How to Use Student Experiences to Find a Global University

Before moving to London to pursue a master's in interior design at the University of Westminster, American national Alyssa Moseley frequented YouTube to learn about international student experiences abroad.

She says she was encouraged to make the move after watching videos of international students comparing the United Kingdom with the U.S. and their discussions of the differences in curriculum and the struggles of balancing schoolwork and leisure activities.

"It helped me prepare myself in adapting to a completely different culture and educational structure. But they also advised with some more casual topics, such as places to study, hang out and cheap eats," Moseley says.

Student Tips: Attending College Abroad

Prospective international students may initially use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the unofficial view of what it's like studying at particular global universities. But potential applicants may also want to consider three other resources for detailed personal accounts.

[Read: 3 Benefits of International Student Ambassadors.]

YouTube. Many universities and individual international students have YouTube channels showcasing the international student experience. The videos can help quell concerns a prospective international student might have.

"All of our videos allow students to either familiarize themselves with AUC and student life on campus, or learn more about our wide variety of programs," wrote Farah Saafan, senior regional media relations officer at the American University in Cairo, in an email.

Saafan says examples include social media ambassadors discussing their AUC experience as well as videos highlighting the school's diverse student body, such as those captured in recent International Day and Season's Greeting videos.

The University of Toronto's YouTube channel features videos of international students discussing life on campus, academic opportunities and why they chose the school. Steffen Reinhart, senior communications and student recruitment officer at the university, says the videos give prospective international students a sense of what it's like to study at the school.

The National University of Singapore has international students coming from 100 countries, says a university spokesperson. The school's YouTube channel features a video of international students from Malaysia, Mauritius, Indonesia, Germany, Macau and India discussing everything from campus community, faculty and academic programs to social life.

Two months before moving to London, Moseley says she started her own YouTube channel to document her experiences and "encourage anyone who is unsure of studying abroad to take that leap and just go for it."

[Read: 3 Ways to Evaluate a Global University Without Visiting.]

University blogs. Many global universities have blogs authored by their international students and offer potential applicants the chance to directly contact bloggers.

For example, Temple University's Japan campus, Linköping University in Sweden and Queensland University of Technology in Australia have international student bloggers who detail their experiences in a new country and university.

The University of Westminster launched its international student blog in early 2015 to give international students a single platform to write about their studies in London, says Monika Parzych, an international officer at the university. She says students are encouraged to keep their own personal blogs and content is reposted to the school's international blog.

"We would like to see the international blog as the virtual space that encourages prospects to connect with our current students and provides them with information at the source," Parzych says.

Moseley now blogs for the University of Westminster on topics like traveling and studying and believes she serves as a unique resource, providing advice in both written and video formats.

"Blogging can only go so far visually," Moseley says. "But blogging does provide better opportunities to sum up points and provide links to helpful resources."

International student forums. In addition to exploring YouTube and blogs, prospective international students can use online forums to discuss a variety of topics related to earning a degree abroad.

[Read: 3 Mistakes International Students Make When Choosing a University Abroad.]

For example, potential applicants can visit The Student Room, an education website that has discussion forums about every U.K. university, says student adviser Hannah Morrish.

She says prospective international students can post questions in the forums to other applicants and current students. Students seeking to study outside the U.K. can visit the international study forum, she says, available under the site's "university" tab.

"Meet applicants with similar aspirations to you and get advice on how to apply and things to consider like programs offered, visas and accommodation options," Morrish says. Prospective international students should make sure to also get guidance from impartial professional advisers and universities, she says.

Similarly, Student Edge provides a forum for international students to ask questions about what it's like to study in Australia.

"They can even find out about members' firsthand experiences at universities and institutions across the country, and even where to buy the best coffee on campus," says Simon Miraudo, editor and head of communications and membership at Student Edge.

At College Confidential, prospective international students can join the international students discussion forum to post on everything from seeking online prep courses for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, to the quality of food at U.S. universities.

There are also subforums for students considering studying at institutions in seven countries outside of the U.S.: Canada, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and the U.K.

Students just starting the admissions process "can share their experiences and concerns with others like them, as well as with those who have already navigated this maze," says Sally Rubenstone, a senior contributor to College Confidential and a former admission counselor at Smith College in Massachusetts.

