International Student Newsletter

Dear International Students,

We hope your spring semester is off to a great start! In the Announcements section of this newsletter, learn more about the ERC Master’s Student Lunch & Learn Series which can equip you with tools for success in your programs at BU and in your professional careers. Also, browse through Alumni & Friends’ library of 100+ presentations from alumni career coaches and industry insiders sharing their expertise on topics ranging from conducting informational interviews, to finding the right mentor, to avoiding pandemic fatigue. Lastly, please note the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)’s deadline for Summer 2022 applications is March 3. In the Employment in the U.S. section, meet BU alum Takamitsu Shirono, (CAS’21), who shares advice on his path to his current position as a Software Engineer at Bloomberg. In Culture Corner learn about the difference between the Metric and the Imperial measurement systems, including why the U.S. has not adopted the Metric system, and which one is better for cooking.

We wish you a healthy and successful spring semester!

We hope you enjoy this content, and if you have any feedback or suggestions for future newsletters, please contact Kamelia Turcotte at kameliat@bu.edu

Announcements

Upcoming Events

Employment in the U.S.

Culture Corner

The Metric System vs. The Imperial System

The Imperial System and the Metric System are two different measurement systems for things like distances, volumes, and weights.

What is the Metric System?

According to Merriam Webster, the Metric System is “a decimal system of units based on the meter as a unit length, the kilogram as a unit mass, and the second as a unit time.” It was first adopted in France in the 17th century, and it is officially known by the French name Le Système International (abbreviation SI). It is now universally used in science, and officially used for all purposes in all but three countries in the world.

What is the Imperial System?

The British Imperial System was the official system of weights and measures in the United Kingdom from 1824 until they adopted the metric system in 1965.The Imperial System is defined as “a system of measurement units, including the foot, pound, and second, as well as miles and yards” (Collins Dictionary). Only three countries in the world, including the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar use the Imperial System.

Key Differences and Conversions

• Metric units easily convert by multiplying or dividing by powers of 10.
• There is no straightforward way to convert imperial units.

Below are a few key conversions that might be helpful:

Distance

1 mile=1.6 kilometers
1 inch= 2.54 centimeters /25.4 millimeters
3 feet~ 1 meter (0.91 meter)

Weight

1 kilogram= 2.2 pounds
1 pound= 454 grams

Temperature

(Technically not part of the metric system, Americans measure temperature in Fahrenheit, not Centigrade)

0 degrees Celsius= 32 degrees Fahrenheit (The freezing point)
24 degrees Celsius= 75 degrees Fahrenheit (A very pleasant day)
To convert Celsius (C) to Fahrenheit (F), use the formula (C * 1.8) + 32

For additional information including why the U.S. has not adopted the Metric system, and which system is better for cooking, please refer to What is the Difference Between the Metric and the Imperial System.

Adapted from Metric System versus Imperial System: Differences and Use and Imperial vs. Metric System.

If you have suggestions for an aspect of American culture to feature in the next communication, please contact Kamelia Turcotte at kameliat@bu.edu

The Compass

There are over 250 academic, housing, community, and employment resources currently on the Compass and each issue we will highlight two.