International Ambassadors
Applying to UC from abroad is both exciting and a challenge. No one understands that better than students who have gone through the process. The UC International ambassadors are international students from a variety of different countries and academic programs. They are here to get to know you, answer your questions, and tell you what you can expect as a UC student.
What do the ambassadors think of UC?
Visit the UC International Ambassadors Forum to find out! On the forum, you can read posts from the ambassadors, view questions from other UC applicants, and post questions and comments of your own. You can also find the ambassadors on facebook.
Xiao Xiao Xie
Where I'm from: China and Singapore
I speak: Mandarin, English, Singlish, and a bit of Arabic
I'm a: Sophomore
My major: Industrial Design (DAAP)
Minor: Marketing (Business)
My favorite...
Activities: Drawing, making things, chillaxing in DAAP, music and movies.
Books: Salem Falls and Handle with Care
Band: La Roux
I chose UC because: It has one of the best undergraduate Industrial Design courses in the United States. The Co-op program gives its students opportunities to experience professional jobs while studying. UC is also a highly praised university for its hospitality toward international students.
Lisa Li
Where I’m from: China, Canada, and Los Angeles (USA)
I speak: English and Mandarin
I’m graduating in: 2015
My major: Industrial Design (DAAP)
My favorite...
Activities: Drawing, making origami, skating, sleeping, listening to music and watching drama shows
Book: The Kite Runner
I like UC because: UC has an awesome Industrial Design program with great faculty and the best co-op program!
Garvin Yu
Where I'm from : China
I speak: English and Chinese
Right now, I'm a: Sophomore
My major: Electrical Engineering (CEAS)
My favorite...
Activity: Basketball
Movies: Coach Carter, Dead Poets Society
Books: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Little Prince
Bands: Green day, Mayday, Jay-Chow
Food: Rice and meat.
What I like about UC: The campus, especially in spring. Many people sit on the grass and chat. The environment is beautiful here and I really enjoy it.
Anh Tran
Where I’m from: Vietnam and Singapore
I speak: Vietnamese, English, a little French and Chinese
I’m graduating in: 2015
My program: Architecture (DAAP)
My favorite...
Activities: sketching people without them noticing; drawing, photography, reading manga, watching shows
Shows: Big Bang Theory and Pretty Little Liars
Groups I’m involved in: International Student Collaboration, First Year Leadership Program, French Club, Alpha Rho Chi professional fraternity for Architecture and the Allied Arts, working at concessions for University Honors Association
I like UC because: It is an amazing place! I cannot describe in words how much I love UC. The people, the campus, the academic and honors program are full of surprises.
Juhi Goel
Where I'm from: India
I speak: English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali
This year, I'm a: Freshman
My major: Architecture
(DAAP)
My favority...
Activities: dancing, basketball, painting and artwork, poetry, traveling, trekking
Movies: Sherlock Homes (2009), Eat Pray Love
Books: The Last Lecture, The Kite Runner, any architecture books
Music: Hip-hop, dubstep, Bollywood
Food: Chinese
Why do you like UC? Apart from my college and major, I love the architecture and environment on UC’s campus and the various opportunities for recreation and co-curricular activities available on and off campus!
Will Wang
Where I'm from: China
I speak: Chinese and English
This year, I'm a: Junior
My major: Mechanical Engineering (CEAS)
My favorite...
Activities: basketball, soccer, volleyball, traveling, photography
Movie: Fight Club
Book: Wolf Totem
Band: Manic Street Preachers
Food: Si Chuan Food
I think UC has: A beautiful campus, fantastic co-op opportunities and great classmates and teachers
Nicolas Cobelo
Where I’m from: Argentina
I speak: Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese and I’m learning Chinese
I’m graduating in: 2015
My major: Civil Engineering (CEAS)
My minor: Mathematics (A&S)
My favorite...
Activities: Rowing, soccer, snowboarding and playing guitar
TV show: Friends
Books: The Harry Potter series
I like UC because: It’s the perfect size. Everything is so nearby. I also like the fact that there are only college students around. Plus, all my friends are here!
Aaron Sun
Where I’m from: China
I speak: Mandarin and English
I’m graduating in: Spring, 2013
My major: Finance (LCoB)
My favorite...
Activity: Basketball
Anime: One Piece, Death Note
Movies: Fight Club, The Social Network, Inside Job
Bands: Jam Hsiao, B’z, Jason Mraz
Food: Meat
I like UC because: Our business school is definitely an above average one, professors are amazing and the school offers great many opportunities to build your career.
