Jan 16, 2017 11:53 PM EST By Audri Taylors, UniversityHerald Reporter

Leaving the country to go to college sounds scary, yet an exciting decision to make. It is going to be an entirely brand new experience to be studying in a new place, meeting new people, and adapting to a lot of changes.

Many students have dreamt to study in the US, and here are some tips that you may find helpful when it comes to becoming successful as an international student in the United States before applying.

Going to college is like being employed

According to US News, one of the most common mistakes students make is to think that college life is just as easy as high school, when it is not. Being a college student is like being employed to a full time job because everything that is going on in their lives is related to their university life. In fact, there will even be times when it will feel as if it's more than a job. Studying college in the US requires a lot of work outside of classrooms including projects, research, group assignments and many others.

Extracurricular activities are important

When you are in college in the US, your growth as a student will not only depend on how you perform when it comes to academics. A lot of your learning when it comes to skills and experiences will also be a fruit of your involvement in the campus extracurricular activities.

You are in control

It is up to you to make the most of your college life in the country, according to the Big Future. All you have to do is to make sure that you stay focused on your goal as to why you are here in the first place and what your dreams are. There may be times when it could feel too overwhelming but just believe that you can make it work for you, only if you keep your eye on the prize.

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