众所周知，美国高等院校对学生的学业要求比较严格，教学质量很高，但学生们除了读书以外,校园也是结交朋友和交流经验的好地方，令人一生难忘。来美国留学的外国学生在课业之余可以充分利用学校的各种资源，为自己的留学生活增添更多的色彩。

加入各种学生社团

每一个新学年开始之际，学校往往会组织一些展示活动，学生社团和运动队等组织都会趁这个机会招募新同学。新生可以参加踢踏舞等舞蹈俱乐部，也可以尝试加入某一个体育运动队，或者参加以绘画、歌咏为课余爱好的社团，在某些临近水域的院校，还可以参加帆船运动队。

欢迎校友返校

大多数高等院校都举办校友返校活动，邀请校友们返回校园，与在校的学弟学妹们保持联系，共同回忆校园的美好时光。在校学生也可以利用这个机会与校友见面，建立联系网络。学校在校友返校期间往往举办美式足球赛 ，成为返校活动的重头戏。学校还可能举行其他一些活动，例如舞会和游行等，有助于学生们相互联系，也成为发扬学校校风的机会。

参加兄弟会或姐妹联谊会

兄弟会或姐妹联谊会属于校园的社会组织，其中很多成员往往一起住在该组织专属的宿舍内。每年秋季，这些组织会举行被称为“Rush”的招收新成员的活动，同时举办多种社会活动。学生们加入这些组织可以广交朋友，也可为今后的职业生涯建立联系，或者投身社区服务。

迎接父母来访

大多数院校经常在秋季邀请学生的家人来校园参观。学生们可以陪同父母去教室旁听，或者将向弟弟妹妹们介绍自己的新朋友。

锻炼身体

学校的课业往往比较繁重，压力很大。学生们不妨前往运动场参加体育运动。这是一个减轻压力的好办法，美国很多高高校都为学生准备了一流的运动场馆。

有时体育锻炼还不够。大多数美国校园还设立了辅导中心，遇到问题可以与辅导中心的人员谈谈。

歌咏

影片完美的声音（Pitch Perfect） 放映以后，各地掀起了组建无伴奏合唱团的热潮。学生们可以放开嗓子试试自己的歌喉。如果会某一样乐器，也可以加入学校的管弦乐团或仪仗乐队。

观看演唱会

你如果喜欢音乐，但不会演唱或演奏，也可以观看演唱会。著名歌星 加奈儿•梦奈（Janelle Monae）、迪普洛(Diplo) 、史努比狗狗（Snoop Dogg）和布莱德•派斯里（Brad Paisley）等人都曾经到校园演出，有时免费，有时为学生提供低价票。

你在美国高等院校的路求学之路可以从EducationUSA起步，也可以阅读ShareAmerica文选，了解外国学生如何在美国校园获得学业等各方面的大丰收。

Your life at a U.S. college: It’s not just books

Everyone knows U.S. universities and colleges are academically strong. But they’re also a place to make new friends and share experiences that you’ll remember for a lifetime. So be sure — after studying! — to explore these strategies to get the most out of your time as an international student.

Join a club

Early in a new academic year, colleges organize fairs where student organizations recruit members. You might join a dance club like the step team pictured below, try out for an athletic team, or link up with clubs where students paint, sing, or even sail (it helps if your school is close to water).

Welcome back yesterday’s students

Most schools have a homecoming celebration. That’s when alumni return to their college to reconnect with their college friends and recall their time on campus. It can be a great time to current students to meet and network with alumni. A football game is often a key homecoming event, and there often are dances, parades, and many other opportunities for students to bond and show their school spirit.

Pledge a fraternity or sorority

Fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women) are social organizations, many of whose members live together in a fraternity or sorority house. Rush, or recruiting season, is in the fall, and includes many social events. Students join to make friends but also to cultivate career connections or perform community service.

Host Mom and Dad

Most schools schedule time in the fall for students to invite their families to visit. That’s the time to have your parents sit in on a class or show off your new friends to younger brothers and sisters.

Get in shape

Let’s face it — college classes can be difficult, and stressful. Hitting the gym is a great way to relieve that stress, and many U.S. colleges have top notch student gyms.

Sometimes physical activity isn’t enough. Most American campuses offer counseling services for when you need to talk through a problem.

Sing

The Pitch Perfect movies have sparked interest in a cappella singing groups. Consider trying out, or joining the school orchestra or marching band if you play a musical instrument.

Take in a concert

So you like music but are not a performer? Stars like Janelle Monae, Diplo, Snoop Dogg and Brad Paisley have all performed on campuses for free or with reduced-price student tickets.

Your road to a U.S. college starts at EducationUSA. Learn how other international students are thriving at U.S. colleges from ShareAmerica.