Student Stories

Meet some of Pace University's international undergraduate students!

The students featured here come from countries across the globe, but they all chose to pursue a degree at Pace University. Below, they tell you why they chose Pace and share some of their experiences both on and off campus.

 
Name: Adetomiwa (Ade)
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Major: Mathematics

My name is Ade and I am working toward an undergraduate degree in Mathematics.  I was introduced to Pace University by my older sister, who was already living and studying in New York City.  My parents and siblings both came to the U.S. to study and I wanted to do the same.  When applying to Pace, I worked closely with one of the admission counselors and I would definitely encourage other applying international students to do the same.  My admission counselor was very knowledgeable and able to assist me throughout the application process. 

I was accepted to other schools in New York, but I decided that Pace was the best fit for me due to it location and good reputation.  One of the things I really like about Pace is its Honors College, to which I was recently accepted. I am also a member of the International Club at Pace and would like to help organize an African Student Association at Pace (ASAP) on the New York campus.
 
My goal is to build a career in Actuarial Science. I chose this profession because of my love for mathematics; this career is all about applying mathematical theory to solving business problems.  I am currently in my second year at Pace, but hope to complete two internships before graduating.  I plan to meet with Co-Op & Career Services to hopefully secure an internship for next summer.

 
Name: Yumi
Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador and Mexico City, Mexico
Major: Marketing

Hello! My name is Yumi. I grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador, but my family recently moved to Mexico. Over a year ago, I came to New York City to visit my brother and decided to visit the Pace campus. I really loved the location of Pace, in Manhattan’s financial district, and the centralized campus appealed to me. When I returned from my visit to New York, I did some additional research on Pace and was impressed with the great reputation of their Lubin School of Business and their Career Services programs. I knew that I wanted to study marketing and being at a school that would give me relevant work experience was very important to me—so I chose to come to Pace!

I have found that the professors at Pace genuinely care about their students. My favorite class has been economics; it is my best subject and the professor has been entertaining. I’m looking forward to my marketing courses. When I graduate, I hope to find a job in advertising or public relations. Outside of class, I also participate in two student organizations—Sabor Latino and Women in Corporate America. I found out about these organizations from on-campus postings. I like being a part of Sabor Latino; when you’re so far from home, it can be comforting to connect with other students that are from your region or country.

In general, I’ve found it very easy to meet new people and make friends. I live in Maria’s Tower on a theme floor (the Express floor), so I participate in a lot of outings and activities with the other students on my floor. I think living in the residence halls is a great experience for any student, but next year I plan to branch out on my own and find off-campus housing. I was searching for a possible roommate and was amazed to find that one of the student’s that contacted me was also from the same area in Ecuador! We got along great and we hope to find an apartment together for next semester.

In my spare time I love exploring New York City. Two of my favorite places to go are Joe’s Shanghai restaurant and the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. I also go to restaurants in Korea Town pretty often; I am both Ecuadorian and Korean and love foods from both cultures! I actually hope to do a semester in Korea through Pace’s Study Abroad program.

If you are an international student considering coming to Pace, I encourage you to apply. The application process was very easy. Some of the paperwork needed for international students and the initial transition can be a bit overwhelming, but it is worth it in the end. I recommend staying organized and getting connected as early as possible with Pace’s admission staff. Pace’s Director of International Admission worked with me throughout the enrollment process and it was very helpful. I’m really glad that I took advantage of this opportunity!

Name: Leonardo
Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Major: BA in Acting

My name is Leonardo and I am a freshman at Pace University.  I was born and raised in Brazil, and I chose to come to Pace University because, right from the start, Pace made me feel like more than just a number. I felt that the staff wanted to get to know me as a person and took interest in my strengths and talents. I had the opportunity to meet Andre, Pace’s Director of International Admission, during one of his recruitment visits to Brazil. I was able to work with him throughout the entire admission process, which was very helpful. The other reason I chose Pace University, was for the great reputation of its Performing Arts department, which is my area of focus.

Since I was a little kid, I have always been passionate about becoming an actor. I am willing to do what it takes to succeed in film and theatre and I wanted a school that would support me in my efforts. The Performing Arts department at Pace has been everything I hoped it would be and more. My teachers have been very supportive and are well-connected in the industry. In one of my recent classes, the producers from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) came in to speak with us, which was very inspiring. I also had the opportunity to attend a filming of Inside the Actor’s Studio with Brad Pitt, which was a great experience.

The Performing Arts department also keeps its students informed of opportunities in the area. With their help, I was able to land a role in an off-off-Broadway play during my first semester at Pace! I like that Pace encourages its students to put their studies into practice, even as early as their freshman year. I feel confident that when I graduate, I will have not only a solid education, but also considerable work experience and a network of people to help me further my career.

When I’m not going to classes or rehearsing, I try to make the most of all that New York City has to offer. I enjoy seeing a variety of shows and art at venues around the city. I like spending time in Greenwich Village and I love going out for brunch—this is not something we do in Brazil! I live in the Maria’s Towers residence hall which has been great, as many of my classes are conveniently located in the building. I also have access to the Pace gym in my building, which was recently renovated with new machines. Most freshmen students live in Maria’s Towers, so I’ve found it very easy to meet people and make new friends.

If you’re thinking of coming to New York to attend Pace, my best advice is to always be open and receptive to new opportunities, because each day could hold a big surprise. And remember what Frank Sinatra sang about New York, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere!” - April 2012

Name: Lidiya
Hometown: Perm City, Russia
Major: Finance

Hello, my name is Lidiya and I’m from Perm City, Russia, an industrial town at the edge of Siberia and the Ural Mountains. I came to Pace in the summer of 2011. I was traveling in the U.S. that summer, on break from Perm State University in Russia, and decided to make my summer not just entertaining, but educational. Pace had a variety of summer courses and I signed up to take a few. When the summer was over, I did not want to return to my home university; I wanted to finish my degree at Pace! I really felt that Pace was providing me with personal attention and assistance, something that I did not get at my larger university. When I spoke to the admission staff about applying they were very helpful and gave me their business cards so that I could contact them for help.

