LOS ANGELES, 2 December 2005 — For many students moving to the US culture shock is often something they run into. Many may not realize or recognize it as culture shock as they feel that they are fully acquainted with the American life style. Still many who move to the US stray away from their main goal of attaining a university degree.

Saudi students who are moving to US at the young age of 18 or 19 are ill prepared for the responsibilities and freedoms they will have once they move. “I moved here when I was 17,” said Mona Al-Saleh, a student at Long Beach University “if it wasn’t for my sister who was here before me I think I would have been lost.”

Not all students feel that way, Deeb Al-Qatani, who just moved to the USA two months ago and is studying Computer Technology at Northeastern University, said that he had no problems with the move and new environment he is in. Having a cousin close by also helped him with the adjustment. Unlike other students, he has his eye on the goal a Bachelor’s degree.

“Where I am at, there are few students who are really concerned with their education,” said Mona “As long as they pass a class they don’t care. They have three things in mind: partying, partying, and more partying.”

Many students are more concerned with their abstract and unrealistic image of what the mighty United States of America will hold for them. Most of the students who move here have never taken responsibility for anything in their lives, they have weak language skills, and almost all of them are unconcerned with their education once they arrive.

Such a claim may seem far-fetched however, it is no secret that any student can apply to a community college or to certain state universities and get accepted regardless of grades, leadership qualities, volunteer work, or other qualifications most universities look for.

These colleges and universities are more concerned with getting students who can pay fees than anything else. Application are never rejected at community colleges as, they are at a college that is open to everyone and anyone who can pay.

As a result, there are a high number of students applying to these universities just to reach their abstract goal of studying in the USA.

Of course, not all students fall into these categories. Rather there are numerous Saudi students who attend prestigious universities such as Harvard, Boston University, and UCLA. Community colleges too are a great start for those families who cannot afford to pay the full university fee. The problem lies with students who come to the US without having a real vision of what life is like here, and what it is they are suppose to be doing— which is getting a university education.

One Saudi notes that while going through an interview at the American Consulate in Jeddah, the interviewer voiced concern about how many Saudi, men particularly, move to the US for a four year degree which then takes them six years to attain. The interviewer as a result is not very willing to give Saudi students who display weak grades in high school an American visa as they realize that many go abroad to do everything else but study.

“When I first came to the US all I wanted to do was stay out late, sit at home watching TV, or hang out with my friends,” said one Saudi male student who chose to remain anonymous.

“I got into all the wrong things that I never thought I would ever do. Things like clubbing and drinking. I didn’t go to most of my classes and if I did, I didn’t really understand what was going on.”

This Saudi is not the only one who fell into this cycle. Many others joined him in this meaningless pursue of nothingness. “My friends and I thought this was what life was about here,” the Saudi continued, “it was only after I was placed on academic probation that I realized I am going to be failing out of university. What would I tell my family if that happened? So I began to change my ways.”

This is a form of culture shock that many students go through. They see their Western fellow students indulging in acts they have never been fully exposed to and feel that they too need to accompany them in it.

“I don’t think it is bad to go out and have fun as long as you aren’t doing something that is completely out of line,” said Mona “Also Saudi students have to remember that we are here to study and focus on a getting a degree. For those of us on a Saudi scholarship, we are lucky so we can’t abuse that privilege.”