That time of year strikes again; the seniors’ college application process begins. While most students at the school go to incredible universities in California, and throughout the U.S., many discover a longing for a future beyond the seas that surround us, a college someplace new. Applying to even one semester abroad to adventure somewhere unfamiliar is a life-changing gift.
“I wasn’t too eager to go to many of the U.S. schools I got into, so I just decided to try something new and see what happens,” Roan Wallerius (‘24), who now attends University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland, said.
Studying abroad is incredibly beneficial to students, it is a great opportunity to travel while still furthering your education.
“I’m a first year, so I’ve only been in Ireland for about a month now, but it’s been so fun going out with friends and exploring the city … also because you’re so independent here, your friends really end up becoming your family … and you’re never alone because of it,” Roan said.
Traveling is also crucial in fostering personal growth. While application processes and guidelines vary from country to country, university to university, opportunities are easily accessible through the internet. Located on their respective websites, foreign universities have endless resources available to interested students. Many schools also offer Zoom meetings and virtual tours for international students hoping to attend their study abroad programs.
There are even more accessible options for students wanting to go abroad, such as American universities in Europe, like The American University of Paris and the American University of Rome, to name a few.
Former Falconer staff writer Macy Swortwood (‘24), now attending The American University of Paris in Paris, France, explains her college application experience.
“My application process was pretty simple,” Swortwood said. “It was through Common App, just like a regular American university…[the] procedures are the same. When I was applying to other schools abroad [I] often had to wait to apply till the Spring, because certain schools don’t start until later. That process was a little more tedious because [those universities] look for more standardized test scores rather than essays and extracurriculars.”
Applying to American universities around the world is a great option for students who would like to follow the same process for schools in the U.S. Whereas, if looking to go to a university that is not affiliated with the U.S., those schools often operate quite differently. It would be advised to do research online and reach out, most likely by email, to an employee working with international students at the specific university. Staff emails are often found on the university website.
Studying abroad is a real dive into experiencing and adopting foreign cultures and customs, it, “expands analytical skills like flexibility, creativity, and complex problem solving,” according to an article on College Advisor.
“It has been the best thing I have ever done and I am constantly learning as a result of it, whether it be in the classroom, through everyday life or traveling,” Dixie Wallerius (‘22), former Falconer Editor-in-Chief who now studies at Trinity College Dublin, in Dublin, Ireland, said.
Coming in contact with people who have different points of view, whether they are old or new friends, opens your mind to new possibilities.
“You find super random and crazy connections, two of my friends I’ve met have had family grow up in San Diego,” Roan said. “It’s given me a totally new perspective on the world”
Exploring the world is so beneficial; It can unlock “a whole new skill set within myself that I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else,” Dixie said.
According to Psychology Today, the psychology behind novelty is that it, “activates the dopamine system directly. As a result, it enhances mood, positive outlook, motivation, and goal setting.”
Studying far from home can be intimidating, but gaining the confidence to be the truest, most independent version of yourself is something that can only truly happen by stepping out of your comfort zone and into something novel.
“Whether it’s something simple from going to a grocery store and not recognizing anything or being homesick in a foreign country, I’ve had to learn how to completely rely on myself and be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Dixie said.
Something within you may be calling out for a chance to adventure someplace new. Why not answer it? Explore your horizons even when it feels impossible.
“At certain times [living so far from home] can be a struggle, but it’s a huge learning experience, and I feel as though I’m truly becoming an adult here and learning things about myself [that] I wouldn’t be able to back home,” Swortwood said.
If you are struggling to decide whether to apply abroad, another huge factor of most universities outside of the U.S. are that they are significantly cheaper.
According to an article in Forbes, “The United States spends more per student on colleges and universities than virtually every other country in the developed world, according to the latest statistics released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.”
Now, the chance to study while embracing the experiences of a new place becomes an even greater opportunity.
“You get to go out and see the world, your perspective changes on so many things, and you get an experience you will treasure for a lifetime,” Swortwood said.
With a study-abroad program, students are given the chance to enhance their network, helping them make meaningful connections that could take them further in their learning and career. By performing extra research on schools across the globe, reaching out to staff members and students and overcoming any fear of moving far from home for a little while, or longer, is truly worth it.
