International Student Newsletter

Dear international students,

Happy November! We hope you are loving the colorful foliage on Bay State Road, sipping on pumpkin spice lattes from our wide selection of coffee shops, and learning a lot from your fall semester courses. In this edition, you will find a welcome interview with Sheila Hernandez, our new Assistant Director of International Student Initiatives, along with some recommendations for International Education Week events. Of course, no November here is complete without the celebration of Thanksgiving, and we are giving you our top choices for what to do on campus and around the city of Boston. As always, the goal of our newsletter is to provide you with helpful information and resources so that you can navigate your first year at Boston University. Without further ado, here is our latest edition:

Announcements

International Education Week

This year, Boston University will host our 13th International Education Week, with events around campus and around the world from November 11 to 15. International Education Week is all about expanding your horizons, making new connections, and learning about different cultures, we hope you will attend many different events. The full calendar of events will be posted on the website on Wednesday, November 6.

More Info & Calendar

F-1 Student Work Visa Strategies

Through the Center for Career Development, join GoinGlobal’s immigration experts to explore three of the most common work options by F-1 students. This webinar will address CPT-related issues and pre-completion OPT as main strategies to working during degree-granting programs on Wednesday, November 20.

More Info & Register

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programs

UROP connects full-time undergraduate students with funded, faculty-mentored research experiences. All applications for the spring 2025 semester are due on Monday, December 16 by noon. If you have any questions, please contact urop@bu.edu.

More Info

Upcoming Events

Full Calendar

Student Experiences

A Word from…

An Interview with Sheila Hernandez, our new Assistant Director of International Student Initiatives

Read the Full Story

Culture Corner

Thanksgiving in Boston

Wondering what to do in Boston during the Thanksgiving holiday? If you are spending Thanksgiving here, you will find plenty of things to do throughout the long weekend: Thanksgiving dinner at top Boston restaurants to Black Friday shopping on Newbury Street to Christmas tree lightings near Faneuil Hall.

Thanksgiving Dinner: In a city famous for clam chowder, lobster rolls, baked beans, and cannolis, Boston has no shortage of traditional to innovative feasts at our favorite restaurants. Be sure to book your reservations early! Sonsie in Back Bay is offering a three-course dinner – do not forget to complete your meal with a slice of pumpkin or apple pie. For a musical spin on Thanksgiving dinner, head over to The Beehive in the South End for a three-course dinner with a live band playing all day. If you are looking for a more home-away-from-home feel, consider hosting a Friendsgiving with your friends with everyone bringing their favorite dish from wherever they call home.

Black Friday: Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season. With Newbury Street and Prudential Center right around the corner, discover the best deals on all of your gifts, for your loved ones and, of course, for yourself. Grab your reusable bags and start right outside the Hynes Convention Center train station. If you are looking to get out of the busy streets of Back Bay, take the Commuter Rail or a different T line to outlet malls on the outskirts of the city. The Outlets at Assembly Row in Somerville and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham are good places to start. Consider thrift stores, too, such as Goodwill in west campus, the Garment District in Cambridge, and Buffalo Exchange in Brookline.

Christmas Tree Lightings: Jump into the holiday spirit with Christmas tree lightings right after your Thanksgiving dinner! Mayor Wu will turn on the 50,000 blue and white energy-saving LED lights along the 260-foot trellis and 14 nearby trees on Monday, November 25 at 5 pm in Columbus Park. The waterfront park will become a magical garden throughout the winter season. While you are in the area, explore the North End and its many restaurants. Additionally, Santa will light the big Christmas tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Tuesday, November 26 at 6 pm. To sweeten your evening more, the Ben and Jerry’s at Faneuil Hall will hand out ice cream samples and hot chocolate.