Two International Students Describe Their Otis College Experience
“Studying in a community where I wouldn’t feel left out or that I did not belong was the most important part of my decision.”
Otis College has a long-standing commitment to international students, who comprise 15% of its overall student population. The College believes that engaging with a wide variety of cultures and ideas enriches the educational experience.
International students at Otis are supported through a comprehensive campus network, from the Admissions team ensuring a smooth application and enrollment process to student leaders in Team International Student Outreach, a group that creates cross-cultural and inclusive programming on campus.
Students have come from all over the world to attend Otis—China, South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, and Kazakhstan, to name a few countries. Two students from India—Surah Koticha (’27 Fashion Design) and Kirti Kalathiya (’28 Game and Entertainment Design)—recently talked about how they’ve found a home here, halfway across the globe, and what their experience at Otis has been like so far.
Surah Koticha, Junior in Fashion Design
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
“I actually was born in the U.S. and lived here for about four years, but then my family moved to India. I always loved to sing and paint, and was drawn to sketching clothes when I was in elementary school, but I wasn’t very good at it, so I let the hobby go. It wasn’t until COVID that my parents realized I had a knack for learning how to use multimedia, and it was after my grandma taught me how to embroider that I became obsessed. I even started to sell masks that I embroidered on Instagram.
Once my parents realized how passionate I was, and how much my art was appreciated, they came to appreciate it as well. People in the community I lived in were surprised that I chose to study fashion design because it wasn’t a typical career choice, but my family stood up for my choices. My friends have always been proud of me for taking a unique path and have been my biggest supporters.
As a sophomore, Surah was part of a group of Fashion Design students who created this mural for SeaWorld, working exclusively with upcycled materials provided by The Salvation Army.
One of the main deciding factors for attending college in Los Angeles is how well connected the city is to a built-in fashion industry. I was looking for hands-on industry experience and I wanted to build a relationship with my school once I got here. What fully piqued my interest about Fashion Design at Otis was the mentorship program, which is offered to students in their junior year. These highly intensive projects give us a clear idea of what it takes to make a collection under a company’s direction. It is almost like a simulation. Sometimes students get hired as interns and full-time employees based on their performance on a mentor project.
Otis surrounds us with artists from a wide range of media interests and outlooks on life. How we all interact with each other is healing in a way.”
The heart of Otis is its professors and the time and energy each of them puts in to make sure we dive into every skill set that will ensure our success in the industry. Otis surrounds us with artists from a wide range of media interests and outlooks on life. How we all interact with each other is healing in a way, learning about their processes and creative mindsets. The people who I surround myself with will move and build me, and Otis has a way of helping us make those connections.
I understand what life is like when everything shifts from the only place you knew as home to a completely different worldview in the matter of a few days. My advice to international students who plan to attend Otis is to keep an open mind, especially about the people you meet, because they could be some of your best friends someday. Be the first person in the room to reach out and make a friend, and ask a lot of questions. Lastly, explore the city you’re in. Don’t get stuck on finding the same experiences you had back home; that makes your world smaller.”
Kirti Kalathiya, Sophomore in Game and Entertainment Design, minoring in Product Design
Hometown: Mumbai, India
“I was raised with the mindset that being successful in life means to have a ‘real’
career in a STEM field. I completed a bachelors degree in chemistry and was really
good at visual graphics, so I made a portfolio focused on medical illustration. I
was utilizing my knowledge of science and my drawing skills to make figures and illustrations
for international medical journals. But I was not content, so I decided to push my
creativity in the direction of the entertainment industry. My family didn’t want me
to leave a stable income job and pursue something they have never heard of before,
but I chose to come to the United States anyway.
Choosing Otis was the best decision I have made. I was welcomed with warm smiles and genuine support.”
During my college search, Los Angeles stood out because it had every studio, like Disney and Pixar, and gaming companies like Rockstar Games, and more. I had applied to other art and design colleges and got accepted to all of them. But I definitely can say that choosing Otis was the best decision I have made. I was welcomed with warm smiles and genuine support. Studying in a community where I wouldn’t feel left out or that I did not belong was the most important part of my decision. I always wanted to be around people who genuinely supported my ideas and vision.
Getting financial support from Otis has been a blessing to me and my family. In this difficult economy, my family is working really hard for my education. That burden used to make me feel vulnerable and distract me from my studies, but I’m really grateful for the support from Otis. I also get help from Career Services to help me prepare for job interviews and connect me with industry experts. I got an opportunity to attend the Future L.A. Summit last November, and was fortunate to be selected for interview rounds at Electronic Arts and Blizzard Entertainment for internships this summer. I am progressing in the right direction with the right support.
When I graduate I want to work as a concept-visual development artist for video games. My goal is to create a successful career for myself and make my family and friends proud. Otis is not only preparing me for a high-paying job, but it is inspiring me to become a content artist. The faculty here doesn’t just teach me to get better grades, but to chase excellence.
More about international student life at Otis College.
Attend a Prospective International Student Info Session on May 6, 2026.
