Hey again everyone!
This is going to be my final post just to wrap everything up. It's been a fun journey and I hope that I've provided you with some useful information about studying abroad!
Now that you're home make sure to follow up with any scholarships you've received in case you have to complete a project or service requirement as terms of the scholarship. Also make sure to check in with your study abroad advisor to tell them all about your experiences!
Although you should be excited to be home with your friends, family, and familiarity you may also experience some post-study abroad blues or "reverse culture shock". It's completely normal to experience either of these situations. Before going abroad you were probably made well aware of culture shock, and reverse culture shock is the inverse of that: feeling shocked by how different your home is than where you just visited. Just as with culture shock, reverse culture shock will fade overtime and you'll become use to the ins and outs of your own culture once again. Post-study abroad blues is also a common experience; you might feel like your life at home will never be as good as it was abroad, you might criticize your home country in relation to your host country, you might be spending more time on social media trying to remember your experienced abroad, and much more. There are a number of things you can do to combat these issues including exploring a new area of your city, hanging out with friends you haven't seen since you've been gone, and even planning your next trip abroad! Just remember that time helps with both of these post-study abroad issues.
To finish up this post I'd just like to encourage you to share your experiences in any way you can. Maybe through a study abroad fair at your university, to friends in person, on your social media, and any other ways you can think of. The more people you share the more people become aware of the opportunities to study abroad and the excitement that comes with it. Don't forget to mention the funding opportunities so that people aren't immediately scared away by the cost!
That's all I have for now. Maybe I'll revive this blog for my next trip, but until then...
-Kendra
Leaving Glasgow
Studying abroad in Glasgow this summer has been an experience like no other. I've met some incredible people from around the US and even around the world that I never would have met otherwise; some that are now my best friends even!
While abroad, you should definitely focus on learning and make sure to study, but you also have to make sure to not miss out on the bigger picture while you're at it. Wherever you go there's going to be a rich cultural history and beautiful landscapes to explore. Make sure to dig in to the culture: try the food, talk to locals, visit sites. You have to be open to being uncomfortable and making mistakes, but in the end it's worth it and you'll laugh it off because there's no experience quite like being on your own in another country with people you've only just met.
This experience has allowed me to grow both academically and as a person. The time in the classroom was tough and organized differently than a traditional lecture-style class you'd have at home, but I know I learned a lot of good, solid information that will stick with me and transfer to other classes to be built upon. I think my personal growth was even greater. Before this summer I had never left the US or had extensive interactions with people from other countries, but now I've lived within another culture for 2 months and enjoyed every second of it! One of the courses I took was a "Culture of Scotland" course and it really allowed me to understand the history of Scotland--specifically Glasgow's history and cultural impact. This course took us on various day trips to significant places and cities all around Scotland, and I'm very thankful for all those opportunities.
Before leaving for Scotland I set a few goals for myself to achieve through this experience. My main goal was independence. Personally, I'm a rather dependent person in that I'm uncomfortable going places or doing things on my own; I much prefer to have a friend or family member with me. This mostly has to do with the fact that I have pretty bad social anxiety. However, just going on this trip without anyone else from my university going was a big step in its own right, and once I was in Glasgow I made a point to leave the flat by myself to take walks, explore parks, and visit shops. Forcing myself to be alone and do these things was very freeing--I no longer felt scared or anxious of being alone in the world. Don't get me wrong, I still struggle with social anxiety, but knowing that I set my mind to achieve a goal and then doing it felt wonderful. Ever since returning home I'm a little less worried about doing things on my own.
I just wanted to write up this post as a bit of a summary and self-reflection on my time spent abroad. If you're planning on going abroad, then I'd highly suggest doing something similar after your experience. Before you leave make sure to set some goals and write down how you're feeling, what your fears are, and how you think the experience will be. It's hard to see how new experiences are changing you for the better while they're happening, but if you take time to reflect afterwards then you'll be able to tell!
Anyway, that's all I have for now. My next and final post(for this experience!) will be once I return home, so talk to you then!
