INTO students enjoying DC. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University

Time goes by, my journey in the INTO Mason Pathway Program is coming to an end. Until now I still remember the first class I took in INTO Mason. As an international student, I did not think I understood anything at that time, and the language was not good. I could only understand one-third of what the professors said, just because before I came to INTO Mason, all my communication are all in Chinese, and the way of the class is completely different from before.

First of all, I think I should thank all the professors of INTO Mason. This is because，after nearly one and a half of study, my own language skills have been significantly improved, although there are still sometimes when I can’t use English express what I want to express, I can already communicate most of the content in English. For example, I remember clearly that when I first went to OCS5, the professor asked us to make a presentation. When I stood in front of the classroom, I forgot all the content, and finally, I could only watch the PPT and read the content. Now I can complete all presentations by studying in OCS5, INYO501 and INYO502， and this semester STATA-515 mid-term presentation I got a score of 90 points.

Moving on, for my international classmates who want to achieve good school results in an American university and has a happy life, first we must understand some of the campus rules in the United States, and the INTO Mason Pathway Program gives us some opportunity to learn these. For instance, INYO501 and INYO502 taught me some of the American campus requirements and characteristics, and EPA506 and EPA507 taught me how to write in the United States and how to write a research report. Through the study of professional courses OR-531 and STAT-515, I found that all professors of professional courses will assume that you have mastered these skills, so they will not repeat these.

Finally, I want to say that INTO Mason is actually a big family, where students from all over the world are gathered here, so it is easier for me to make friends here. My friends let me not feel lonely especially I am in a foreign country. Therefore, in summary, this INTO Mason Pathway plan is a good transition for us international students.