Why did you choose this program?
I chose this specific program because USAC had amazing opportunities to be able to fund your study abroad experience and hosted many informative virtual meetings where they assisted in answering any questions and concerns, we may have. Everything on their website seemed clear and concise. Also, because I was planning on doing my study abroad in Asia, more specifically, South Korea, USAC was familiar with the process therefore, I felt confident that I would be in good hands.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
USAC assisted me with my portal and uploading all the required documents that were needed from me every step of the way. I had no issue communicating with them on any issues and concerns that I came across. They always provided useful updates and resolutions to my questions.
I never really felt like I had to organize anything on my own. When it came to budgeting, creating my portfolio work, the host university application process, uploading documents, and many other, USAC and my home university's study abroad advisor did a wonderful job assisting me in all those aspects. I was never alone in this journey. Even when I was abroad, my advisor and USAC kept in touch with me on any updates and resources.
I was very grateful to have had so much assistance throughout this process as it was super overwhelming and long but, all of the work that I put in on my end really paid off in the end which is why I believe all of this was possible.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
One piece of advice that I will give to someone who is interested going in this program is to do your research thoroughly to ensure that you are 100% committed. Once it is decided, make sure to stay on top of all the deadlines and resources that are presented leading up to your departure. It is important to not miss anything as they could change the trajectory of your experience.
Going abroad will not only come with many new wonderful experiences that may alter your perspective but will also come with its own challenges. You will be in a new environment and surrounded by new people in a completely different society and culture than what you are used to. Therefore, you must be open minded and able to adapt easily. And of course, enjoy every single moment of it. Don't stay cooped up indoors. Go out and explore, whether that is by yourself, your roommates, friends from the program, or peers from your class. Do it all.
Going abroad will not only come with many new wonderful experiences that may alter your perspective but will also come with its own challenges. You will be in a new environment and surrounded by new people in a completely different society and culture than what you are used to. Therefore, you must be open minded and able to adapt easily. And of course, enjoy every single moment of it. Don't stay cooped up indoors. Go out and explore, whether that is by yourself, your roommates, friends from the program, or peers from your class. Do it all.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Many of the language courses offered are very immersive and require a bit of outside class time to go over its contents in order to prepare for the exams. One thing to note is that no homework is given out after each class session. Essentially speaking, it is entirely up to you on how to decide to study for all the class's contents leading up to the exam. This threw me off guard in the beginning as I was not used to this since I come from an American education system but eventually, I got the hang of it.
Some design classes will require work in the classroom and outside. Especially foe the bigger projects such as the midterm and final exam. These weigh much more than the smaller projects we create. They also provide a lot of in class workshops where we can ask for feedback on our progress by our professors and peers. The professors provide insightful feedback that is tailored specifically to each student on their work which helps to set us up in the right direction for our project.
Some design classes will require work in the classroom and outside. Especially foe the bigger projects such as the midterm and final exam. These weigh much more than the smaller projects we create. They also provide a lot of in class workshops where we can ask for feedback on our progress by our professors and peers. The professors provide insightful feedback that is tailored specifically to each student on their work which helps to set us up in the right direction for our project.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear going into my experience abroad was communicating in the local language. I had been studying the language on my own 2 years leading up to my departure however, being in an environment where I would need to utilize is every single day scared me. I was worried I would forget everything that I had learned the second I would come face-to-face in a situation where I would need it. But I quickly realized that my Korean was enough for me to survive and live in their society for the 4 months that I was there. Sure, I wasn't able to explain in such great details on many topics but, I was able to properly order from the menu, ask simple questions, have basic level conversations with natives, and read signs on the street and in stores, so in that sense, I felt proud of myself. I had done more than enough and that was good for me. After I had completed taking one of my Korean language courses, I felt more confident in my speaking and being able to apply what I had learned into my everyday speech.
Do you have a favorite story you'd like to share?
It is hard to pinpoint an exact favorite story of mine since I have way too many of them but, overall, what I enjoyed the most during my time abroad is all the time is when I would hang out with my roommates, friends that I made through the program, and other exchange students who were part of the global peer's program that the host university hosted. It was truly an amazing experience meeting so many different kinds of people from all over the world and hearing their own stories of their time abroad. I learned that we are all so different yet similar at the same time. I enjoyed all the times I spent with every single one of them during my time abroad. I learned so much about not only myself, but of life too. I think it's safe to say that being abroad changes your perspective and outlook on life.