The application and enrollment process took a bit longer for me because I was looking to transfer credits from a school outside of the U.S., but the extra effort was worth it. Staff from the Admission Office and the International Students & Scholars Office were also available to walk me through the steps and to ensure that I completed everything in time to start at Pace in Spring 2012. The International Students & Scholars Office has continued to be a great resource for me at Pace. They help international students obtain the necessary documents and signatures needed to travel, familiarize us with national and local rights, privileges, and laws and even send us emails about available scholarships for international students.

My major is in finance, but I love studying everything! Pace has given me the opportunity to take courses in different areas of the arts and sciences. Right now, in addition to my finance and accounting courses, I am taking an English course and a public speaking course. I have really liked my professors, especially Professor Niso Abauaf—he can speak so many languages! Next year, I will be a senior at Pace and hope to do an internship in addition to my classes. When I graduate, I hope to have a career in investment banking in either Russia or in the U.S.

I currently live off-campus, in the Lower East Side neighborhood of the city. I’ve found there are a lot of young and artistic people in this neighborhood; it’s very unique. I was able to find an apartment on my own pretty easily and it has been working out well. New York City is an amazing city, full of creative and interesting people. There is always something to do in the city, even free things! I like spending time in the parks or visiting museums like the MOMA or The Met.

I would encourage other international students to seek out universities that provide you with the most value and personal assistance; I think this is especially important for international students. Take the time to research the school’s courses, internship programs, and services to make sure it’s a school that can help you reach your future goals. - April 2012

Name: Phillip
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Major: Finance

My name is Philip and I’m from Stockholm, Sweden. I am attending Pace to complete a bachelor’s degree in finance. This will actually be my second undergraduate degree; I hold a bachelor’s in economics as well. I first found Pace University when I was searching online for good finance schools in New York City. I then visited the Pace campus while on vacation in NYC—it left a great impression on me and I decided to apply.

The application process for me was probably a bit more complicated than it would be for other international applicants. I was moving a lot during the application process (I lived in Thailand for 3 months) and I also had undergraduate college credits to transfer to Pace as well. Fortunately, I had direct contacts in the admission office that were able to work with me throughout the process. I would advise other students that have transfer credits to speak with an admission counselor early on in the admission process. They can help you understand which credits will transfer and can get the transfer credit evaluation process started for you as soon as possible.

Adapting to life in New York City was pretty easy for me, as Stockholm is also a pretty large city. I’ve found it easy to meet people and many of the friends I made the first week at Pace are still my closest friends. Two of them are also international students at Pace, one from Austria and the other from France. I’ve also met a lot of people through Pace’s Investment Club. I heard about this club through communications sent by the Lubin School of Business and I decided to attend a meeting. There were a lot of nice people at the meeting and I could see that the club would provide great opportunities to learn about jobs and internships in finance. I hope to get an internship next year and find a trading job on Wall Street after I graduate!

I currently live off-campus in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, but in my spare time I try to experience as much of the city as possible. Broadway is pretty close to my apartment and I have gone to see a few musicals. I also enjoy going out to eat with friends. I have a great NYC restaurant guidebook and I’m trying to visit as many of the restaurants listed as possible. When I have off from classes, I like to visit other parts of the USA. I recently visited Florida and Las Vegas! 

I think it’s never too late to start your studies…especially if it’s here in New York! There is so much to do and see here, it’s impossible to ever get bored. Pace has been a really exciting experience and has given me the opportunity to study and meet a lot of amazing people. - April 2012

Name: Shashank
Hometown: Kuwait and Mumbai, India
Major: Business Management, HR Concentration

Hi, my name is Shashank and I’m a junior at Pace. I was born in India, but have lived most of my life in Kuwait. I first learned about Pace at an international college fair that I attended in Kuwait. The location of Pace, in the heart of the financial district, really appealed to me. I applied and was accepted to a few colleges in the tri-state area, but decided to come to Pace because I felt it offered an extensive course selection and access to great job opportunities.

I am pursuing a BBA in Business Management. I chose to do a concentration in Human Resources because I feel that “people skills” are one of my strengths. After graduation, I hope to work toward a managerial level position at a company. Eventually, I would like to start my own business. I feel that Pace’s Career Services department is going to help me achieve those goals; they have been very helpful so far. I have attended numerous workshops that they host, including one for resume writing and another for interviewing skills. The workshops paid off and I landed a summer internship with Warner Music Group!

My academic advisor has also been very helpful. We meet a few times a semester and he helps me with my schedule and course selection. In between my classes, I am also a tutor for CIS (Computer Information Systems) and Economics courses. This as an on-campus paid position. It’s great to have a convenient job that gives me the chance to help out other students. I’m also a member of SAMOSA, a South Asian cultural organization on campus.  SAMOSA aims to promote various South Asian cultures and to support new students in their transition to Pace. We host a lot of on-campus dinners and events. It’s been another great way to meet new people. 

My advice to new international students is to not feel afraid or alone. Pace and NYC are very diverse, so everyone fits in here! When I first arrived at Pace it felt pretty overwhelming, especially when I looked out my window, in Maria’s Towers, and saw the huge city below! But, I quickly met an awesome group of people who helped make the transition very easy. Many of the friends I made those first few weeks are still my closest friends at Pace—we’re like a family.  Meeting so many people from completely different cultural backgrounds who are all pursuing a common goal has been amazing and has really broadened my college experience. - April 2012