Studying in the USA and playing squash: Alina Bushma is a student at Drexel University

Alina Bushma is an athlete, master of sports in squash, master of sports of international class, member of the women's and junior national teams of Ukraine, medalist and winner of national and international tournaments, participant of the World Games and student of the American university Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

A few words about Drexel University .....

Drexel University is one of the most famous and prestigious universities on the planet, in the top 5% in the world. Upon admission to the university, more than 60% of applicants are enrolled in the university.

The cost of studying at the university is quite high and amounts to approximately 39,000 USD per year. Master's programs at Drexel University can hardly be called cheap either, the cost is 29,000 USD per year of study. Despite this, university students can apply for financial assistance from the educational institution.

- Hi, Alina! Remind me which course you switched to?

- I am studying at Drexel University and I am going to the third year.

- Do you remember the period when you entered the university, submitted documents, how all the procedures went, tell me, please?

- Since I was transferring from our KNEU to an American university, I submitted my grades from the university (original and translation), SAT and TOEFL. All this passed through a special portal of my university, and if I had any questions, the coach helped me.

- How did it happen that you decided to transfer to an American university?

- I've always wanted to study at a university abroad and play squash. American universities provide an opportunity to do this, but they also provide scholarships. As they say, she killed two birds with one stone)

- How did you choose Drexel University? Did you have any other options? Did you contact the coach in advance?

- I wanted to go to a university that is in the top eight in the team ranking of universities. And these are Ivy League universities, Drexel and Trinity. The Ivy League is very difficult to join, Trinity is more of a liberal arts university (and I study computer technology and cybersecurity), so Drexel remained one of the options. I contacted the coach through Yulia Zhukovets, she considered this university too.

- It's very cool that Julia was able to help you)

- Yes))

- Do you and Yulia see each other during your studies or are your universities far from each other?

- No, we are in different states and only saw each other when our teams were playing.

- It's a pity (Did you and Yulia have to be rivals on the court during a tournament while studying at the university?

- No, Julia and I play different numbers in our teams.

- How is your squash training, are they every day?

- Official training takes place 6 times a week. If you wish, you can ask the coach for additional classes or attend training sessions for the guys (girls train only with girls, and guys with guys). We also visit the hall 4 times a week.

- Do you have enough time to combine training, study and rest?

- Yes, at first it was very unusual, but after drawing up the schedule, there was enough time for everything.

- How did you distribute your schedule? What do you focus more on education or sports?

- I try to distribute equally so that I can play extra squash and have enough time to study.

- How many extra squash workouts do you take?

- I try to go 1-2 times to training with the guys and 1-2 times additionally with the coaches.

- What do you do in your free time?

- Yes, nothing special. I meet with friends, sometimes we go to parties))

- Do you have any traditions at the university or theme parties?

- Is this with us or from the university you mean?

- From you and from the university)

- The university hosts parties and even hosts concerts. We had Halloween parties and all sorts of themed, for example, we had to come up with a costume consisting of no clothes))

- Cool)) What was your costume? Perhaps the photos have survived))

- It's hard to call it a costume (laughs), because we didn't have time to prepare ourselves, but I was a rapper (pictured).

- Cool (laughs). How do you like the USA? Do you like the country, customs, people?

- At first it was very unusual, because after all, there are different people and culture. But over time, you get used to, even to very strange behavior (for example, if they greeted you, asked "how are you?", And then walked by without waiting for an answer - this is normal)

- It's really weird) Don't you miss home? Are there any plans to return back to Ukraine after training?

- Honestly, I don't know ... how life will turn out, I'll go there. But, on friends, family, I miss the cat !!!!

- Can’t you have a pet on campus?

- Unfortunately, it's not so easy, only if these are animals for emotional support (if there are some diseases and the animal is needed to improve the emotional state), then you can. So my neighbor had a cat, so I was never bored)

- He did not let you get bored)) What advice can you give to our athletes who intend to enter universities in the USA?

- Squash is very important for admission to an American university, but you shouldn't forget about training either !! I also advise you not to rush anywhere after graduation. We graduate from school at 17, while Americans and Europeans are at 18-19. I advise you to take the so-called gap year and during that year increase your level of English, squash, and not try to do everything in one year, when graduation, VNO and many other things related to graduation.

- Thanks for the interview and for your time. I think your experience and advice will be useful for our applicants)