Applying for a semester abroad

[Pagey]

Hey,
I considered posting this in Second Opinion but I figured it'd be better here since way more people know me. I'm looking for advice: I'm currently studying (first year undergrad) in London, which was already a move abroad for me since I'm from Paris originally. I've recently become interested in applying for a semester abroad during my second year, my first choice being in California, second in Pennsylvania and third in Sydney. The thing is, I'm really unsure as to whether or not this would be the right decision for me. I love the idea of being able to visit new places and the experience just sounds incredible, but the thing is I did have a tough time moving in in London already so I'm afraid it might be really difficult for me to move again. When I decided to come to London in the first place I thought it would be an opportunity for me to start my life over, which I really needed because I had a really tough year last year, but in the end I realized I can't exactly forget the past and it hasn't been an easy transition, in fact I've had a lot of trouble settling in here because of well depression and drug problems mostly. So yeah - based on all that do you think it would be a good idea for me to make a new start again? Especially since it might be at a bit of an awkward time since by then I'd have become close to some people here in London and then I'd just leave for a few months - and make friends there which I'd probably never see again since all of these places are quite far. That's another thing - London is just a few hours away by train from Paris so I know that if there was a problem I could go home, whereas all these other universities aren't exactly as close (the only thing is that I've got family in Seattle so that wouldn't be too far from California).
However, the only 'nearby' university I could apply for a term abroad in is in Berlin, which doesn't interest me.
So yeah...these really are incredible opportunities so if you were me dyou think you would go for it?
Thanks.

 

[InvisibleEye]

Hell yeah! Go for it! These opportunities might never come around again. Seriously, given that opportunity, I would jump on the first plane available. You mention having had bouts of depression and drug-related problems, but a change a setting might be the best way to overcome those problems. Having family in Seattle is a good backup if you choose California, just in case things don't go as well as expected.
Best of luck to you!

 

[bagochina]

california all the way!

 

[opium]

this is an amazing opportunity that not everybody would get the chance to do. It would be a great experience in my opinion..if i was as smart as you seem, id deffinetely set my sights on that. Its a way to see a different part of the world, and get some perspective. Go for it!

if i were you, i wouldnt do PA...its boring man i live there.. depending on where your at, youd either be near a lot of farmland or a gang ridden city. in most places

Cali would be my choice, its a subculture all its own. Very exciting, and talking about fresh starts, that would be the place for you. California is the city of angels, where every nobody goes to become a somebody. Pretty interesting.

id think about it long and hard, thats a huge decision to make for a girl your age. Good luck

 

[tackyspiral]

I think its a good idea to get the experience but if you arent comfortable doing it quite yet maybe give it a little more time until you feel ready. I know what its like to struggle with some of those issues and let me say that I have spent time in a couple locations that were unfamiliar to me and i didnt really know anyone and yes at times it was difficult but in the end when i look back my memories are mainly positive and I am glad I didn't just stay in one spot instead I was able to grow as a person and live somewhere new meet different people its a great opportunity
PS right now I go to school in Miami and there is a girl in two of my classes who is doing a study abroad and she also normally goes to school in London and she seems to really be enjoying it

 

[michael]

if i were you, i wouldnt do PA...its boring man i live there.. depending on where your at, youd either be near a lot of farmland or a gang ridden city. in most places

Cali would be my choice, its a subculture all its own. Very exciting, and talking about fresh starts, that would be the place for you. California is the city of angels, where every nobody goes to become a somebody. Pretty interesting.

dude california is exactly the same.

Pagey, go for it - one of my collegiate regrets is not trying a semester abroad.

 

[tackyspiral]

Where in cali where you thinking Pagey
San Francisco is pretty cool as is San Diego
I don't personally like LA
I don't recommend PA either
I got to visit Sydney and i fucking loved it so cool

 

[hthr007]

My vote is California

 

[shimazu]

dude california is exactly the same.

