4 Tips for foreign students looking to do a PhD in the US

A PhD is a very challenging endeavor on its own. Throw in a new country and a new academic culture on top of that, and it can get
daunting rather quickly. When you are pursuing a PhD/postdoc in a new country, there are several challenges you need to overcome. It is
very easy, and also very normal, to get anxious over questions like How am I expected to deal with specific situations? or What is the
done thing in certain situations such as communicating with my supervisor? This is especially difficult when you have no baseline to the
academic culture of the country or the institution to use as a reference. However, there are concrete steps you can take and develop a
toolbox of sorts to minimize these challenges. Here are four simple practices I followed to successfully navigate the PhD.
Take responsibility for communication with your professors/mentors/or principal investigator
This may not come naturally to those of us who were students in Asia, where it is culturally disrespectful to be making demands on your
mentors time by initiating meetings with your mentor. But once you are abroad, this must change. You must not hesitate to approach
your professors/principal investigator/supervisor when you need. Look at it this way: given the increasing academic competition, most of
all current research is happening under a new paradigm of significant resource crunchwhich means that research professors have way
less time now than they used to earlier. So, help them be better mentors by being proactive.
I also learned that I had to develop a bit of a thick skin when communicating with professors. Initially, I would second-guess myself if my
supervisors did not respond quickly to my emails. But over time, I realized that they are extremely busy people. Dont take it personally if
you dont hear from them immediately. If you think you are over-worked, think again! Most research professors (and principal
investigators) juggle their time between writing grants, writing and/or supervising papers being written, managing research and research
direction for existing grants, supervising their labs, teaching classes, executing departmental responsibilities, and navigating political
landmines that exist within every university. So this means that the email you sent on a Friday evening is probably at the bottom of their
pile by the time Monday morning rolls around, and by the time you get a reply, it will be a few days. One way to get around this to save
time and anxiety is to check if your professor would be okay with you visiting their office to ask for quick feedback/input on important or
time-critical events. This is what I did and it worked for me. This also helped me build a rapport with my supervisor. Learning to manage
communication with those who supervise you is a skill that will serve you well in any situation, so be sure to learn it.
Ask for help
Again, this is intensely uncomfortable for some foreign students from a cultural perspective. You may feel that by asking for help, you are
admitting failure and showing that you dont know what you are supposed to know. When I first landed up at the lab, I was extremely
hesitant to ask for help on statistical tools that I had never used before. It was the hardest thing Id done in some waysasking for help!
But when I did, I learned from my PI that no one expects you to start out in a lab knowing everything or knowing exactly how things work
around there. She (my PI) pointed out that this learning curve was normal and assigned a senior lab scientist to help me out. This taught
me two things: a learning curve is the routine, and if you dont ask for help, the assumption is that you already have the competencies
required to complete the task at hand. Yes, it is uncomfortable saying you need help. My advice to you is make peace with that
discomfort and ask! For example, you could ask for templates or rubrics if you are not sure about what is expected of you, or ask to be
pointed in the direction of someone in your lab who has previously completed the task youre working on, so that you can get some
pointers. Once you politely explain that this is not something you have done before, and would like some guidance, you will get all the
help you need. Know that most professors care deeply about their students and want to foster an environment that enables learning. And
by asking for help when needed, you are only displaying an eagerness to learn.
Develop peer networks and hobbies

Make sure you reach out to your universitys international student bodies. You could also explore diversity committees, advocacy groups
on campus, or subscribe to campus and department newsletters. For instance, at my university, there were groups that connected
minority graduate students, international student services, several student clubs, and campus events, all designed to integrate and
celebrate the diversity on campus. All these give you a flavor of life outside the lab. Additionally, try and expand your horizons by
developing new interests and hobbies. Joining a sports league or an interest group is a fun way to meet new and like-minded people. A
PhD takes a toll on your mental well-being and it is important to have a life outside your lab and work to avoid burning out.
Develop career networks simultaneously
During your PhD, your lab work, conference presentations, and papers you publish are not the only important components of your life.
You need to start understanding the opportunities available to you at an early stage. Most researchers make the mistake of looking for
postdoc positions or jobs at the last minute. Register for job fairs and university job events even if you are not actively looking for a job
or a postdoctoral position. Look for fellowship opportunities that may be available in the local corporate and research community in your
specific field: many state and federal agencies often take on interns into their projects, and non-profits often take on volunteers. Such
opportunities are like a foot in the door that helps you expand your networks as well as build your resume by tying in coursework to real
life applicability. Other options to develop career networks include joining professional societies in your field, identifying regional and
local associations to actively network with, and registering for alumni events that are open to current students. These types of activities
make it possible for you to meet career professionals in your field, and give you a better understanding of where you want to be once you
are done with the PhD.
While I faced my share of challenges, over time, I also realized that I was not alone. Hundreds of researchers like me were trying to
navigate a new academic environment and stay afloat. Remember that you are navigating an academic culture that is different from your
own, so be open to understanding a different perspective and, above all, be open to new experiences.