Why do International Students Keep Coming to Study in America?: The Internal Battle of the BC Identity for Latin American Students at Boston College

• Main Author: Viola, Isabella
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Boston College 2017
• Subjects: critical analysis; Boston College; Latin American international students; immersion facilitation; identity crisis
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:107934

Thesis advisor: Celeste Wells === This essay investigates the experience of Latin American international students at Boston College (BC) and how their preconceived notions impact both their experience pre and post arrival to college. Boston College culture, language barriers, academic pressure, housing arrangements and American norms are all factors that fuel the identity crisis that Latin American students experience at Boston College. These factors either drive Latin American students to engage in Boston College culture or, on the contrary, impel students to isolate themselves from American culture and from befriending other Americans. As seen through the conversations with students, the latter experience can often lead to dissatisfied outlooks and the longing to return to the students’ host countries. This study highlights the thoughts and experiences of Latin American students at Boston College while also providing solutions on how to improve the International Assistant Program (IAP) at Boston College. The solutions put forward in this study aim to encourage other universities across the globe to improve their immersion programs so that the needs of international students can be met. === Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2017. === Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. === Discipline: Arts and Sciences Honors Program. === Discipline: Communication.