Student Stories

Meet some of Pace University's international graduate students!

The students featured below come from countries across the globe, but they all chose to pursue their graduate degree at Pace University. Here, they share with you their experiences both on and off campus.

Name: Yang Xi
Hometown: Taizhou, China
Degree: M.S. in Investment Management

My name is Yang Xi, but my nickname is Silver because this is the English translation of my Chinese nickname. I am from Taizhou, China and received my undergraduate degree from Nanjing University of Finance and Economics.  Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I researched U.S. colleges and universities online and found Pace University. I was very interested in studying in New York City and was pleased to find that Pace offered a M.S. in Investment Management, which is precisely the type of master’s degree I was seeking.  After I received my acceptance letter from Pace, I met a few other Chinese students online that also planned to attend Pace in the fall.  We searched for off-campus apartments together and even took the same flight to New York together.

On the first day I arrived in New York, I was looking at a map on the street and trying to determine which direction I needed to go.  I was pleasantly surprised when a stranger came up to me and offered to help. It made me feel very welcome and confident that I had come to the right place. Ever since that day, I continue to find that people in New York are always willing to help others!

I currently live in an apartment in Queens and have an easy commute, by subway, to campus.  My classes are going well. Accounting is challenging for me, but I am really enjoying my Data Analysis class.  I also attend the English Language Institute, along with some of my other Chinese classmates, to get additional assistance with the English language.  I have found that it is important to communicate as much as possible in English—the more practice, the better. Eventually you get over the nervousness you first have when speaking in a new language.  Lately, I have been busy searching for an internship for the summer. Pace’s Co-Op & Career Services center has helped me to improve my resume and to prepare for interviews. I try to attend any workshops that they offer that I feel may be helpful in obtaining an internship.

Outside of my studies, I still find time to have fun and explore New York!  There are so many restaurant options in New York City. Pace is not far from Chinatown in Manhattan, which has a lot of great authentic Chinese food. My favorite take-out place is L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, which is right down the street from my classes and has student-friendly prices!  On weekends, I enjoy evenings out with my friends in midtown Manhattan. And, when the weather gets warm, I love going to Central Park!  —3/2010

Name: Beliz Erdem
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Degree: MBA, International Business

My name is Beliz and I came to Pace University, from Istanbul, to complete an MBA in International Business. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Turkey, I applied to graduate schools and was accepted to a handful of universities in the United States. I chose Pace because I wanted to get an MBA from a reputable business school in New York City. I like to stay active, so I enjoy the high-energy and endless opportunities that are available in the city.  Istanbul is also very metropolitan, so I did not find the move to New York to be intimidating. I feel very comfortable here and my schedule has allowed me to get back to Turkey and visit family three times since starting in the MBA program.  

Name: Zou Xin
Hometown: Hefei, China
Degree: M.S. in Accounting

My name is Zou Xin, but I often go by Johnson, because the pronunciation of my Chinese name sounds similar to the popular American name, Johnson.  I am from Hefei, China and completed my undergraduate degree in International Trade at the Henan University of Science and Technology. I decided to come to the United States to pursue a graduate-level degree, to improve my English, and to hopefully start a career in Accounting.

I chose to come to Pace because of its long-standing and impressive reputation in Accounting. The location of the school, also very much appealed to me, as I knew it would be a place with many career opportunities. When I graduate, I intend to search for a job in New York and work in the U.S. for awhile before returning to China. Currently, I am searching for summer internships that will help make me a strong candidate when I enter the job market. I have found the Career Office on the Pace campus to be very helpful throughout my internship search. I also try to participate in other important business events that take place on campus.  I volunteered at the Buttonwood Gathering last year which was hosted at Pace. The Buttonwood Gathering is an annual meeting of the world’s leading economists. That year’s featured speaker was the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. I was very impressed that Pace hosts so many globally and nationally recognized events on its campuses.

Although I live in Jersey City, I spend a lot of time in the city exploring Manhattan with friends. When I’m feeling a bit homesick, I’ll venture to Chinatown just a few minutes away from campus, where I can always find great food that reminds me of home. Learning a new language is intimidating, but I feel it should also be fun!  Rather than put in extra hours at a desk, I’ve improved my English-language skills tremendously by just playing basketball or video games with my American friends. Although it may feel more comfortable to socialize with other students from your home country, I would encourage new international students to immerse themselves in American culture and meet new people; it’s the best way to make the most of your time at Pace.   —3/2010
 

Name: Sachin Rajan
Hometown: Kerala, India
Degree: M.S, Information Systems

My name is Sachin Rajan and I am in my third semester at Pace. I am working towards my Masters in Information Systems with a concentration in Database Management and Technologies from the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. I will be graduating in fall 2012. I am originally from Kerala, India. I completed a bachelor’s degree in Technology in Computer Science from Mahatma Gandhi University in 2008. I was very interested in attending school in New York City and feel very fortunate to be at Pace University. The school’s location, in the middle of the financial capital, with its endless opportunities really appealed to me.