-Kendra
While abroad, you should definitely focus on learning and make sure to study, but you also have to make sure to not miss out on the bigger picture while you're at it. Wherever you go there's going to be a rich cultural history and beautiful landscapes to explore. Make sure to dig in to the culture: try the food, talk to locals, visit sites. You have to be open to being uncomfortable and making mistakes, but in the end it's worth it and you'll laugh it off because there's no experience quite like being on your own in another country with people you've only just met.
This experience has allowed me to grow both academically and as a person. The time in the classroom was tough and organized differently than a traditional lecture-style class you'd have at home, but I know I learned a lot of good, solid information that will stick with me and transfer to other classes to be built upon. I think my personal growth was even greater. Before this summer I had never left the US or had extensive interactions with people from other countries, but now I've lived within another culture for 2 months and enjoyed every second of it! One of the courses I took was a "Culture of Scotland" course and it really allowed me to understand the history of Scotland--specifically Glasgow's history and cultural impact. This course took us on various day trips to significant places and cities all around Scotland, and I'm very thankful for all those opportunities.
Before leaving for Scotland I set a few goals for myself to achieve through this experience. My main goal was independence. Personally, I'm a rather dependent person in that I'm uncomfortable going places or doing things on my own; I much prefer to have a friend or family member with me. This mostly has to do with the fact that I have pretty bad social anxiety. However, just going on this trip without anyone else from my university going was a big step in its own right, and once I was in Glasgow I made a point to leave the flat by myself to take walks, explore parks, and visit shops. Forcing myself to be alone and do these things was very freeing--I no longer felt scared or anxious of being alone in the world. Don't get me wrong, I still struggle with social anxiety, but knowing that I set my mind to achieve a goal and then doing it felt wonderful. Ever since returning home I'm a little less worried about doing things on my own.
I just wanted to write up this post as a bit of a summary and self-reflection on my time spent abroad. If you're planning on going abroad, then I'd highly suggest doing something similar after your experience. Before you leave make sure to set some goals and write down how you're feeling, what your fears are, and how you think the experience will be. It's hard to see how new experiences are changing you for the better while they're happening, but if you take time to reflect afterwards then you'll be able to tell!
Anyway, that's all I have for now. My next and final post(for this experience!) will be once I return home, so talk to you then!
-Kendra
Some Photos from Scotland (Mostly..)
University of Glasgow.
Yeah, it basically feels like you're at Hogwarts.
Saint Mungo Street Art.
Patron Saint of Glasgow.
View from Wallace Monument.
Stirling, Scotland.
Yep, there's a lot of castles in Scotland.
Honestly, everywhere.
Who goes to Scotland and doesn't go search for Nessie?
Loch Ness, Scotland.
Whoops, I'll just sneak a pic of London in here too.
London Eye.
Any Doctor Who fans?
The TARDIS is also everywhere (especially in London).
One of Scotland's beautiful Isles.
Isle of Arran.
The best flat mates a gal could ask for.
Best Friends.
Whoops, one more sneaky London pic just because we look nice.
Best Friends pt.2
Beginnings in Glasgow
So, it's June 17th and I've been in Glasgow, Scotland for a day and a half now. Let me tell you...it is A LOT to take in, so I'm just gonna start with the beginning of the day and let you know how it went.
So, I got off the plane after a 7 hour flight and met up with the site contact for the program I'm participating in. Once all 3 of us students met up, we got in a taxi to go to the University. As soon as we got out of the cab to get our flat keys, we heard bagpipes being played nearby; it was such an idealistic welcoming to Scotland, and honestly a bit funny. We quickly set our stuff down in our flats and went off to explore the area a bit with the site contact. Having him as a sort of guide was incredibly helpful, because he knows so much about the area and made the transition coming here a lot easier. After just a few hours the jet lag hit full-force, and I basically felt like a zombie. It was difficult to sleep on the plane, so I'd pretty much not slept in 24 hours; I knew I needed to get used to the time difference so I tried to force myself to struggle through it. After exploring for a bit, we went back to our flats and I unpacked, set up WiFi, and put a new SIM card in my phone. I ended up going to bed around 2 am, and I knew I was going to sleep well. The next day we met back up with the site contact at 1 pm, and went to the city centre. The city centre reminds me a bit of NYC because there's a lot more shops, more going on, and a lot more people around. I love it there. We tried something called a sausage roll, which is sausage inside of a pastry, and it was really good. We went to 2 different churches and they were both incredibly beautiful, and we just explored the general area. After that we went back to the flats and I decided to go out again, so I walked over to the Botanic Gardens, which are very, very pretty and nice to walk through. Now I'm back at the flat writing this post, with my feet killing me because I've never walked so much in a day. I've had an incredible time so far, and I'm very excited to experience more here in Glasgow and all around Scotland. Classes start tomorrow, so I need to rest up now to make sure I'm lively and ready to learn! I'll keep this blog updated with more info about the program and the places we go.