Pagey, go for it - one of my collegiate regrets is not trying a semester abroad.

yeah I was thinking the same thing. In fact, theres not nearly as much gang bullshit in PA

 

[kaywholed]

Travelling, especially for education, is one of the best things to do to learn about the world, people and yourself. I would take as many chances to as I could.

However, PA is a shithole, fuck that. NYC, or Vancouver, or Montreal... If you want to freeze and see cowboys Calgary. If you want to sweat and see cowboys Texas.

 

[shimazu]

yeah NYC is such a shining star of cleanliness compared to Philly, have you guys even been to these cities?

 

[Pagey]

Thanks a lot for all the answers, this has been really helpful! I've decided to definitely go for it. I think if I looked back on this in a few years' time and hadn't applied I'd really regret it.

Hell yeah! Go for it! These opportunities might never come around again. Seriously, given that opportunity, I would jump on the first plane available. You mention having had bouts of depression and drug-related problems, but a change a setting might be the best way to overcome those problems. Having family in Seattle is a good backup if you choose California, just in case things don't go as well as expected.
Best of luck to you!

The thing is, that's what I figured when I moved to London and it didn't really help with any of my problems (quite the contrary) but you're right, I think I should do this. I might never have an opportunity like this again so it'd be a shame to miss out on it. Obviously I'm not in yet but I may as well try!

california all the way!

this is an amazing opportunity that not everybody would get the chance to do. It would be a great experience in my opinion..if i was as smart as you seem, id deffinetely set my sights on that. Its a way to see a different part of the world, and get some perspective. Go for it!

if i were you, i wouldnt do PA...its boring man i live there.. depending on where your at, youd either be near a lot of farmland or a gang ridden city. in most places

Cali would be my choice, its a subculture all its own. Very exciting, and talking about fresh starts, that would be the place for you. California is the city of angels, where every nobody goes to become a somebody. Pretty interesting.

id think about it long and hard, thats a huge decision to make for a girl your age. Good luck

Haha thanks for the insight on PA. Thing is it's for UPenn which would look pretty incredible on my CV if I did get in - if it weren't for that uni then no I probably wouldn't be applying anywhere in PA. I've never been anywhere on the east coast aside from NYC so no idea what it's like really.

I think its a good idea to get the experience but if you arent comfortable doing it quite yet maybe give it a little more time until you feel ready. I know what its like to struggle with some of those issues and let me say that I have spent time in a couple locations that were unfamiliar to me and i didnt really know anyone and yes at times it was difficult but in the end when i look back my memories are mainly positive and I am glad I didn't just stay in one spot instead I was able to grow as a person and live somewhere new meet different people its a great opportunity
PS right now I go to school in Miami and there is a girl in two of my classes who is doing a study abroad and she also normally goes to school in London and she seems to really be enjoying it

Yeah, growing as a person is definitely one of the things that motivates me. Just being able to see more of the world and be able to say that I took all the opportunities I could, you know? I'm just afraid if I don't do it now I'll never really be able to...

dude california is exactly the same.

Pagey, go for it - one of my collegiate regrets is not trying a semester abroad.

Where in cali where you thinking Pagey
San Francisco is pretty cool as is San Diego
I don't personally like LA
I don't recommend PA either
I got to visit Sydney and i fucking loved it so cool

Well it would be for the University of California and I'd be applying for the campuses at Berkeley, LA and Santa Barbara. I'd like Berkeley best but unfortunately I don't get to choose between those 3 campuses apparently, they'll allocate one to me if I get in. I wanted San Francisco but apparently that's just a medical campus (which is pretty much opposite of what I'm doing).
Glad to hear that about Sydney though, dyou think I might be able to PM you to ask more about that? Cuz it'd be pretty awesome to go somewhere so 'exotic' but then again it's just so far away from everything that I feel if I don't like it I'm a bit screwed, haha.

My vote is California

Travelling, especially for education, is one of the best things to do to learn about the world, people and yourself. I would take as many chances to as I could.

However, PA is a shithole, fuck that. NYC, or Vancouver, or Montreal... If you want to freeze and see cowboys Calgary. If you want to sweat and see cowboys Texas.

