Indra, an international student from India, currently studying Integrated Information Technology (IIT) at the University of South Carolina, is on track to complete his degree in just three years. With dreams of contributing to his family’s business and taking it international, Indra is dedicated to his studies and embraces every opportunity for personal and academic growth.
Read on to learn more about how Indra plans to complete graduation with a fast-track degree, and his academic journey as an international student studying at the University of South Carolina.
Why Indra Chose the University of South Carolina
Indra was very interested in studying integrated information technology abroad, and through his research he learned about the University of South Carolina. The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing is one of the best engineering colleges in the US, having been ranked among the top 100 by U.S. News & World Report, which was a strong deciding factor.
The mild, comfortable weather in Columbia and the welcoming campus community made a strong impression that this would be a good learning environment for him, Indra said. The University of South Carolina’s reputation as one of the safest campuses in the country also helped in making his choice.
“My parents told me, ‘Choose the place you like, but make sure it’s safe and you’ll be happy there.’ And I loved this place right away,” he shared.
Studying Integrated Information Technology
When he started his freshman year at the University of South Carolina, Indra said he was feeling a bit uncertain about which major to pursue at first, and was torn between Mechanical Engineering and Integrated Information Technology. Having previously completed a diploma in Mechatronics back in India, he had a strong foundation in technical subjects already, but felt he needed to try something new. His interest in learning more about both Computer Engineering and IT fields ultimately led him to choosing Integrated Information Technology.
After his first semester, Indra officially changed his major to Integrated Information Technology, confident that it was the right fit for his academic and career goals.
How to Complete Graduation Early: Indra’s Plans
Indra is on an accelerated fast-track degree plan that enables him to complete graduation in just three years. His plan includes consistently taking on heavier course loads each semester, typically around 15–18 credit hours, and also enrolling in summer semesters. Over the past two summers, he has taken 16–18 credits each term, and plans to take 18 credits this third upcoming summer, in order to complete his degree ahead of schedule.
While the regular spring and fall semesters span about 14–15 weeks, summer semesters are shorter, usually lasting just 10 weeks. With this more compact time frame, Indra said it’s especially important to plan ahead in order to stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.
Though Indra has taken on heavier workloads, he manages his schedule carefully. “I will spread [out] and manage my schedule properly, then it’s not [going] to be hectic for me,” he said. He enjoys studying during the summer, since it keeps him focused on his academic goals and provides a method for achieving them sooner. Indra’s work ethic, determination, and time management has made his accelerated summer timeline feel like a normal and manageable semester.
Overcoming Challenges with Academic Support
During his time at the University of South Carolina, Indra had a few academic challenges, particularly with his math courses. At first, he struggled with the material and the unfamiliarity of US classroom culture, but he was determined to improve.
He regularly visited the Math Tutoring Center at USC’s LeConte College, a facility that holds group tutoring sessions to help all students with math, free of charge. It also provides private tutoring services for more intensive and structured assistance. The talented staff of graduate student tutors helped Indra understand his math problems in detail, and with their support his class began to feel much easier.
Besides the Tutoring Center, Indra also took advantage of the university’s Student Success Center, which provided him with advice on improving at math. It also offered further academic support, like supplemental instructions, tutoring, academic consultations, and more. He found these resources to be very helpful, as they offered one-on-one tutoring for a wide range of subjects, like English, computer science, accounting, and business, with students who have already completed them.
Student Life at the University of South Carolina
As an international student, Indra was able to find a strong sense of community and support at the University of South Carolina, especially through the connections he made with fellow students from his home country. In his first year, he met several students from his home city and state, which made the transition to studying in the US much smoother. Indra was also able to make close connections with fellow international students from other countries, like his friend from Thailand, who was a great source of academic support. They shared many classes together freshman year and helped each other in subjects he found more challenging, such as chemistry and English.
Indra also considered student events to be a highlight of his time on campus, with one or two held every semester. He really enjoyed bowling nights, haunted house tours, axe throwing, and weekend camping trips, and especially appreciated these opportunities to relax, have fun, explore, and meet new people. Indra also spent a lot of his leisure time with friends exploring Columbia, as well as other nearby cities in South Carolina like Charleston.
Indra’s Advice for International Students
Indra encourages fellow international students to stay focused and work hard to achieve their academic goals, and he believes that choosing the right university, like he did with the University of South Carolina, is key. Indra also urges students not to feel too nervous or hesitant, especially in their freshman year, saying, “Just think positive and be confident — that will help you do very well in the United States, at the University of South Carolina, or any other university.”
Indra hopes to one day contribute to his family’s business and dreams of taking it worldwide. With his goal to graduate early, he’s already working hard to make that dream a reality. For other students who are also focused on achieving their goals, he recommends choosing the University of South Carolina, as they provide many opportunities for students to build toward their plans for the future.
Explore how the University of South Carolina can help you pursue your own academic, personal, and professional goals, just like Indra.
Discover University of South Carolina >
