Share your story. Inspire future students. Win $300.   

What’s it really like to study in the US?   

We're inviting international students at our US university partners to share a short video about their experience.  

Your story could help future international students understand what university life is really like from someone who's lived it. And by sharing, you'll have the chance to win a $300 Visa gift card. 

What’s involved 

It's simple. No professional equipment. No editing skills. No perfect answers required. 
Just record a short video on your phone, upload it using our form and tell us about your experience in your own words. We'll take care of the editing. 

Closing date: 11.59pm ET, 02 November 2026
Win: $300 Visa gift card 

Not sure what to talk about?  

Your experience is unique, and that’s exactly what future students want to hear about.  

You could share what surprised you, what you enjoy most about student life, your favorite places, or advice you’d give to another international student.  

See an example

Not sure what to expect? Here’s an example of a student video created from smartphone footage.  

Why we’re collecting these stories 

Future international students want to hear from people who've already taken the same journey. 

Selected videos may be shared across our marketing and social media channels to help future students understand what studying in the US is really like from a student's perspective. 

Need some inspiration? 

Choose one of the topics below or combine a few into one story.  
Why did you choose to study in the US?

Tell us what attracted you to studying in the US and choosing your university.

You could talk about:

  • why you chose the US
  • why you chose your university
  • what you were looking for when choosing where to study
  • anything that surprised you about studying in the US.
What's your university experience really like?

Tell us about your experience at university so far.

You could talk about:

  • what you enjoy most about your studies
  • your favorite classes, projects or facilities
  • practical or hands-on learning you've experienced
  • how your university has supported your academic success
  • a memorable experience you've had.
What's student life like?

Give future students an idea of what your everyday life is like.

You could talk about:

  • making friends
  • clubs, sports or activities
  • the international student community
  • what you do outside your studies
  • your favorite places on campus
  • what you enjoy most about being a student.
What are the local area and community like?

Tell us what it's like living and studying in your area.

You could talk about:

  • your favorite places to visit
  • restaurants, shops or places to spend time with friends
  • how easy it is to explore the area
  • what the local community is like
  • how you felt when you first arrived
  • how supported and comfortable you feel living there.
How has your university supported your future?

Tell us how your studies are helping you prepare for your future.

You could talk about:

  • skills you've developed
  • internships or work experience
  • career advice or support
  • networking opportunities
  • industry events or connections
  • what you hope to do after graduation
  • how you think your US degree will help you achieve your goals.
What advice would you give another international student?

Imagine you're speaking to someone who is thinking about studying in the US. What would you tell them?

You could share:

  • something you wish you'd known before arriving
  • advice for settling into a new country
  • how to make friends
  • how to get involved in university life
  • something you wish you'd done sooner
  • your favorite part of studying in the US.

How to film your video 

Video checklist
  • 60–90 seconds
  • film horizontally (16:9 landscape)
  • use your smartphone
  • speak directly to camera
  • stay centered in frame
  • clear audio
  • no editing required
  • be yourself
Filming tips

You don't need professional equipment. Your smartphone is all you need.

Before you start:

  • clean your phone camera lens
  • position your phone horizontally (landscape)
  • find a quiet location
  • make sure your face is well lit
  • avoid standing with a bright window directly behind you
  • keep the camera around eye level
  • look directly into the camera
  • check that your face and surroundings are in focus
  • record somewhere with minimal background noise.
Don't worry about getting everything perfect. We want to see your personality and hear your genuine experience. If you have any questions about the submission requirements, please contact videoteam@intoglobal.com 

Ready to enter?

Click below to complete the form and upload your video before the deadline.

User-generated content (UGC) – prize draw terms and conditions

By entering the prize draw you are agreeing to these prize draw terms and conditions.

The prize draw is being run by INTO University Partnerships Limited incorporated and registered in England and Wales with the company number 05507863 whose registered office is at One Gloucester Place, Brighton, BN1 4AA (“INTO”).

1.Eligibility To Enter

1.1

To be eligible for entry into the prize draw, you must be:

(i)a student currently enrolled at one of our US INTO Partners (defined below); and
(ii)aged 18 years or over.
1.2

For the purposes of these prize draw terms and conditions, the US INTO Partners are:

  • Colorado State University
  • Drew University
  • Eckerd College
  • Fisher College
  • George Mason University
  • Hofstra University
  • Illinois State University
  • LIU Brooklyn
  • LIU Post
  • Montclair State University
  • New England College
  • Oregon State University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
  • Saint Louis University
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale
  • Suffolk University
  • Texas State University
  • Thomas Jefferson University
  • UMass Amherst (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
  • University of Oklahoma

(each an “US INTO Partner”, together “US INTO Partners”)

2.Entry Requirements

2.1

The prize draw is free to enter and no purchase is necessary.

2.2

To qualify for the prize draw, your video submissions must strictly adhere to the following criteria:

(i)Content: You must share your personal story about studying at the relevant US INTO Partner.
(ii)Duration: The video length must be between 60 – 90 seconds.
(iii)Orientation: The video must be filmed in landscape orientation with a 16:9 ratio.
(iv)Equipment: Submissions must be filmed exclusively on a smartphone. No additional editing is required.
2.3

Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.

3.How To Enter

3.1

To enter the prize draw simply submit your video this form: Submit your video – Fill out form. Any questions regarding submission requirements must be submitted to videoteam@intoglobal.com.

3.2

You may submit multiple entries, provided that each entry features a different video.

3.3

The opening date for entries is 12am ET on 19 October 2026. The closing date of the prize draw is 11.59pm ET on 2 November 2026. Entries received after this time will not be included in the draw.

