Student Spotlight: László Bajor – San Diego State University
László Bajor grew up in Tolna and attended Tolnai Szent István Katolikus Gimnázium. An aspiring artist, László now attends San Diego State University in California. Known for its thriving art scene, this state is the perfect place for this former advisee–who wants to pursue a career in graphic design. San Diego State University’s School of Art and Design offers students the ability to develop a range of artistic skills and receive support from a variety of gifted instructors. László is currently in his first semester at SDSU and is deeply involved in his university’s art programs.
Interviewer: Olivia Murr
Q: Why did you want to study in the United States?
A: Studying graphic design wouldn’t really work in Hungary because it’s not a major field there, and not a lot of schools offer this major, so there are limited options. I considered applying outside of the U.S. because English is the other language I’m most comfortable with. Australia and New Zealand felt too far away, and I knew California would be a better fit for me than England or another English speaking country. Most of the schools I applied to were in California because of its strong art scene.
Q: What were the most important criteria for you when trying to decide which schools to apply to? What other universities did you consider?
A: There were several important factors for me.I considered multiple universities and checked websites that ranked and reviewed them, selecting which ones seemed the best. I recommend the website Niche, which ranks universities based on various criteria. Online resources were very helpful to me, especially when they allow students to share their real opinions.
When looking, I considered different things, like what certain universities had to offer in terms of programs but also housing and food. This is important for international students to consider since you don’t know what to expect when you go to the U.S. and will want to see whether the university provides that. I also considered how they supported the art scene and how well-known they were. Originally, I applied to several universities to make sure I had options such as California College of the Arts, California Institute of the Arts, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, and some others.
Q: What would you like to do with your degree? How do you think this experience will positively impact your future goals?
A: I want to be a designer. I feel like that will help me find a job anywhere in the world. The degree is huge, and even if I decide to go back to Hungary, it will be very beneficial for finding a job and having the ability to express myself in an artistic environment.
Q: Many of our advisees are concerned about funding their education in the United States. Do you have any advice when it comes to: budgeting, scholarship applications, and/or the cost of living abroad?
A: I go to a state school, which is more affordable than private universities. At private universities, however, you’re likely to receive a scholarship with your application if you’re accepted. However, these private university scholarships that people sometimes receive with their acceptance letters typically do not cover the tuition fee, and usually even if people get them their tuition might still be incredibly expensive. But for state schools, you may need to apply for scholarships after you’re already here. That was kind of surprising to me, the difference in scholarship opportunities between universities. Just make sure you’ve decided how much money you’re willing to spend on your education and are exploring scholarship opportunities.
There are also good opportunities to work while you’re in the U.S. For example, if you’re a residential advisor or a community advisor, you can get free housing, which is nice. There are also many other jobs available, even some in specific fields, like art. I also plan on working while I’m here.
Q: As an artist and student, could you tell us about submitting a portfolio as part of your application?
A: For the portfolio, it’s about gathering all of the things needed for that part of the application and putting together a collection of artwork that reflects your skill. It’s also good to seek out outside opinions.
I also had to go through the standard process as well, like writing an SAT, getting letters of recommendation, and writing my own personal letter to the universities. This all took a lot of dedication and time. So, it was kind of a mix—an arts application and the traditional U.S. application. It was more unique than the usual application process, but I felt that both pieces were important and that one part of the application was not seen as more relevant than the other.
Q: What was it like settling into a new school and culture?
A:It’s been a bit of a process. People have been curious about where I’m from and what my culture is like. It’s been a hard process in some ways. The biggest difference is transportation, which is very different from Europe. I don’t have a car, but the university provides transportation when needed. California doesn’t have the same level of public transportation as Europe. In Budapest, I could easily take a bus to get anywhere. But I’m glad the campus provides everything I need, so I don’t have to worry too much.
However, my university does a good job helping international students adjust to university life. I’m taking a class for international students with peers from all around the world. We take this class to talk about our cultures and get to know each other. It’s a great opportunity because the university also makes sure to show us all the resources available to us on campus in this class.
Q: Any final words of advice to Hungarian students looking to study in the United States?
A: Sometimes things might not go as you intend, and that’s okay. It’s important not to stress. Sometimes, it’s good to take a laid-back approach. It can be overwhelming with all the emails, deadlines, and applications. Make sure to keep up with everything, but also give yourself some free time to relax. It’s hard to do good work when you’re too stressed.