Angelica Molina (left), Adya Parida (center) and Yajie (Lannie) Lan discuss their respective journeys to Syracuse University, how they found not only success but a welcoming community on campus, their advice for fellow international students and how they plan on making a difference in their communities once they graduate.
Finding out you were accepted into Syracuse University to pursue your academic dreams is a joyous time—and the start of a new adventure.
On this “’Cuse Conversation,” three accomplished international students stopped by to discuss their respective journeys to Syracuse University, how they found not only success but a welcoming community on campus, their advice for fellow international students and how they plan on making a difference in their communities once they graduate.
Adya Parida ’25 traveled nearly 7,700 miles from her home in Ranchi, India, to study computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
Yajie (Lannie) Lan ’24 ventured more than 7,300 miles from her home in Chengdu, China, to earn an architecture degree from the School of Architecture.
Angelica Molina G’25 ventured more than 2,700 miles from her home in Cali, Colombia, to earn master’s degrees in public administration and international relations in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Check out episode 161 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Parida, Molina and Lan. A transcript [PDF] is also available.
Adya Parida
Parida: I was especially interested in Syracuse because of the emphasis on research. I did not have any prior research background before coming to Syracuse. But ever since my freshman year, I got involved in research, learning those vital skills. We also have a wonderful organization here on campus called The SOURCE [Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement], which is for undergraduate research, and they helped me so much. I never expected myself to get into research at any point, but I was able to do that here at Syracuse.
Ever since high school, I knew I wanted to study abroad because I love learning about other cultures. I wanted to experience that for myself, and I came to Syracuse University because I wanted to work on my holistic development. I feel like I’ve developed and grown so much. Back in the summer of 2022, I participated in Invent@SU and became an inventor, something I never thought I would be. I’m part of the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. ECS does a great job of not just teaching you the technical skills but equipping you with the professional skills you will need once you graduate. I’ve been able to do a lot more than I ever thought I could as a student, and Syracuse has given me more than I ever could have asked for.
Molina: Maxwell has a great reputation for earning a master’s in public administration and international relations. I wanted to be the best version of myself, so I can serve my community. That’s what brought me into the program. I wanted to gather the economic ability and the quantitative and qualitative skills that Maxwell excels in providing to its students. It came down to the quality of the education, the quality of the faculty and the quality of the alumni.
Lan: The architecture program is outstanding, and I was interested in the study abroad program that the school provided. During the spring semester of my third year and the fall semester of my fourth year here, I went to Florence, Italy, and London, England, to study abroad through the School of Architecture. That was a fantastic experience and I’m really glad the school provides those kinds of opportunities for us.
Angelica Molina
Molina: Go out and explore the resources available to you. I dealt with not really exploring those resources because I felt a little anxious or shy, but go outside of your comfort zone. Talk to the Center for International Services, talk to the Office of Student Engagement, talk to Career Services and you’ll learn that everyone is really here to help you succeed. Then be sure to attend events on campus. The Graduate Student Organization holds a lot of events for graduate students, and by attending those events, doing your research and putting yourself out there, you learn that there are so many resources to make you feel at home away from home.
Yajie (Lannie) Lan ’24
Lan: There are so many student activities. The Center for International Services is always hosting a lot of great activities. When you show up, it’s an opportunity to meet fellow international students who might be going through the same things you’re dealing with. Then there are so many student clubs and organizations you can join, and in the School of Architecture, there are activities and gatherings to help you feel at home.
Parida: I recommend first-year students be part of a Living Learning Community. I’m currently a living learning community resident advisor (RA) and I truly see the relationships that the students and the RAs make with each other. That personally helped me a lot with the adjustment when I first got here. That first year, all of my friends were either from my major or they were in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and we would hang out together and work on homework together. That really helped me find that sense of belonging and community.
Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.
