Outstanding education at MU attracts students from around the world

by Amy Zuroweste, posted Nov. 29, 2011

With the best journalism school in the country and one of the best agriculture schools, MU attracts people from all over the world. According to the MU International Center, 20 percent of graduate student enrollment is international students coming from 103 different countries. The Science and Agricultural Journalism program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources is home to Yin Xu, who has traveled all the way from Shanghai, China.

“I did not want to attend a university in China, I wanted to come to the United States to get a better education and a free lifestyle,” said Xu  “To come to school here I had to apply for a visa. It was a very simple process, not hard at all.”

Coming all the way from Shanghai, Xu points out many differences in the educational systems.

“Education in China is much stricter,” Xu said. “We go to class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour for lunch break. Homework can take up to five hours, and we must take seven subjects. We practice a lot in high school, and we are very good at math, chemistry and physics. We do everything the teachers say.”

Xu is happy with her decision to attend school at MU. She works with the International Center as well as her academic adviser to help her adjust and fulfill her dreams of being a journalist.

“It is amazing that Yin found our program here at Mizzou,” said Sharon Wood-Turley, Science and Agricultural Journalism professor and Xu’s Academic Advisor. “We don’t really market the Science and Ag. Journalism program internationally. Yin’s reasons for being here are great. She knows how important agriculture is and wants to write about it.”

Not only is coming to MU a benefit for Xu, it is also a benefit for every student on campus at MU. According to the International Center website, the International Center’s goal is to not only strengthen and bridge international resources across the MU campus but also to engage the local and regional community in international education.

“Having international students on campus really helps everyone learn,” said Anna Valiavska, hall coordinator of Defoe-Graham, a dorm housing international students. “It helps students learn things about different cultures that could not be taught from lecture and books and learn to communicate with different kinds of people.”

Xu loves it here, but not everything has been easy. Things such as slang and clothing are strange to Xu, but she is adjusting over time.

“I studied at an international high school to learn the English language,” Xu said.  “I understand a lot, but honestly I cannot understand everything said in daily life. It is getting easier, but there are some things that I just don’t know what they mean. I also did not understand dress at first. In China, we show less of our bodies. We wear long trousers and t-shirts. It is traditional to dress that way, especially farther away from the city. The clothing here is a little bit strange.”

Aside from the differences in culture, Xu loves the university town. She feels safe and comfortable in Columbia. She has gotten involved in the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, an association dedicated to making the life of every Chinese student more enjoyable in Columbia.

“My favorite thing about Mizzou is being able to walk downtown; it is a very safe place,” Xu said. “We have such a big campus, it is so nice.  I love it here.”

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