3.4

INTO will not accept responsibility if contact details provided are incomplete or inaccurate, nor will INTO accept responsibility for entries are lost, mislaid, damaged, delayed or not successfully completed due to a technical fault, technical malfunction, computer hardware or software failure, satellite, network or server failure of any kind.

4.The Prize

4.1

The prize will be a $300.00 visa gift card, which will be delivered to the winner’s email address. Upon notification that they have been selected as the winner, the winner must contact INTO in accordance with the instructions provided in the notification in order to claim the prize. If the winner fails to claim the prize within seven (7) days of being notified that they have been selected as the winner, INTO reserves the right to disqualify that winner and select an alternative winner at random from the remaining eligible entries. The original winner shall forfeit any right to claim the prize, and INTO shall have no liability or responsibility to the original winner in respect of the prize. This process shall be repeated, as necessary, until the prize has been successfully claimed and awarded to an eligible winner.

4.2

One winner will be chosen by random draw. The random draw will be supervised by an independent person on 16 November 2026 ("Draw Date").

4.3

The cash prize for the winner is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered.

4.4

INTO reserves the right to replace the prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond the INTO's control makes it necessary to do so.

4.5

The decision of INTO regarding any aspect of the prize draw is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into about it.

5.Winner Announcement

5.1

The winner will be notified of their win after 2 November 2026/Draw Date via the email, using details provided at entry.

6.Changes and Termination

6.1

INTO reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend, or amend the prize draw at any time, without prior notice.

6.2

You are deemed to have accepted and agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions upon entry. INTO reserves the right to refuse entry or refuse to award the prize to anyone in breach of these terms and conditions.

7.Data Protection and Publicity

7.1

By entering, you acknowledge that any personal information you provide when entering the prize draw may be used by INTO for the purposes of administering the prize draw, and for similar purposes as defined within our privacy notice (see https://www.intostudy.com/en/legal-and-privacy-policy/into).

7.2

All personal information supplied during the course of this prize draw shall be used and retained in accordance with INTO's privacy notice (see https://www.intostudy.com/en/legal-and-privacy-policy/into) and maybe shared within INTO’s Group Companies.

7.3

Under the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) requirements, INTO must either publish or make available information that indicates that a valid award took place. To comply with this obligation, INTO will send the surname of the winner and the State the winner is resident in to anyone who emails videoteam@intoglobal.com within one month after the closing date of the prize draw. If the winner objects to any or all of their surname and/or State being published or made available, the winner should notify INTO of this when responding to the notification email to claim their cash prize. In such circumstances, INTO may still be required to provide the information to ASA, if requested.

7.4

The winner may be required to participate in reasonable publicity arising out of the prize draw; this may include some promotional marketing materials or being asked to be involved in a short questionnaire.

8.Limitation of Liability

8.1

INTO does not accept any liability for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any participants as a result of either entering in the prize draw or being selected as the winner, save that INTO does not exclude its liability for death or personal injury as a result of its own negligence.

9.Governing Law

9.1

These terms and conditions and the prize draw shall be governed by and will be interpreted in accordance with the law of English and Wales. All disputes or claims (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Model Release & Content Submission Agreement

By submitting video recordings and photos (“Content”) to INTO University Partnerships Limited incorporated and registered in England and Wales with the company number 05507863 whose registered office is at One Gloucester Place, Brighton, BN1 4AA (“INTO”) for potential use by INTO, I confirm and agree to the following:

1.Grant of Rights

I grant INTO, and their affiliates, licensees, successors, and assigns an exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, royalty free, perpetual and worldwide licence (with the right to assign and sublicense without restriction) to use, reproduce, copy, adapt, edit, alter, translate, crop, remix, combine with other content, store, distribute, communicate to the public and otherwise exploit the Content and my name, image, likeness, voice, appearance and biographical information in any manner and for any purpose, including advertising, promotion, marketing, PR, internal use, archive, retail, broadcast, digital, social media, press and all other media now known or later developed.

2.Full Buyout

If INTO choose to use your content, you agree that INTO can use it in different ways (as described above), in any country and for as long as needed. Unless INTO agree something different with you in writing, you will not receive any payment or royalties for this use.

3.No Obligation to Use

I acknowledge that INTO are under no obligation to use any submitted Content or include me in any campaign, project, or publication.

4.Ownership and Permissions

I confirm that:

  • I am at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter this agreement.
  • If anyone under the age of 18 features in my Content, I can confirm that I am agreeing to these terms and conditions as legal guardian of the participant or that I have consent of the legal guardian of the participant that the minor in question can appear in the Content and that they agree to these terms.
  • The Content is my own or I have permission from all individuals appearing in it.
  • The Content does not knowingly infringe the rights of any third party, including copyright, privacy, or publicity.
  • The Content is not defamatory, obscene, misleading or unlawful.
  • I am not subject to any agreement that would conflict with this Agreement or INTO’s use of the Content.

5.Release of Claims

I release INTO and their affiliates, licensees, successors, and assigns from any claims arising from the lawful use of the Content, including claims relating to privacy, publicity rights, or defamation.

6.Data Protection

I acknowledge that INTO will process my personal data (which may include my content, name, contact details, and any other information that I share with INTO) and use my Content as detailed within these terms and conditions.

Further details about how INTO may use your personal data can be found in our privacy policy: (see https://www.intostudy.com/en/legal-and-privacy-policy/into). Information about how you can opt out of our marketing communications can also be found in the privacy notice or you can follow the unsubscribe link in our communications at any time.

7.Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and will be interpreted in accordance with the law of English and Wales. All disputes or claims (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

By submitting Content electronically, I confirm that I have read, understood, and agree to this Model Release and Content Submission Agreement.