College Realities: Adjusting to Undergrad Life in the U.S. As A Nepali

Transitioning from high school in Nepal to college in the U.S. was a massive culture shock for Ayush Bharati. In our SKS Media interview, he shared candidly about the struggles, surprises, and lessons learned during his first semester of undergrad.

Mandatory Attendance and Active Participation

One of the biggest shocks? The strict attendance policy.

“In Nepal, sometimes students just skip classes, and it’s normal. But here, attendance was mandatory from day one,” Ayush explained. “During orientation, they mentioned it, but I wasn’t paying attention.”

Attendance wasn’t just about showing up, though. Speaking up in class was expected too, even if your English wasn’t perfect.

“The teachers would ask, ‘What do you think?’ and anyone could answer. No time to shy away.”

This active participation was a challenge, especially because understanding professors’ accents — whether they were white or black — was tough for Ayush.

“It was really a struggle.”

The Weight of Assignments and Homework

College life in the U.S. wasn’t like school back home, where a missed assignment or forgotten homework might go unnoticed.

“Here, homework had to be done. No exceptions,” he said. “That English 101 class? My first failure. I learned it the hard way.”

Navigating Campus Life

Finding classes wasn’t easy either.

“On the first day, my class was in STEM Building 101. I had no idea where that was. You have to figure out all these things yourself.”

Adjusting to time management and a new academic culture was crucial.

Speaking Up and Disagreeing with Professors

Perhaps the biggest cultural difference was classroom dynamics.

“In Nepal, if you speak too much, the teacher scolds you. Here, everyone’s opinion matters. If you disagree with a professor, you say it right there in class.”

This was both intimidating and eye-opening.

“In English 101 and 102, we wrote research papers. Sometimes, someone would stand up and say, ‘I totally disagree with this,’ in front of the professor. That’s savage!”

Making Friends in a Diverse Environment

When Ayush started, there weren’t many Nepali students around.

“Maybe one or two. Mostly everyone was white or from other backgrounds. It was a mixed group, which felt normal.”

He believes this diversity is good — it pushes you to make friends outside your comfort zone.

“But when you do meet a Nepali, it’s like a childhood friend. That connection is special, especially when you’re far from home.”

Looking Back: What Would He Do Differently?

If Ayush could redo his four years of college, he’d focus on internships and networking.

“Internships are very important. Connections and friends matter too. At first, you might not make many friends, but it comes with time.”

His advice to new students: be open to interaction and seize opportunities early.

Ayush’s journey is a reminder that adjusting to college in a new country is about more than academics — it’s about learning a new culture, adapting communication styles, managing expectations, and building a community from scratch.