Goodnight!
-Kendra
Funding your Program
Good morning!
So you've found a program, you've applied and been accepted, and now you need a way to pay for it. Funding can be difficult, and study abroad programs can be pricey, but that's why I'm here: to tell you all about scholarships and applying for them!
There are PLENTY of scholarships to apply for. Your home university will have some, your program provider might have some, and there are third-party scholarships as well. Talking to your study abroad advisor about scholarships and funding is a big help, because they know exactly which ones are available and which ones you qualify for. I applied to some scholarships offered by my university and ended up being awarded 2 of them, and I was also awarded a third-party scholarship. If you typically have a scholarship for your home university, you may even have a study abroad stipend through that as well, and that would say on any documentation you got when awarded the scholarship, or you could always ask a financial aid advisor if you're not sure. The biggest help for my funding was the Gilman Scholarship, which is a grant program through the U.S Department of State, and it's available to U.S. Citizen undergrads who receive federal Pell Grant funding. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you must have already been accepted or be in the process of applying to a study abroad or internship program in a single country that lasts at least 3 weeks for a 4 year uni, or 2 weeks for a community college. I believe they award scholarships up to $5000 depending on need, program length, and other factors. Their goal is to help students who might otherwise be unable to study abroad due to financial constraints. The Gilman Scholarship also requires a follow-up project within 6 months of returning to your home institution, to help share your experience, encourage other students to have their own international experience, and encourage them to apply for the Gilman Scholarship themselves. The Gilman Scholarship is the main reason I was able to afford participating in my study abroad program, so I highly recommend everyone check it out and apply if you're eligible, and I'll share the link here: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/.
As you can see, there are many options for funding your study abroad program, but you should also be sure to start applying to them early. Many of the applications have early deadlines in order to get the funding out as for the programs as quickly as possible. The applications also require a lot of supporting documents, such as information from your home-institution, transcripts, program information, travel information, and more, so you really need to give yourself enough time to apply for each scholarship. While it may seem like a lot of work, it's definitely worth it because it can really help with funding and make-or-break whether you're able to pay for your program or not. To wrap this up, I'll just leave a short list as a summary:
-Find out about all possible scholarships, ask your advisor and search online.
-Apply to all scholarships you're eligible for.
-Apply early and give yourself time to collect documents and information.
-Check out the Gilman Scholarship!
Hopefully this helps ease some of your worries about funding.
Talk later,
-Kendra
So you've found a program, you've applied and been accepted, and now you need a way to pay for it. Funding can be difficult, and study abroad programs can be pricey, but that's why I'm here: to tell you all about scholarships and applying for them!
There are PLENTY of scholarships to apply for. Your home university will have some, your program provider might have some, and there are third-party scholarships as well. Talking to your study abroad advisor about scholarships and funding is a big help, because they know exactly which ones are available and which ones you qualify for. I applied to some scholarships offered by my university and ended up being awarded 2 of them, and I was also awarded a third-party scholarship. If you typically have a scholarship for your home university, you may even have a study abroad stipend through that as well, and that would say on any documentation you got when awarded the scholarship, or you could always ask a financial aid advisor if you're not sure. The biggest help for my funding was the Gilman Scholarship, which is a grant program through the U.S Department of State, and it's available to U.S. Citizen undergrads who receive federal Pell Grant funding. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you must have already been accepted or be in the process of applying to a study abroad or internship program in a single country that lasts at least 3 weeks for a 4 year uni, or 2 weeks for a community college. I believe they award scholarships up to $5000 depending on need, program length, and other factors. Their goal is to help students who might otherwise be unable to study abroad due to financial constraints. The Gilman Scholarship also requires a follow-up project within 6 months of returning to your home institution, to help share your experience, encourage other students to have their own international experience, and encourage them to apply for the Gilman Scholarship themselves. The Gilman Scholarship is the main reason I was able to afford participating in my study abroad program, so I highly recommend everyone check it out and apply if you're eligible, and I'll share the link here: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/.
