6) Student Time, Money & Energy Management

Moving to a new country is lonely. If you only sit in your room and study, your mental health will suffer. When you are unhappy, your interview performance drops.

• Build a "Support Squad." Find friends who are also ambitious. Join one "fun" club that has nothing to do with school, like a soccer team or a hiking group.
• If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone. US universities have free counseling centers. Using them is a sign of strength, not weakness. Taking a walk for 30 minutes a day is not "wasted time" it is "maintenance" for your brain.