Near & Far
Students travel from all over America and the world to study at Ball State
It doesn’t matter if the trek is from around the world, across America, or from the other side of the state. Leaving home, family, and friends to pursue higher education is a big step. The same can be true for students who transfer to a new university after establishing ties and completing college coursework elsewhere. Still, Ball State University is the choice of many international and transfer students—like Abimbola Adeyemi and Lindsey Lidy.
Ms. Adeyemi is an international student originally from Nigeria. Ms. Lidy transferred to Ball State from another university in her home state, Indiana. Both students said leaving their familiar settings was challenging and required courage in their own ways, but coming to Ball State was easy. They knew they found the university where their educational career goals would be achieved and where they could be part of a welcoming campus community.
Ball State Supports its International and Transfer Students
Ball State’s newly admitted international students get significant support from the University, including an orientation program, student visa advising, and academic advising services.
Currently enrolled international students receive continued support from International Admissions & Services and Ball State’s Rinker Center for Global Affairs. Ongoing support services include advice on how to maintain lawful status for student visas, acculturation support, English language support from the Intensive English Institute, and academic advising.
To aid admitted incoming transfer students, Ball State has a Transfer Center where students can receive help getting through the transition, and have a variety of resources. Learn more online at bsu.edu/admissions.
Lindsey Lidy, Transfer Student
Hometown: Speedway, Ind.
Major: Architecture
When Lindsey Lidy decided that she wanted to pursue a career in architecture, she had already completed a year at her original college. The Speedway, Ind., native wanted to get a degree from a university with a top-rated architecture program, and she wanted to stay in her home state. After researching her options, Ms. Lidy chose Ball State’s R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP).
Ms. Lidy started at Ball State in 2021 as a second-semester sophomore and successfully applied for ECAP’s five-year Architecture program. As of this Fall semester, Ms. Lidy is a senior—based on her coursework credits—and is beginning her third year in the Architecture program.
As for the friends she made at her previous college, Ms. Lidy said she knew she could keep in touch them while being open to forging new connections.
“Ball State has such a small-town feel to it. I’m from a small town, so it felt like it would be easy to make friends and feel at home here,” she added. “I just threw myself all-in on the transfer to Ball State. Brand new school. Brand new experiences. It was not at all about looking back at what I was leaving. It was more about the excitement and opportunities that I had ahead of me at Ball State. It’s been great!”
Abimbola Adeyemi, International Student
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Major: Information and Communication Science
Her current pursuit of her master’s degree at Ball State is not Abimbola Adeyemi’s first experience as an international student in America. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss her home country, family, friends, church, and culture. Fortunately, Ms. Adeyemi has her four children living with her in Muncie while she attends Ball State. She has other relatives in the United States, including her uncle who lives in Colorado.
Her positive interactions within the welcoming communities of Ball State and Muncie are especially impactful as she deals with occasional bouts of homesickness.
“The people here, on campus and in the city, are so friendly, nice, and willing to help me,” she said. “I feel good here.”
Ms. Adeyemi earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering in Nigeria several years ago. She decided to change careers. Her goal is to work in Software Engineering and eventually teach in that field.
“I love teaching,” Ms. Adeyemi said. “I want to be a professor. That, my children, and my other goal of getting my PhD, are what keep me going.”
She believes getting a quality post-secondary education at an American college or university could make it easier to work anywhere in the world. After getting a master’s degree in Computer Science at another university in America’s Midwest, she decided to augment her education with a master’s degree in Information and Communication Science at Ball State. Ms. Adeyemi started attending Ball State in 2022. She is on target to complete her master’s program in 2024. After that, she intends to pursue a doctorate in a related field.
