Meet Our International Students

Alex Guarino

I chose BMCC because I heard it was the best community college in New York. The people here are really friendly and helpful. My favorite class is my Speech class, because I will have to make speeches in my future career. I love English 101, too. My advice to prospective international students is to study English as much as you can back in your country, because it will be the biggest challenge. I love the energy this city has, and the feeling that if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams. My best experience has been meeting people and feeling that I am improving myself. I plan to get my Associate Degree in Business Administration as soon as I can and transfer to a senior college, such as Baruch College-CUNY, for Finance.

Jahnavi John

The thing I like about studying at BMCC the most is that we are a community. Everybody brings something to the table. I love living in metropolitan cities and so far NYC is my absolute favorite especially because it is so diverse. School-wise, I would like to continue my education at John Jay. I just want to explore my career as much as I can.

Lino Ahston

I chose BMCC because of the advantages of entering the City University of New York system. BMCC has made getting an affordable college education possible for me, and I am now ready to transfer to a four-year institution. The transition into college was smooth here. It’s easy to think of community colleges as mere “commuter schools” but BMCC has an amazing student life. Its location, cost, and services is what appealed to me. The Office of Student Affairs, the ISSO, and the library all provide the necessary services for me to succeed in college. I advise other international students to take advantage the student support services available and get involved in clubs.

Diana Azimova

There are so many things I like about studying at BMCC. First, it’s the location. You are studying in the heart of TriBeCa, and there are always events happening in the area; be that a TriBeCa film festival, a fashion show, or a movie filming. Secondly, the numerous services BMCC will save you so much time, money, and nerves! People in Student Affairs offices are caring and insanely helpful. That leads me to my last point, BMCC community, that I love and miss. It is extremely diverse and unique, with people from different backgrounds, countries, and of different ages.

After I graduated BMCC I applied for OPT (Optional Practical Training) and spent a year working as a program assistant. Afterwards, I applied to Baruch College and now I graduated with a BBA in Marketing Management. I am currently back in my country, working at the biggest retailer chain in Uzbekistan.

Carla Costa

BMCC was recommended to me. It’s very personal, but it’s smaller than the 4-year colleges. My favorite class is English 201 – my professor is awesome. My advice to prospective international students is to have fun! I like New York because of its cultural diversity. After BMCC, I plan to continue my studies and earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

Mohsin Masrur

I chose BMCC because I found it is one of the best college in New York City. The location is very accessible from any of the five boroughs. The tuition is affordable and the college is full of helpful resources. The college community is very diverse with a large number of students from more than 150 countries. It makes me feel like wherever you come from, you will find someone like you. There are so many opportunities to get involved in campus like clubs, workshops, events and so on. I’m a member of International Students Club and I work on-campus as a Peer Mentor. The professors here are very helpful. They help students outside of the classroom if needed. Also, tutoring services are free for students, which helps us to succeed in academic life. My goal is to transfer to the New York City College of Technology or New York University. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I’m planning to have my own IT business.

Lisa (Elisaveta) Azizova

I chose BMCC because of the location and affordability. I like the school motto – “Start here, go anywhere.” My favorite class is my ESL Class with Professor Beaumont, the foundation to my successful start. I also like Business Law, with Professor Lambert. My advice to prospective international students is to use the resources at the college. Get involved as early as possible in clubs, student programs, and workshops. I like New York because of its diversity, mentality, and fast-paced environment – mostly because it is an endless challenge. My best experience here has been meeting students from different countries and networking with faculty and guest speakers. My goal is to transfer to an Ivy League school.

Alla Semenova

I chose BMCC because of the location and price. I like the school because of its international student support team. My favorite class is Business. My advice to prospective international students is to be patient, and to always be on top of things. I like New York because it is an inspiring city, I can meet all kinds of people and I always have something to do. After BMCC, I plan to transfer to Baruch College. However, my goal is to transfer to Columbia University, Pace University or the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Tamar Mosulishvili

After doing a tremendous amount of research, the very first reason I chose BMCC was for the tuition. It’s an incredibly affordable college in NYC. The second reason was its location. I wanted to be in the city every day. I think BMCC is the best bridge for international students to adapt to a new culture. The diversity of students and professors makes it easier to be proud of who you are and where you come from. BMCC helps my confidence every day. It’s a solid foundation upon which to build my future academic and career success.

So far, my favorite class has been Introduction to Sociology, with Professor Salam. It was very interesting to look at different social structures and environmental factors that shape us at a deeper level. My advice to prospective international students is to get involved. Make at least one friend in each class. Don’t be afraid. You are not alone. I like to be exposed to many different things, cultures, and challenges. This country and city always leave extra space to push yourself, challenge your personality, and be better. I like that it’s possible to experience major shifts in my world view. My best experience here has been interacting with professors and staff because they are so helpful. They encourage me, inspire me, and make up my second family here. After BMCC, I plan to transfer to a four-year school and most likely major in Psychology and complete the Pre-Med requirements. I hope to get my MD from an American college.