With all the resources available, Moseley hopes prospective international students will gain a deeper perspective on how valuable studying in another country can be. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," she says.

See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities.

See the Best Global Universities

Top Research Universities Worldwide

From left, Antje Bischof, MD, postdoc, Jet Vonk, visiting scholar, Christa Watson, postdoc fellow, and Maria Wisa Mandelli, assistant specialist, talk on the steps of Genentech Hall at UCSF Mission Bay.

(University of California—San Francisco)

The 2018 Best Global Universities rankings include data on 1,250 universities across 74 countries. Read about how some of the top institutions cater to international students or provide opportunities for global learning.

20. University of Toronto

(University of Toronto)

International students from more than 190 countries make up about 25 percent of the student population at the University of Toronto in Canada.

19. University of Pennsylvania

(Scott H. Spitzer)

The University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. offers extensive English language programs for international students and courses in dozens of languages, globalization studies and international culture.

17 (tie). Imperial College London

(Thomas Angus/Imperial College London)

Undergraduate students at the United Kingdom's Imperial College London can study abroad for a year or join one of several student societies that volunteer abroad.

17 (tie). University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

7/15/15 2015 Summer Aerials: South Campus - Athletics. Michigan Stadium, Crisler Center

(Scott C. Soderberg/Michigan Photography)

In the U.S., the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor hosts more than 2,000 international scholars from 90-plus different countries.

16. University of California—San Diego

(UC San Diego Publications/Erik Jepsen)

Students at the University of California—San Diego in the U.S. have the opportunity to experience different cultures through food and music every week at the school's Friday International Cafe.

15. University of California—San Francisco

IRM photo taken from roof of Health Sciences West building

(University of California—San Francisco)

The University of California—San Francisco only offers graduate degrees in the health sciences. The school also assists admitted international students with securing a student visa.

14. University of Chicago

Aerial view looking north from near S. University Aveune and the Midway Plaisance, with Rockefeller Chapel on the right, campus, and Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline in the distance, from the University of Chicago architectural guidebook titled Building Ideas, published summer of 2013. (Photo by Tom Rossiter)

(Tom Rossiter)

The University of Chicago, based in the U.S., brings students and scholars from around the world to live and study together in a diverse residential community known as International House.

13. University of California—Los Angeles

(Christa Renee)

Each year, the University of California—Los Angeles, in the U.S., admits students from 80 countries across the world.

10 (tie). Johns Hopkins University

(Homewood Photography/JHU)

Johns Hopkins University, located in the U.S., has international students at the undergraduate level from more than 61 countries, who can study at the university for a semester or year through its Visiting International and Exchange Student Programs.

10 (tie). University of Washington

(Katherine B. Turner)

Nearly 10 percent of the University of Washington's undergraduate student body is international. The school is located in the U.S.

10 (tie). Yale University

(Michael Marsland)

Yale University, located in the U.S., has a Center for International and Professional Experience, which offers funding options to help undergraduate financial aid recipients study, work or conduct research abroad.

9. Princeton University

(Princeton University/Office of Communications/Denise Applewhite)

Princeton University, located in the U.S., offers counseling and support services to students who are suffering as a result of international disasters.

8. Columbia University

(Eileen Barroso/Columbia University)

Columbia University, based in the U.S., has eight global centers that conduct a variety of research initiatives around the world.

7. University of Cambridge

(University of Cambridge)

Based in the U.K., the University of Cambridge does extensive research on global issues. One such effort is its research initiative on global food security.

6. California Institute of Technology

(Lance Hayashida)

Juniors and seniors at the California Institute of Technology in the U.S. can choose from several European and Australian study abroad opportunities.

5. University of Oxford

(University of Oxford)

At the University of Oxford in the U.K., 42 percent of undergraduate and graduate students are international students and come from more than 140 countries and territories.

4. University of California—Berkeley

(UC Regents)

The international student office at the U.S.-based University of California—Berkeley works to support student success through advising and immigration services.

3. Stanford University

(Linda Cicero, Stanford News Service)

Approximately half of each graduating class studies abroad during its undergraduate career at Stanford University in the U.S., according to the school's website.

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology