If you’re looking to spend a day exploring the great outdoors in and around Austin, know this: you will have no shortage of options. Even as an ever-changing city, Austin celebrates the outdoors by investing in several community spaces for all to enjoy. There is something for everyone, whether you’re… read more
Four Steps to Managing Anxiety
Whether you are nervous about upcoming midterm exams, have a stressful situation at home or another issue entirely, anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences. What is anxiety? In simple terms, anxiety is a mental and physical state of negative expectation. It may be fueled by some form… read more
Get Ready to Secure a Job Offer
Attention, international Longhorns! It’s a season filled with both anxiety and excitement: job-hunting season. If you’ve already secured an offer: fantastic! But if you’re still in the process of landing a job or internship: Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The current job market is quite challenging, and the Texas Career… read more
Truths of International Study that Nobody Talks About
Moving from your own country to study in the United States can seem like a journey of a million steps. So once you’ve done the hard work of gaining admission to The University of Texas at Austin, you might be surprised by this fact when you arrive on campus: The… read more
The Orange Bike Project: An Affordable Way to Explore Austin
An Affordable Way to Explore Austin Did you know that Austin is a wonderful city to experience by bike? Dedicated bike paths, protected bike lanes and bike racks on all Capital Metro buses make it easy to get to and from campus from many different parts of the city. Not… read more
Self-Compassion and Kindness
Self-compassion and kindness toward oneself are concepts that are gaining popularity, especially in the United States. However, for many international students, this may be a new concept — or one that doesn’t necessarily align with cultural values. What is self-compassion? Compassion is a concept that describes the mind’s ability… read more
Addressing Perfectionism
You may have heard people say something like, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” But what does that mean? It’s a common response to the way that many people focus on perfection in every area, keeping themselves from improving or finishing a project. Although it’s good to strive for quality,… read more
Extend Your I-20 or DS-2019
It is your responsibility as an F-1/J-1 student to ensure that your immigration documents accurately reflect your current academic program. Please keep an eye on the status of your I-20 or DS-2019 forms to keep them valid, using the information below. Do I need an I-20/DS-2019 extension? Please review your… read more
Self-Care for Staying Safe, Healthy and Productive
It is two months into the spring semester, and by now, you possibly have a better understanding of how demanding the rest of your semester will be. Some of you might be feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do this semester, from classes and assignments to work (for those… read more
Cultural Adjustment: What Is It, Really?
Hello, international students! I am Dr. Arna Erega. I am excited to begin my second year as a counselor for international students at The University of Texas at Austin’s Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC). In this blog post, I will explore the Four Stages of Cultural Adjustment and what… read more










