International Students: Questions & Answers
Thaiana Zandona ‘26 - Brazil
Q: How has Haverford supported you as an international student?
A: Haverford has an incredible International Student Support Office. I cannot express the way that Natasha Weisz, Assistant Dean for International Student Support, is dedicated to making us feel at home, safe, cared for, and assisted in the best way possible. Additionally, I believe Haverford, in general, has great support offices, from deans to the Chesick Office. I can say confidently that most faculty and staff are here to support you in any shape or form.
Q: What do you like about Haverford's location?
A: I love how Haverford's location feels like I'm in one of those TV shows. It feels so cozy like a small city, but at the same time it’s close and connected with everything you need.
Q: What do you like the most about the Haverford community?
A: THE PEOPLE! I don't think you can beat the vibes of Haverford and how the people are nice, funny, kind, and smart.
Q: Could you talk about your favorite research or internship experience while at Haverford?
A: My favorite internship (so far) was the one I did with the CPGC after my first year of college. I worked for Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo, an organization that supports, advocates, and invests legal efforts to bring justice to the disappeared population of Guatemala during the dictatorship. It was such a meaningful experience to connect at a personal level with different stories and with the wonderful work the organization has been doing in the past 30 years.
Pritha Aryal ‘24 - Nepal
Q: How has Haverford supported you as an international student?
A: First of all, Haverford met 100% of my demonstrated need, so I haven't had to worry about financing my education. Furthermore, the International Student Organization is so amazing and always there to support international students, whether it be through sponsoring off-campus activities for students staying on campus over winter break or organizing community events. The Chesick Office has also played an integral part in making my experience at Haverford so good. The LIFTFAR program has always been there for me during emergencies. LIFTFAR has also helped me cover my expenses related to professional growth.
Q: What do you like about Haverford's location?
A: I really love that I get to be in a beautiful suburb, while having access to a happening city like Philadelphia. It truly gives the best of both worlds! Also, I feel safe and more in touch with nature at Haverford.
Q: What do you like the most about the Haverford community?
A: I love the collaborative spirit of the Haverford community!
Q: Could you talk about your favorite research or internship experience while at Haverford?
A: I really enjoyed working at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies, a Kathmandu-based think tank, as a part of my CPGC Summer Fellowship. I was able to do hands-on economic policy research and gained a better understanding of the role of think tanks in evaluating and informing policy. One of my favorite projects there was working for the Nepal Infrastructure Summit. I co-wrote a policy brief on the topic "Governance of Infrastructure Development." In particular, I analyzed Nepal's public procurement policies. I really appreciated the fact that I was able to use my skills to contribute to my country's economic development in some way.
Jacob Seiji Foster ’24 - Japan
Q: How has Haverford supported you as an international student?
A: Haverford has done a great job supporting international students, especially at International Student Orientation (ISO). That's the biggest one. Just the fact that you're brought here early, building that community at first was really important. I signed up to help out with it in later years. I really enjoyed a lot of the programs, but also the time available outside of that because everyone just pops in the room together and you kind of have to get to know each other and then the students who are part of ISO are able to lead a lot of things. The director takes part, but it's very student-run and it really emphasizes community that continues into the year. Other than that, the International Student Office is amazing. Natasha (Weisz) is excellent. She is really kind and always on top of things and is always available to help.
Q: What do you like about Haverford's location?
A: One of my favorite things about Haverford, that I didn’t think very much about before coming, is the consortium. I have access to Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania. I've taken courses at all institutions within the Quaker Consortium and some are my best courses. These incredible opportunities have come from being able to go to these other places. I've taken about half (of my classes) in places other than Haverford, I've also done study abroad, so while Haverford is my home institution, the things I've got access to from Haverford have been very remarkable and really have developed me.
Q: What do you like the most about the Haverford community?
A: I would first say my dorm. I live in Nerd House, which is community housing just off of campus, but still owned by Haverford. Basically Nerd House is an alternative to social gatherings that happen on campus. I like board games and being able to hear other people talk, so I immediately gravitated toward Nerd House. We throw events every Saturday that focus around various nerdy themes, not just board games, but things like laser tag or Murder Mystery or Dungeon & Dragons. We get a lot of people coming over constantly. It's really nice, it's very active, and I appreciate being around the bustle.
Q: Could you talk about your favorite research or internship experience while at Haverford?
A: I did research with Professor Matthew McKeever of the Sociology Department. It was on his research the first summer, and then it was preliminary research for my thesis the second summer. I was looking at pre-and post-apartheid socioeconomic inequality in South Africa that first year, so that involved doing some citations, watching documentaries, and reading. Then the second year I was doing research for my thesis that didn't actually end up becoming my thesis. I was looking at pension laws and demographic transition in Japan, Korea, and Italy.
