IS STUDYING ABROAD WORTH IT? | brutally honest review of my experience & advice

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@ronaldgorny1531 Жыл бұрын

Hi Makayla. I enjoyed your video and I'm glad you like it. I think you shared a lot of good information, especially about the ebb and flow of emotions when studying abroad. It can be like a roller coaster in many ways. You go from being excited about getting in to being ecstatic when you get there before actually coming face-to-face with the difficulties of living in a new international setting. That's especially true with students who need to master the language of the new culture. You normally have to have good language skills to be accepted but you can quickly realize that as good as your language skills are in the US, those skills can be somewhat below those of native speaking students you engage in class with. The same is true when trying to get around and make yourself understood in the new culture. That of course should not be unexpected when you compete with native speakers in class but it can be sobering and can lead to a loss of confidence with a downturn on the roller coaster. The realization that you are far from family, friends, and campus life can add to a sense of solitude or discouragement. Its not uncommon for students in this situation to start wondering why they decided to do this crazy trip abroad. Its a common emotion but also a time to stand strong because that normally makes you work harder, improves your communication skills, helps process the culture, and leads to an upswing on the coaster as your time abroad continues on. The student going abroad to study should know going into such a program needs to be aware of the possibility of emotional swings so they don't think something is wrong when they experience those mood swings. Such emotions are a common part of the experience but pushing through all this leads to a confidence boost, a greater engagement in the culture, new contacts, a broader academic experience, and a later satisfaction in doing something that was challenging and character building. Hurdles are inevitable when studying abroad and changes in perception may be incremental, but one day you wake up and just realized you belong here. I think Think studying abroad changes students as they come back with a new perspective on the US and the world, a new vision, a new confidence, a new boldness, and a new purpose. In my time at UC I have had multiple faculty members say things like, "Have you seen the new Emily?" or "Tom is a new more exciting student since studying in XXXX" or "I can't believe how Maggie's language skills have improved!" or "he's just a different person!" In fact, in my experience with hundreds of students doing study abroad, I am hard pressed o think of a former student who did not prosper from taking time to study abroad, especially a whole year abroad, but as you intimate, in your video, there is a lot to consider before making the plunge. From my perspective, however, I come to the same conclusion as you, that studying abroad id definitely worth it!!!

@MakaylaMacGregor Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love everything that you mentioned; you really nailed the feeling of emotional swings. There are some moments when I feel very unsure of how to go about being in a new place, but there are ultimately so many more moments when everything feels just so surreal and exciting that I'm already dreading the day that I'll have to leave Bristol. I'm so glad that I've had this opportunity and I'm also grateful for all of your advice you've given me! It's really helped me to embrace diving into new cultures and exploring/traveling as much as I can (I've got a whole list of places to see in the UK before I leave!). I only hope that I also will grow as a person/student by doing this experience!!

@grunt117 Жыл бұрын

Hi there Makayla, my names Roman, I’m from LA 🌴🇺🇸 and I’ll be studying abroad for almost an entire year in Japan at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. I’m super excited and I’ve been binge watching other study abroad vlogs because I’ve been so hyped for this experience because I’ve dreamt of this moment ever since I started learning Japanese 7 years ago. Your trip to Bristol is cooking up ideas in my head to do my own vlogging of Japan for myself and my friends. I’m ready to pop off this year ! 🎌🗾✈️ 🇯🇵 留学することに行くぞ！

@MakaylaMacGregor Жыл бұрын

That's so exciting!! I hope you have an amazing time studying abroad and I'm so glad that the videos have been inspiring :)

@alicial4857 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the brutal honesty. I think some of those tips and insights you have will apply to studying on campus at a university that is in another state, which I will have to do in order to graduate even though I am an online student.

@wendymacgregor9120 Жыл бұрын

🎉What an experience! So very happy you have had this experience🎉

@crawler6611 Жыл бұрын

Hi Makayla, thanks for the great video, I was wondering what your major advisers said about receiving credits abroad? I asked my department (cs) and they said that only 2 classes can count. For an entire year's programme, I think this would mean only 2 out of the 6 credits I would take would actually go towards my major, even though I'd be taking 12 classes to get those 6 credits in the first place... Do you know what happens with the other 4 credits? Also, can you do your double major at Bristol. you mentioned creative writing + astro, does that mean you're taking courses in both while at bristol? Hope you have a great semester at Bristol!

@MakaylaMacGregor Жыл бұрын

I'm not entirely sure because it really varies from major to major... for me, all of the classes I'm taking will transfer as credits (especially because I have a couple of elective credits I still need to fulfill). And yes! I was able to take an astro course last semester and there has been no shortage of literature courses that will go towards the lit reqs of creative writing :)