There are many resources in place for international students to adjust to life in Macon, provided by both Mercer University and Wesleyan University. For students arriving from around the world, their university experience is more than just classes and campus, it is their first glimpse of life in the United States.
According to the University System of Georgia, the number of international students studying in the state has increased every year since 2020 and in 2026, Georgia has over 37,000 students who hail from overseas.
Macon is no exception with a significant percentage of international students attending both major universities in the cities. According to university data, 5% of Mercer’s undergraduate class hails from overseas. Additionally, 11% of Wesleyan’s undergraduate class is made up of international students.
Caroline Mason is the Assistant Director of Global Services at Mercer University. She says that she loves getting to work with students from all over the world.
“International students have to go through a lot of difficult steps to get to Mercer, so I find that most truly try their best to make the most of every opportunity they have here. I have lived abroad before and I did not have a lot of support, so it was super overwhelming.”
Mason says she tries to be as supportive as possible so that students from overseas can get the most out of their experience at the university. As well as ensuring they are doing well in their classes, Mason also says that a large part of the experience is the integration into a new culture.
“Most are shocked at how many events regularly happen on campus and many attend sports games and other student organization activities. Some places in downtown that students particularly seem to enjoy are Macon Bagels, Taste and See Coffee Shop, Shuster’s Ice Cream, and Gangnam Grill. Many students walk downtown or use the recently created Rapid Transit.”
Through her career, she has experienced first hand how hard it is to live away from home and family for a prolonged period of time.
“Since international students often are far from home and have no family nearby, I find they really appreciate the additional support and care that our office provides,” says Mason.
Mason encourages international students to join the international group that she manages where they talk about the various events around Macon, including the upcoming International Cherry Blossom Festival which is a key event for the city.
