Sunyoung Oh was laughing and talking to her classmates in the dressing room right before her dancing class, when just a few months ago, she was on the other side of the planet, studying in South Korea.
A lot of things are new to her, but she has adapted pretty well to a culture that is very different from her own.
Oh is one of 142 full-time international students who are currently enrolled at Moorpark College. The 18-year-old student, who is called Sunny by her friends, is having a great experience in her first semester at Moorpark.
“America has a lot of opportunities,” said Oh. “I think here is the real education.”
The Open Doors Report of 2009/10, which is published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE), found South Korea, Vietnam and China to be the top three countries which send international students to community Colleges in the United States. At Moorpark College, the number one sending country is South Korea with a total number of 14 students, followed by China with 11, and Canada with 10. Currently, Moorpark has international students from 33 countries.
After 9/11, international students faced many difficulties and obstacles to obtain a student visa to study in the United States according to foreign student adviser, matriculation specialist and PDSO, Maureen Rauchfuss. In addition many families were afraid to let their children study in the States. As a result the number of international students at Moorpark College decreased from a peak of 400 down to a minimum of 80. Part of the reason for the low numbers is that Moorpark no longer advertises or recruits students at fairs in foreign countries due to the budget cuts explained Rauchfuss.
“The majority of our students come because a brother or a friend or a cousin has come here and a few just randomly find the website,” she said.
In Rauchfuss’ opinion international students bring a lot to the classroom because they bring in other cultures and experiences. Students hear things they would never hear otherwise, she said.
Oh found Moorpark by researching the Internet and made the decision to study in the United States in order to learn English and to be exposed to better education opportunities.
She identified a few differences regarding the educational system between her home country and the United States. For example, Sunny did a lot of extra-curricular activities and volunteering in South Korea. However, when it came to the application process, those experiences were overlooked and the only defining factor was the SAT score. In contrast, in the United States both factors are fundamental in the application process.
Another difference she explained is that in South Korea everything is theory-based, whereas in the US students also obtain hands-on experience. As an example, she mentioned a class about children she is taking at Moorpark College.
“Korea only teaches in the textbook, but here we observe real toddlers and discuss about their parents,” said Oh. “I am experiencing the real world.”
For Oh it is exciting to meet people with different cultures, as well as professors and students who are very helpful, she said. The best thing about studying in the United States to her is that she is gaining a broader perspective on the world.
“Studying abroad is good for me, for my education and also for my job,” she said.
Oh is going to transfer to a university in California when she is finished with her associate degree. She wants to become an international lawyer.
See where most of MC’s international students come from