As you can see, there are many options for funding your study abroad program, but you should also be sure to start applying to them early. Many of the applications have early deadlines in order to get the funding out as for the programs as quickly as possible. The applications also require a lot of supporting documents, such as information from your home-institution, transcripts, program information, travel information, and more, so you really need to give yourself enough time to apply for each scholarship. While it may seem like a lot of work, it's definitely worth it because it can really help with funding and make-or-break whether you're able to pay for your program or not. To wrap this up, I'll just leave a short list as a summary:
-Find out about all possible scholarships, ask your advisor and search online.
-Apply to all scholarships you're eligible for.
-Apply early and give yourself time to collect documents and information.
-Check out the Gilman Scholarship!
Hopefully this helps ease some of your worries about funding.
Talk later,
-Kendra
Applying to your Program
Greetings!
Now that you've found your program, you'll need to apply to it. Depending on the program, applying can take a bit of time and you'll probably need to obtain some documents so I'd suggest starting the application process early, especially because you'll also want time to figure out funding and apply for scholarships. The initial application I filled out wasn't too bad, but in order to completely finish the application I had to submit proof of my passport, send in my transcript, and have a form filled out by the study abroad office. Also, after being accepted there was a bunch more papers and forms to fill out, so it's a constant process and almost feels like you've taken on a whole new class. Don't get discouraged though, because it'll really be worth it. I'll leave this with a few tips:
-keep track of deadlines! You'll need your paperwork turned in by specific days.
-make sure you've filled out all of the forms completely.
-don't be afraid to ask if you have questions! You can email someone from the program you're applying to, or you may be able to just ask a study abroad advisor and they can most likely help as well.
Until later,
-Kendra
Now that you've found your program, you'll need to apply to it. Depending on the program, applying can take a bit of time and you'll probably need to obtain some documents so I'd suggest starting the application process early, especially because you'll also want time to figure out funding and apply for scholarships. The initial application I filled out wasn't too bad, but in order to completely finish the application I had to submit proof of my passport, send in my transcript, and have a form filled out by the study abroad office. Also, after being accepted there was a bunch more papers and forms to fill out, so it's a constant process and almost feels like you've taken on a whole new class. Don't get discouraged though, because it'll really be worth it. I'll leave this with a few tips:
-keep track of deadlines! You'll need your paperwork turned in by specific days.
-make sure you've filled out all of the forms completely.
-don't be afraid to ask if you have questions! You can email someone from the program you're applying to, or you may be able to just ask a study abroad advisor and they can most likely help as well.
Until later,
-Kendra
Finding a Program
Hello again!
It's been a bit, but I've been very busy finishing up the semester at my home institution, along with applying for scholarships to fund my program and collecting all the required documents to complete my study abroad application. This post is going to focus on finding a study abroad program that you're interested in and that fits your needs, because it can be a bit daunting if you've never had to do it before.
To begin, I'll talk about finding a program that interests you. I knew when I started my search for a program that I wanted something that was either math or physics related, and that turned out to be a lot more difficult that anticipated. STEM fields don't seem to have a lot of options for studying abroad, but I don't want anyone to be discouraged just because it might take a bit more work to find a relevant program. I'd suggest starting the search for a program early on if possible, because not only is there the possibility that it will take a while to find one that suits you, but then you have to apply to it, collect documents, and have the time to apply for scholarships if needed.