John McGill
Where I'm from: Waterloo, ON. Canada
I speak: English and some French
This year, I'm a: Freshman
My major: BFA Musical Theatre (CCM)
My favorite...
Activities: Performing and swimming
Book: Marley and Me. I also like to read biographies
Food: Garlic shrimp, and pizza
Why I like UC: It’s a beautiful campus with a warm atmosphere and an amazing program for what I would like to pursue as a career.
Pavan Kethineedi
Where I’m from: India
I speak: English, Hindi, and Telugu.
I’m a: Graduate Student
My program: Computer Engineering (CEAS)
When I’m not studying, I enjoy: Soccer, movies and travelling
Groups I’m involved in: UC Hindu YUVA.
My favorite...
Book: The Lost Symbol
Band: LinkinPark
Movies: A lot to mention! Some of them are Fight Club and V for Vendetta
I like UC because: To start with, there are amazing professors in my program who specialize in semi-conductor design engineering, something I would like to pursue as a career. Also, UC is one of the most beautiful campuses in United States and the first school to have a co-op program, something to be proud of. Lastly, the Recreation Center is just awesome.
Adrienne Tang
Where I'm from: Australia but grew up in Hong Kong
I speak: English
This year, I'm a: Sophomore
My major: Musical Theatre (CCM)
My favorite...
Activities: Performing, running, eating, sleeping
Bands: Florence + the machine, Bon Iver, Paramore, The Cranberries,Foster the People, Mumford and Sons
Food: Sushi and lasagna
Why I like UC: Great facilities (gym!) and gorgeous architecture. The people here are also very friendly and welcoming of different cultures.
Riya Nawani
Where I’m from: India
I speak: English, Hindi and French
I’m graduating in: 2016
My major: Interior Design (DAAP)
Most people don’t know that: I paint, I’ll give any song a listen and I watch tons of movies!
My favorite...
Books: Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice
Movies: Lord of the Rings, Titanic and Dead Poets Society
Foods: Italian and Mexican.
I like UC because: UC has a beautiful campus with a wide variety of facilities. There are various fun activities and events that everyone is always welcome to participate in. Everyone here is very helpful and welcoming. I’ve had some of the best times here and I’m sure you will too! Go Bearcats!
Crystal Lau
Where I'm from: Hong Kong
I speak: Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, English, and German
This year, I'm a: Sophomore (2nd Year)
My major: Communication (A&S)
Groups I'm involved in: Collegiate Ministry, UC Martial Arts Club, Alpha Lambda Delta
My favorite...
Movies: Larry Crowne, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Book: For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Food: Milk, salmon (and CCM Starbucks’ cappuccino!)
What I like about UC: The history of UC, great faculty members in the Communication department, CCM Concerts… And GREEN!!!
Krishna Iyer
Where I'm from: Gujarat, India
I speak: Hindi, English, Telugu, Gujarati, Tamil
I’m a: Graduate Student
My Program: Computer Engineering (CEAS)
My Favorite...
Book: Shantaram, The Count of Monte Cristo
Movies: Fightclub, Pirates of the Silicon Valley, Rang de Basanti
Music: Bob Dylan, Rahman, Kailash Kher
Food: Indian, Thai, Mexican
Why I like UC: It has one of the best campuses in the country. UC is a potion with the right amount of intellect, sports, international diversity (which is always celebrated here!), great opportunities and a will to move forward in all aspects of academia. And being in Cincinnati, which is one of the most livable, affordable and last but not the least, romantic cities of the country, it just gets better. An amazing UC experience is awaiting you!
Angie Tjisnoyo
Where I'm from: Indonesia and Singapore
I speak: English, Bahasa Indonesia / Malay
I'm a: Freshman
My major: Interior Design (DAAP)
My favorites...
Activities: watching movies, listening to music, browsing, sketching
Books: Harry Potter, Kite Runner
Artist: Taylor Swift
Why I like UC: UC DAAP has one of the best Interior Design program in the US. The program also includes co-op which will be very helpful for me to experience working in the field that I am studying. So far, I love what I am doing and I love the people around me.
Charlene Mi
Where I'm from: Beijing, China
I speak: Mandarin; American English
My major: Finance (LCoB)
I graduate: Spring 2013
Groups I'm involved in at UC: Finance club, Beta Alpha Psi, UC Bible Study Group
My favorite...