That's what I figured and wow didn't realize PA was so unpopular nor California so loved haha. Anyway this all reinforced my opinion that I shouldn't let such a chance go by and I should really make the most of it because the opportunity might not come up again. Definitely going to apply for this, there's only 2 spots at both UC and UPenn though so fingers crossed! Thanks again

 

[hthr007]

Haha thanks for the insight on PA. Thing is it's for UPenn which would look pretty incredible on my CV if I did get in - if it weren't for that uni then no I probably wouldn't be applying anywhere in PA. I've never been anywhere on the east coast aside from NYC so no idea what it's like really.

IME (21 years born and raised) the northern east coast has not much to offer. UPenn is a great school and the only thing the northern east coast does have is some really good schools in PA, NY, and then Ivy League of course.
Other than that I find it devoid of much culture (besides city living in NYC) and abundant in farm life. Cold and (potentially) snow from about October-mid April where I'm from is no bueno. Just my biased opinion from my experience from living on the northern east coast.

 

[Pagey]

^Fair enough. I know it's a bit vain of me but the fact that UPenn is Ivy League does make it that much more appealing to me. Thing is I'm studying English Lit which isn't exactly the field with the most career options afterwards so the university/universities I go to will probably have even more of an impact on my future career. I'll take all this into account though, pretty sure I'll put California down as my first choice. I really appreciate the input.

 

[hthr007]

Keep us updated Pagey and best of luck!

xx

 

[opium]

i have been to nyc, and ive been to cali.
i wasnt saying they were bad, theres just a lot more positives than negatives in the other two options instead of pa.

Pa has negatives too, and IMO outweigh the positives.

Her choice though.

 

[michael]

well, i live in philly and can tell you a bit about the neighborhood that U of P is in. there are a couple of other schools in the area, so it's packed with kids around your age. older houses with 5-6 bedrooms that are shared. some of them have been carved up into apartments. of course there are dorms, too, but i don't have a lot of experience with them and the experience i do have with them is about 20 years out of date. it is an easy trolley ride or cab fare into center city where there's plenty of night life. plenty of world-class museums too. there's also lots of things going on around the schools in those neighborhoods, you'll find cheap shows there all the time.

the area immediately around and close by the school is a little run down but fairly safe, although as is the case with many cities you don't have to go all that far to find the shitholes.

 

[tackyspiral]

Oh i just thought of something that may or may not be a big deal to you...
The drinking age in the US is 21 .... I don't know your history but I know it can be frustrating to not be able to go out to 90% of places...
even if you don't wanna drink it can suck to not be able to go to some shows and everything.....
In this sense Sydney could be a good spot
and in the US you don't want to have to risk getting in trouble with a fake id or anything

 

[Pagey]

well, i live in philly and can tell you a bit about the neighborhood that U of P is in. there are a couple of other schools in the area, so it's packed with kids around your age. older houses with 5-6 bedrooms that are shared. some of them have been carved up into apartments. of course there are dorms, too, but i don't have a lot of experience with them and the experience i do have with them is about 20 years out of date. it is an easy trolley ride or cab fare into center city where there's plenty of night life. plenty of world-class museums too. there's also lots of things going on around the schools in those neighborhoods, you'll find cheap shows there all the time.

the area immediately around and close by the school is a little run down but fairly safe, although as is the case with many cities you don't have to go all that far to find the shitholes.

Great, thanks so much! Sounds pretty cool. I like the idea of having the ultimate campus experience, can't really get that in London

Oh i just thought of something that may or may not be a big deal to you...
The drinking age in the US is 21 .... I don't know your history but I know it can be frustrating to not be able to go out to 90% of places...
even if you don't wanna drink it can suck to not be able to go to some shows and everything.....
In this sense Sydney could be a good spot
and in the US you don't want to have to risk getting in trouble with a fake id or anything

Oooh yeah I'd forgotten about that. That really sucks actually, I go out to those kinda places a lot. Ugh...
(bet they're really strict about fake IDs and stuff too aren't they?)

 

[michael]

it depends.