My first week at Pace was overwhelming— new people, new places, new cultures and of course I was away from my loved ones. Yet, in this short span of time, I saw so many exciting places in New York and made friends from different corners of the world. Each week at Pace continues to be a thrilling and challenging one—it has become my home away from home.

While studying at Pace, I chose to live off-campus, in Harrison, New Jersey, which is just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. It is a very short commute on the PATH train to my classes.  I’m really enjoying my classes, so far.  The curriculum is flexible which allows me to take electives in other areas of interest to me; I am currently enrolled in two business courses in addition to my computer science courses.  I also like that the class size is small enough that professors encourage questions and open discussions.  In addition to my classes, I also work two on-campus jobs. I am working as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Information Systems department of the Seidenberg School. I have another student job as a technical support in the Enrollment Services Information Systems. At present, I am looking for summer internships. Pace’s Career Services has been a great help to me here and has provided me with a lot of career and interview training.

When I am not busy studying and working, I spend time at the campus gymnasium and hang out with friends on the weekend exploring the city. There is a lot to explore in New York City. I also participate in various clubs on campus like the Pace Board and Computer Society. This past year, I even volunteered at the Commencement ceremonies. The opportunities are endless if you keep an open mind and seek out possibilities; getting involved has really enhanced my experience at Pace. I would advise new students at Pace to seek out and make use of the many services available to students at our school.

One of the things I have really liked about studying in the U.S. is the teaching style.  When I studied in India, the courses were very structured and primarily theory-based. There was less communication between professors and the students. Here, I feel the courses are much more interactive and focused on real-world applications.  I think this will really help me to succeed in my career upon graduation.  I would strongly encourage other international students to consider studying in the U.S.  I feel that I am learning so much both on and off campus!

Name: Benjamin Berghaendler
Hometown: Bremen, Germany
Degree: MBA, Investment Management

My name is Benjamin and I am a second-year MBA graduate student in the Lubin School of Business. I am majoring in Investment Management and originally from Bremen, Germany. After receiving my bachelors degree in business at the University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven, Germany, I decided to enroll in Pace’s graduate program. It offers me exactly what I was looking for - small classes, experienced faculty, and a flexible class schedule. Pace’s New York City campus is located directly in the heart of Downtown Manhattan which was a major reason I chose Pace—it gives you the advantage of being close to the pulse of Wall Street and many Fortune 500 companies.

I live just a few minutes from the downtown campus, but with Pace’s great location, commuting even from outside Manhattan is very convenient and easy. I am a member of the International Students Club at Pace and a board member of the Lubin Graduate Society. The university has many different clubs and societies for every field of interest. During my spare time I like to play basketball and go to the on-campus gymnasium.

I chose to pursue an MBA at Pace because I am very interested in a career in financial management and New York City is just the right place to be for that.  I find entrepreneurial success stories incredibly inspiring, but instead of starting my own business just yet, I hope to provide financial services that will add value and help existing companies to succeed.  After my graduation from Pace, I am planning to stay in the U.S. for awhile to apply the learned in practice.

I would advise all prospective students to try and get in touch with current students or admission staff to help you answer all the questions you might have. My own experience has shown me that it can be very helpful and valuable.  —4/2011

Name: Anh Bui
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Degree: MBA, Finance

My name is Anh and I am working toward an MBA in Finance at Pace University.  I am from Hanoi, Vietnam and after completing my undergraduate degree (in Vietnam), I decided to come to the U.S. to pursue an MBA.  I was not able to visit the Pace campus, but a friend of mine was living nearby in New York City and was able to tell me about its location.  I found Pace’s proximity to be a real advantage, as the downtown campus is located very close to Wall Street. I knew this location would offer me a wealth of internship and career opportunities.  Upon receipt of my acceptance letter, I was also offered a scholarship from Pace. This was a nice surprise, as I did not have to apply for the scholarship separately. This helped make my decision to attend Pace even easier.

I currently live in Jersey City, which is just across the water from downtown Manhattan and a quick commute to campus.  When I’m not in classes, I spend a lot of time in the Pace Library. I also participate in the Investment Club and Pace’s chapter of ASCEND, a professional business organization for Pan-Asians.  I held a summer internship with a small web company this past summer and hope to work with Pace’s Co-Op program again to find future employment. At this point, the career I find most appealing is financial analyst. I’m also very interested in the financial management of mergers & acquisitions.

In my spare time, I always find plenty to do in New York City. My favorite place so far is The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I also love the variety of foods available in the city— Pho (Vietnamese noodles), Indian chicken curry, Korean BBQ, sushi, and more!  It’s such a dynamic city; I feel that I learn so much both on-campus and off.   —2/2010