Activities: reading
Traveling bands: Blue; One Direction
Food: Spicy food; hot pot
What I like about UC: It has a beautiful campus, various activities and fantastic facilities.
Musaab Gari
Where I'm from: Saudi Arabia
I speak: Arabic and English
This year, I'm a: Freshman
My major: Pre-Pharmacy
My favorite artist: Eminem
Why I chose UC: UC has one of the greatest campuses in the United States and it’s known for its teaching quality. The large and diverse amount of students is one of the greatest things about UC.
Sanju Dongol Singh
Hannah Ko
Where I'm from: Singapore
I speak: English & Chinese
This year, I'm a: Senior
My major: Communication (A&S)
Groups I'm involved in: UC Martial Arts, Collegiate Ministry
My favorite...
Movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone
Book: A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Why I like UC: It’s green, it’s spacious, and it’s beautiful. The staff and professors in UC are warm and friendly, which is important to an international student like me. Not only are the classes I take diverse, but having the opportunity to appreciate works from both DAAP and CCM is pretty cool.
Gi Won Baik
Where I'm from: South Korea
I speak: Korean, English
I'm a: Pre-junior
My major: Interior Design (DAAP)
My favorite...
Activities: watching movies, Dave and Busters, recently started to play racquetball (my favorite activity now!)
TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl
Food: Any kinds of Korean food, pho, Indian curry, Cheesecake Factory, bruch...
I chose UC because: UC Interior Design is No. 1 in Nation for more than 10 years. Great Co-op program, awesome professors and beautiful campus.
Ronald Chin
I'm from: Singapore
Languages I write & speak: English and a little Mandarin
This year, I'm a: Senior
My major: Sociology (A&S)
My minor: Business Administration (LCoB)
My campus activities: Brother at Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Lab Consultant at UCIT.
My favorite...
Movie: The Lake House
Band: Three Doors Down
Artist: Eminem
Why I like UC: I like UC because it is in a city, just like Singapore is. I love the football team and am trying to go to every home game before I graduate. Being in the Midwest, I think UC has some of the nicest people I have ever met. I have made some very good friends here. I will be sad when I finally have to leave here but this place will always be in my heart.
Ning Song
Where I’m From: China
I speak: Mandarin, English, and a little bit Korean
I’m a: Sophomore
My major: Accounting and Informational System (CoB)
My on campus activities: University Honor Association
My favorite…
Activities: Baseball, Hockey, photography, watching movies and
shows
Bands: BIGBANG, One Republic
Shows: The Big Bang Theory, Supernatural, The Elle show
Food: Hot pot, Chinese and Korean Food
Why I like UC: UC is the top 10 most beautiful campus in the world! I have been here for almost a year and a half, all the instructors, advisors and students are very nice to me, and I also made a lot of friends here. The Honor Program and International Ambassador Program are amazing! I Love UC so much!
Sujin Kim
Where I'm from: South Korea
My languages: Korean and English
I'm a: 5th year
My major: Piano performance (CCM)
My on-campus activities: GA for choral department of CCM
My favorite...
Movie: animations like The Incredibles, Finding Nemo
Food: any kind of noodles
Why I like UC: Great facilities (practice room, concert hall) and faculty, scholarship and its reputation
Sandra Lin
Where I'm from: Taiwan
Languages I speak: English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese
This year, I'm a: Junior
My major: Industrial Design (DAAP)
Activities I'm involved in: IDSA, UC Honors, EWB
My favorite...
Movie: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, How to Train Your Dragon, Toy story 3
Band: Mayday
Why I like UC: It has a very solid design program.
Thuy Tran
I'm from: Vietnam
I speak: Vietnamese and English
This year, I'm a: Senior
My major: Architectural Engineering (CEAS)
Minor: Civil Construction Management (CEAS)
Groups I'm involved in: Vietnamese Student Association, Architectural Engineering Institution, AIAS, IPal, UVSA.
My favorite...
Bands: One republic, Delta Spirit
Foods: Bun bo hue, Indian food
Why I like UC: Being a UC Bearcat I have learned and gained a lot through out these years. These experiences you hardly find it anywhere else. UC gives you a lot of opportunities and all you have to do is take them. The more you reach to it, the more you grow. I don’t like UC, I love UC of all my heart. Proudly UC Cincinnati!
