Route J-1

J-1 students inside a UW-Madison lecture hall

Are you a current or hopeful J-1 exchange visitor interested in attending a university in the United States, or even just visiting a campus?  Many J-1 designated sponsors arrange campus visits to U.S. universities for exchange visitors on their programs.  Whether or not you dream of studying here, your proximity to an American university campus offers a really fun opportunity.  My colleague, Deb Shetler, took a campus tour in Madison, Wisconsin with a group of Summer Work Travel (SWT) students this summer doing just that. 

Posting this story gives me the chance to highlight a wonderful State Department resource called EducationUSA.  We know how difficult it can be to decide on the perfect U.S. college or university, and the application process can be so stressful!  Enter EducationUSA, a broad network of educational advising centers in countries all across the world dedicated to helping students access higher education opportunities in the United States.  So, click on the link and start surfing!  But, only after you read about Deb Shetler’s experience in Madison, below.

UW-Madison by the lake

Earlier this summer, I joined nine SWT participants from Romania, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic on a campus tour of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (“UW-Madison”).  They decided to take an afternoon adventure to learn about campus life in the United States.  Voted as one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States, UW-Madison took our breath away.  It is also widely recognized for its excellence in education and research.  My university experience was some years ago, so it was fun to relive the excitement of visiting a campus for the first time.    

American university campus life – including dorm-living, student government, interactive classes, and all-nighters – sounded pretty interesting to my new friends.  As we strolled, the vastness of this campus astounded us all.  This state school serves some 43,000 students.  That’s quite a remarkable number, especially to students from small countries.  We learned that there are many ways for students to form networks, grow in independence, and challenge themselves academically – all without feeling lost in the crowd.

When the question of how to pursue higher education in the United States came up, I highlighted EducationUSA as a resource to help them complete their applications, finance their studies, apply for their student visa, and prepare for their departure.

The tour concluded with a visit to the statue of President Abraham Lincoln, whose likeness stands in honor of his passion for education.  This entire day made me nostalgic for my own college years, and I hope these students will decide to try it for themselves.

J-1 students by the statue of former President Abraham Lincoln on UW-Madison’s campus

Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight