International Student Testimonials
Roshni Manwani
Country: Nigeria
Major: Accounting
"From the day I stepped into UTRGV, I was offered an array of opportunities and support from both the International Admissions Office and the UTRGV UCentral Office. These two departments have worked hand-in-hand to ensure the successful completion of my undergraduate studies. I was well guided to a job on the 1st month of my enrollment that I have maintained for 4 years. I have received consistent financial support from both offices, which has allowed me to focus on my education and campus activities. The International Admission office has specifically worked with me to ensure smooth processing of all my visa documents that permitted to accept an internship opportunity for two whole semesters. On the academic front, the College of Business and Entrepreneurship has done an excellent job in provide internship opportunities to their students and the professor that teach the courses are extremely dedicated in ensuring their student achieve their academic goals. This University has provided me with a family away from home!"
Notable Achievements at UTRGV
President of AIS (Association of International Students)
"I am a Buddy" Scholarship Recipient / Leader
Outstanding International Female Student of the Year (2017)
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Adebusola Olofinlade
Country: Nigeria
Major: Nursing
"Coming to the United States for a second degree was a decision I had to make to advance my career and fulfill my lifelong desire to work in the healthcare industry. One of the most important things for me was finding a university that would not only meet my academic needs but also provide a thriving environment that facilitates my learning and life experience. UTRGV provided both for me. From my first encounter with the International Admissions, I knew this was the place for me. International Admission and Student Services became a second home for me and I can honestly say that I found a family in the wonderful people that work in that office. International Admission and Student Services was always ready to help every step of the journey, from my first day on campus, to getting a student job position, to timely information about scholarship opportunities, up until my graduation. The social events gave me opportunities to make lifelong friends with students from different cultures and of course the breakfast for champions, the Chinese New Year and Thanksgiving Dinner were extra perks on the side I always look forward to. I am so glad I made the decision to come to UTRGV and ever so proud to be an international alumnus of this great school”.
Notable Achievements at UTRGV
"I am a Buddy" Scholarship Recipient
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Md Ruhul Amin
Country: Bangladesh
Major: Finance
"The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a unique platform for boundless opportunities of innovation, research, training, and success. UTRGV truly makes me overwhelm with its wonderful learning environment from the day I stepped into it. I enjoy every moment with the campus and experience the excellence in learning with every interaction. To me, professors are here exemplary in their ways of teaching, interacting, and advising. I can easily access them, even with minor issues. I am very satisfied with my Department, Graduate College, International Admissions Office, UTRGV UCentral Office, and Writing Center as each of them truly values my concerns and aligns my needs with proper channels. The university offers a wide variety of scholarship, graduate assistantship, work study, and self-development programs for students. I firmly believe that this university is a place for a transformation of one’s desire to the accomplishment. I am very happy to be a part of this transformation."
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Xi Yang
Country: China
Major: Management
"I am a PhD candidate of the Department of Management at the University of Texas-Rio Grande (UTRGV). I earned my M.A. in Accountancy in the University of Texas-Pan American. I really enjoyed the past 7 years I spent here. People here are friendly and helpful. There are abundant events you can participate to get familiar with American culture and make friends. I developed great communication and leadership skills. I’ve always been motivated by other enterprising young people to pursue higher academic goal and become a better version of myself."
Notable Achievements at UTRGV
Outstanding International Female Student of the Year (2018)
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Zeeshan Noor
Country: Pakistan
Major: Public Affairs
"It is an honor and privilege to have been the first international student in the MPA program offered by then- University of Texas Pan American (now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley). It is even more gratifying to realize that I am only the first of many to follow.
Back in 2013, the Department of Public Affairs and Security Studies welcomed me with open arms. Through them, I have been able to learn and grow academically, culturally and professionally. The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley MPA program has always been noted for its diverse and supportive faculty, its rigorous and comprehensive program and the many exciting opportunities it affords. As a program located on the US-Mexico border, it is poised to offer a uniquely multicultural milieu and outlook, along with cross-cultural and cross-border opportunities not easily available elsewhere.
My capstone project landed me a full-time job at the Edinburg Housing Authority (EHA) as a Human Recourse Manager / Community Facilitator. Today, I am fulfilling a lifelong goal of pursuing a PhD in Public Affairs, at the University of Texas at Dallas – thanks in large part through the continuous encouragement and support of my MPA faculty, particularly Dr. Aziza Zemrani, Dr. Espiridion Al Borrego, and Dr. Cynthia E. Lynch.
I will forever be grateful to my MPA program and the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley for giving me a solid start and continuing support toward my academic and professional career successes."
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Taiwo Abraham
Country: Nigeria
Major: Management
"I found UTRGV online in Nigeria in August/September 2016 while searching for affordable but AACSB accredited MBA with year round enrollment. I decided to visit the school prior to receiving and accepting my admission offer and all the encounters I had in the process assured me that I found the right school. From the Dean of Graduate College (then), Dr. Dave Jackson meeting me in person to welcome me to the college, to Stephanie Ozuna taking me on a Campus tour and visiting the International Student Services office and the VCOBE, everything was welcoming. I returned to Nigeria and with the help of Erika Carrizales of International Student Services, I was able to expedite my visa application process to resume class in January 2017. The cooperation and support from all units of the Graduate College and the VCOBE advising was instrumental to completing my MBA in 17 months as against the typical 24 months the program is designed to span.
It was the Study Abroad program that exposed me to Professor Joo Jung just in my first few weeks of classes and identifying him to be a credentialed Project Management Professional, there would be no other suitable professor to help supervise an independent research I had intended. Fortunately, he agreed to supervise me and the rest is history. Dr. Joo's handling is simply amazing that I wanted to continue to engage with him into my PhD years and he remains one of my strong ties to UTRGV."
Notable Achievements at UTRGV
"I am a Buddy" Scholarship Recipient / Leader
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Edgar Acevedo
Country: Venezuela
Major: Engineering Management
"If I have to choose a word to describe my experience at UTRGV, it has to be: enlightening. It definitely set a stage before and after school in my life. Being away from home is never easy, but at UTRGV I was able to build relationships with friends, faculty and staff, that became family after a while. Academically speaking, it was everything I expected and probably more.
UTRGV creates an atmosphere with multiple resources and opportunities to develop personal and professional skills. Personally, I submerged into that atmosphere, absorbing knowledge from every direction and creating experiences that I’m currently using in my work field.
In addition to that, UTRGV has a rich cultural diverse environment that allows you to expand your horizons and learn things that you wouldn’t be able to find in books.Today, I can honestly say that I do NOT have a single bad memory from my time at UTRGV, and that I will always cherish and happily remember the relationships I made."
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Dauren Dossymbek
Country: Kazakhstan
Exchange Student
"Once I came to this wonderful place in Rio Grande Valley, I was surprised to find not only a mild climate over here, but also warm and friendly people who are always happy to help you in any situation. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a good opportunity to come out with good results in the academic field having great student days.
Highly professional professors, like all the staff of this university, provides great perspective for students who are interested in productive work. The multiethnic composition of the student community brings its multicultural colors, as well as the university campus built in the best American architectural traditions conveniently complements the education process."
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Abdul Junaid Mohammed
Country: India
Major: Electrical Engineering
"I always sought to transcend and push myself further in my academics, my interests and my personal life. Because of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley I’ve gotten the opportunity to go abroad. While there are other great schools in and outside Texas, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has its own advantages and opportunities. I can’t think of a better fit for me than UTRGV. I would wake up every day excited to go to class and learn something new. Being a university located close to the border, it is more open to diverse cultures and also offers variety of courses with flexible schedules, and I never faced a schedule conflict during my time at UTRGV. It’s super easy to get caught up socializing, especially at UTRGV where there are so many events going on each day. I am thankful to everyone who supported me during my student life at UTRGV especially International Student Services who were always there to guide me.
At UTRGV, I have gotten to work with my professors and have gotten to know them quite well which made me more confident to succeed. I’ve made some of the closest friends of my life, I’ve been able to find my niche in areas where I thrive."