I started my search by going to my university's education abroad web page, but you could also go directly to the education abroad office and speak with an advisor. My university's web page had A LOT of information; there were programs organized by term (short-term, fall, summer, spring), by major, and by program sponsor. My university also has exchange programs with institutional partners, so those program often have a lower price to participate than a non-partner program. But, remember how I said STEM fields don't have a wide range of programs? That's the main issue I ran in to. None of the partner programs had a math or physics offering, so I decided to look at the non-partner institutions, and after looking at what seemed like a hundred of those websites I finally came across a single program that had exactly what I was looking for: a choice of a physics or mathematics track at the University of Glasgow offered through International Studies Abroad. It was absolutely perfect. They were offering classes that I needed for my major to be on track with graduation, and it was in a place I was excited to travel to.
I wanted to share my personal experience so that others could have insight in to what it takes to find a program that's right for you. It honestly took me awhile to find one that was perfect, but I knew I wanted to travel abroad and I was determined to find something that worked for me. Don't be discouraged if it takes a bit to find something that interests you and fits with what you need, because it'll be worth it in the end. I'll leave this post with a few tips to help you find a program:
-Write down or have an idea in your mind of what you want to accomplish by studying abroad. Do you want to take classes relevant to your major, or do you want to branch out to something new? Do you want to practice a new language, or do you want someplace that you'll be able to easily speak your native language? There's a lot of choices that go in to finding a program.
-Figure out where you'd be comfortable (or at least okay with) traveling to. Are you fine with going alone, or would you rather do a program where others at your home institution will be there?
-Explore your university's education abroad website and look at the programs they have available, or talk to an advisor if you need help getting started because they're there to assist and guide you.
-Take your time and be open to new experiences!
That's what I have for now, but be on the lookout for my next post about applying to your program.
Cheers!
-Kendra
It's been a bit, but I've been very busy finishing up the semester at my home institution, along with applying for scholarships to fund my program and collecting all the required documents to complete my study abroad application. This post is going to focus on finding a study abroad program that you're interested in and that fits your needs, because it can be a bit daunting if you've never had to do it before.
To begin, I'll talk about finding a program that interests you. I knew when I started my search for a program that I wanted something that was either math or physics related, and that turned out to be a lot more difficult that anticipated. STEM fields don't seem to have a lot of options for studying abroad, but I don't want anyone to be discouraged just because it might take a bit more work to find a relevant program. I'd suggest starting the search for a program early on if possible, because not only is there the possibility that it will take a while to find one that suits you, but then you have to apply to it, collect documents, and have the time to apply for scholarships if needed.
I started my search by going to my university's education abroad web page, but you could also go directly to the education abroad office and speak with an advisor. My university's web page had A LOT of information; there were programs organized by term (short-term, fall, summer, spring), by major, and by program sponsor. My university also has exchange programs with institutional partners, so those program often have a lower price to participate than a non-partner program. But, remember how I said STEM fields don't have a wide range of programs? That's the main issue I ran in to. None of the partner programs had a math or physics offering, so I decided to look at the non-partner institutions, and after looking at what seemed like a hundred of those websites I finally came across a single program that had exactly what I was looking for: a choice of a physics or mathematics track at the University of Glasgow offered through International Studies Abroad. It was absolutely perfect. They were offering classes that I needed for my major to be on track with graduation, and it was in a place I was excited to travel to.
I wanted to share my personal experience so that others could have insight in to what it takes to find a program that's right for you. It honestly took me awhile to find one that was perfect, but I knew I wanted to travel abroad and I was determined to find something that worked for me. Don't be discouraged if it takes a bit to find something that interests you and fits with what you need, because it'll be worth it in the end. I'll leave this post with a few tips to help you find a program:
-Write down or have an idea in your mind of what you want to accomplish by studying abroad. Do you want to take classes relevant to your major, or do you want to branch out to something new? Do you want to practice a new language, or do you want someplace that you'll be able to easily speak your native language? There's a lot of choices that go in to finding a program.
-Figure out where you'd be comfortable (or at least okay with) traveling to. Are you fine with going alone, or would you rather do a program where others at your home institution will be there?
-Explore your university's education abroad website and look at the programs they have available, or talk to an advisor if you need help getting started because they're there to assist and guide you.
-Take your time and be open to new experiences!
That's what I have for now, but be on the lookout for my next post about applying to your program.
Cheers!
-Kendra
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