Mengyao (Angel) Yang ‘25 - China
Q: How has Haverford supported you as an international student?
A: Haverford's International Student Support Office (ISSO) is doing really well in supporting me as an international student. I particularly appreciate the International Student Orientation Week (ISO). ISO allowed me to quickly find a community where I feel I belong. This was very helpful in alleviating my anxiety and fear about navigating a new environment and lifestyle.
Q: What do you like about Haverford's location?
A: I like how Haverford can both provide me with a sense of tranquility through its suburban location and opportunities to engage with real-world issues with its proximity to Philly. Despite being located in the suburbs, life at Haverford is very convenient. I can get to everything I need within a 20 to 30-minute walk. It also feels very safe to be in and around campus. While it's easy to be isolated in the Haverford bubble, Haverford also offers numerous opportunities to engage with local and Philly communities. This allows me to connect with people with more racially and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds and gain insights into real-life issues.
Q: What do you like the most about the Haverford community?
A: I like how people at Haverford are very supportive, approachable, and willing to cooperate. Most students, professors, and staff members I interact with genuinely want to get to know you and support you in ways they can. I also like how there's a focus on growth rather than merely on scores and GPA.
Q: Could you talk about your favorite research or internship experience while at Haverford?
A: My favorite internship experience is the CPGC summer fellowship, for which I worked at a nonprofit organization in Philly called College Together. I was able to do work that was interesting and meaningful to me, while getting stipends from the school. CPGC also assigned a mentor and prompted me to reflect throughout my internship.
Maša Kilibarda ‘26 - Montenegro
Q: How has Haverford supported you as an international student?
A: The second I stepped on campus, I was overwhelmed by the support, care, and patience of everyone around me. The International Student Support Office and the Chesick Scholars Program were extremely helpful in the first stages of my transition to both Haverford and the U.S. They helped me deal with both practical challenges (getting a SSN, opening a bank account and filing taxes), and dealing with culture shock (there is a very strong sense of community that comes with being a member of both of these groups). I also had a lot of help and support with finding summer jobs/navigating classes from my pre-major advisor, my research advisor, and all of my professors. There's so many people on campus who are more than happy to help if you reach out. I am fortunate to always have someone look out for me, give me advice, and help me navigate the often frustrating legal processes.
Q: What do you like about Haverford's location?
A: As someone who grew up in the suburbs of a small Eastern European town, I wanted to be in a place that both feels like home and allows me to explore new things and experience different cultures. I found that Haverford's location was perfect for that! The campus is a beautiful arboretum (especially in the spring), and is located very close to a big city (Philadelphia), but not quite in the busy center city. In the afternoon, it's really nice to be able to walk around Ardmore and eat out or get groceries, or even hop on a blue bus and explore the town of Bryn Mawr and watch a movie or hang out with friends. On the weekends I would often get on a train and explore all the fun things Philly has to offer, such as museums, concerts, and shows. During longer breaks we like to visit other nearby cities such as New York and Washington D.C, and since Haverford is so well connected, it is incredibly easy to do so.
Q: What do you like the most about the Haverford community?
A: Definitely the general sense of collaboration and support. As a STEM student, I love being able to work on homework problem sets with my friends. All of my professors not only allow collaboration, but actively encourage it through in class group problem sessions. I also love that everyone celebrates others' successes, and encourages one another to pursue opportunities that will make them enjoy their time at Haverford more. I received some of the best advice by casually talking to people, whether it's my peers or professors.
Q: Could you talk about your favorite research or internship experience while at Haverford?
A: One of the main reasons why I chose Haverford is being able to get involved in scientific research early on in my college years. Since I was interested in astrophysics, I decided to join Professor Karen Masters's astrophysics galaxies lab the summer after my freshman year. I loved every single moment of my experience working in the lab so far, and I will definitely continue doing research in the group until I graduate. Even though I was afraid that I won't be adequately prepared to do research after only having taken introductory Math and Physics classes, I found that getting hands-on experience enhanced both my learning and my passion for science. I absolutely love collaborating with my research advisor and all the other students in my group. Our weekly group meetings are definitely one of my favorite activities at Haverford. An added perk of doing research is getting to meet scientists from across the country and the world through attending symposia and conferences. Overall, if you're interested in doing research, you'll learn a lot and meet so many lovely people at Haverford. Just don't be afraid to ask about opportunities and apply for funding!