Student Testimonials

General experiences as an international student at Alfred State:

Toyomi Kuramoto, Tokyo, Japan
Liberal Arts & Sciences: Social Science major
Vice President, International Club
Resident Assistant, Shults Hall

“I like Alfred State College because the faculty and staff such as my resident director, the cleaning staff, and the people who work in the dining halls are very friendly and helpful to students. When I faced a problem, they [faculty] always tried to help me and gave me advice for solving my problems. I feel very comfortable asking them questions about class or just talking with them. I really enjoy their classes. Also the activities are very interesting. I joined the civic engagement program and I learned about leadership and communication. I met many people there.”

Na Ma, Dongling, China
Construction Management & Engineering Technology
Resident Assistant, Peet Hall

“The reasons I like to be at Alfred State are:

"We have a relatively small population, so it's easier to make friends and get along with the surrounding people. People also care more about you and like to help you.

"Most of the classes are limited to have at most 20 - 30 students, so we can be more successful in our academic skills because the professors are able to pay more attention to individual students.

"Alfred is a beautiful, clean, and healthy place to live in because we are surrounded by a lot of trees. Unlike the cities, there are few pollutions and noises.”

Rina Taguchi, class of '11, Saitama, Japan
Business Administration major
Spearheaded a fundraising initiative that garnered $4,669.22 for her native Japan following the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor accidents

"Alfred State College is located in the countryside of New York state. There are many students from cities including New York City. The location is really great because you will be able to concentrate on studying and other extracurricular activities like clubs and organizations. It is also beautiful out here all year around.

"Secondly, this college is really small and faculty and staff are really kind and helpful. This will help you to be active as much as you want to. If you want to start a new club or activity, you can start working towards the goal. If you want to pursue your goal, there are a lot of people who can help you. If you have any questions, you will be able to ask someone and they will find the answer. This friendliness and kindness will help you enjoy your Alfred life.

"Finally, there are a lot of opportunities and chances to grow. You can experience other cultures and improve your English skills by making friends you meet in classes, in your residence halls, and in the clubs you are in. You can learn a lot in the small classes, so teachers will know who you are. You can ask the teachers questions really easily. You can also experience leadership positions on the campus if you want to. There are a lot of choices you can pursue."

Feifan Wu, Fushun, China
Construction Management & Engineering Technology

“I used to study at a university in China for three years, and the reason I decided to transfer here before I got a degree in China is that I don't feel confident with my English to get a masters degree in America. After I came here, I found that ASC is a good place to go when you first study in the U.S. compared with some other universities, the tuition and other fees were cheaper, which saved a lot of money for me. ASC also has a special scholarship for international students if you are an excellent student.

"I first heard about this school from a company for study abroad. They told me this college was good in the field of engineering, but it was hard to find information about this in China. After I came here, I googled this college and also asked other American students about this college. I found this school is really good not only in engineering but also in some other majors. The most important part is the way they teach here in small classes. I had more chances to speak in class and communicate with my professors which made my grades improve quickly. Also, the professors and American classmates here are very friendly to international students.

"I never thought about the fact that this college was located in the countryside. All of my friends in China thought I was in NYC instead of here. After a few weeks, I found I began to love this small town. Alfred is definitely a safe and quiet place for students to concentrate on their studies. You cannot imagine that when you are on your way to class, there could be some deer running past you. You cannot imagine how beautiful the scenery is here in fall. You cannot imagine how peaceful the town is and how friendly the people in the town are. We have students from China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Europe, so I do not need to worry about being homesick. Also, our International Club holds a lot of events every semester which make my school life more colorful.”