about getting an MBA at McCombs. Though they have not established a formal student organization, the students work together to answer questions about admissions, write reviews on courses, provide information on setting up a life in Austin and reply to e-mails on their mailing list.

“In addition, now we hold Japanese study meetings about twice a month to deepen the understanding of cross-industrial differences in Japan,” says Takashi Nogami, MBA ’07. “In the study meeting, one of the Japanese MBA students in Austin talks about his or her own business segment. I talked about the business context of the telecom industry in Japan by using MBA frameworks.”

On occasion, prospective students have even attended a few of their study sessions. And Nogami says she’s excited to see an increased interest. “Recently, I strongly feel the effectiveness of our steady, hands-on activities has increased the McCombs presence in Japan.”

The International MBA Student Association (IMBASA) focuses on making students feel welcome when they arrive at McCombs. IMBASA is a student organization that helps international students adjust to American culture and the business school community and promotes cross-cultural exchanges among U.S. and foreign students.

Jyr Hong Soo, MBA ’07 and president of IMBASA, says the group members are there to lend a helping hand and give incoming students someone to talk to about their situation. That helping hand can come in the form of assisting other students in getting a Social Security number, setting up phones and electricity, providing study tips or even walking them through the process of buying a car.

“I didn’t have a car for a long time when I first came here because I didn’t know who to trust or where to buy one,” remembers Soo, who came to Austin from Singapore.

Other international students face more pressing challenges, such as comprehending a professor’s lecture or completing a case study analysis or exam in one hour.

“The language barrier is definitely the biggest obstacle,” Soo says. “Understanding basic English is difficult enough, but some professors have strong accents, which makes it even more difficult, so we offer studying and test-taking tips.”

Soo says the first month is the toughest for most international students. He recommends that students allow themselves a few weeks before classes begin to get acclimated to the different environment.

“It’s a rough transition, and it’s important for students to continue to celebrate and share their cultures,” says Saleem Assaf, director of the MBA Plus Program, which works with IMBASA to co-host International Night, a celebration of the various cultures represented within the full-time MBA program at McCombs.

In the end, students like Soo and Nogami hope to help other international students succeed beyond the classroom. “You want to do well, but you shouldn’t kill yourself trying to do so,” Soo says. “We hope to help each other and make the transition a little less stressful."