International Student Success

Transitioning to college can be a life-changing experience for anyone, but travelling over 7,000 miles just to get there takes it to a whole new level.  Irbaz Husain travelled from India to Bay State College after going over his options with a guidance counselor. 

“Many people dream of getting a degree in the US and there are many options to choose from in Boston alone,” says Irbaz. “But Bay State had this Foundation Year program built specifically to help international students adjust.”

The Foundation Year program that Irbaz speaks of is a specialized curriculum including extra English language that allows international students individualized support in the first year and a smooth transition into the bachelor degree program in their second year.

With his long-term goal of applying to medical school in the UK, Irbaz has just completed his first semester in Bay State College’s Healthcare Management program.  And though he found the work challenging, he felt supported through the process.

“Our cultures are so different and that can be hard,” he says. “But what I’ve experienced here is that everyone treats you with respect, even if they don’t know you. And that’s so important.”

Julia Croft, Director of International Student Affairs at Bay State, has witnessed Irbaz progress significantly in his first term.

“He came in to the program shy and nervous about his classes,” she says. “By the end of the semester, he had my whole office laughing on a weekly basis, had made some really good friends and was excelling in his classes! I was so excited for him the day he received his final grades.”

Irbaz will spend his summer travelling the U.S., but will be back in the fall for his second semester at Bay State.