Favorite study abroad memory:

My favorite memory was the food. We received authentic home cooked meals every day for the first week of our trip and I will never forget how amazing everything was.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your future plans?

My study abroad experience helped me learn about my love for travel. I would love to see the world and be able to share my experiences to help others learn more about cultures outside of their own.

Advice for students considering study abroad:

I believe everyone should take the chance to study abroad if they are able. It is truly a "once in a lifetime" experience. UWRF offers so many different types of study abroad programs, there is something here for everyone. 

Anything else you would like to share?

If you get the chance to travel, take it.

Favorite study abroad memory: 

Forming strong bonds with all the students and faculty I studied abroad with.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your academics and/or future plans?

It significantly helped me get into graduate school as I referenced it in my resume, cover letter, personal statement, and during on-campus interviews. I daily reference experiences from my study abroad and still apply it to my everyday work, class, and life.

Advice for students considering study abroad:

Plan to study abroad as early as your freshman year. I studied abroad during my freshman and senior year, but wouldn't have been able to do so without significant pre-planning to make it possible and still graduate within four years.

Anything else you would like to share?

Don't let the cost of study abroad scare you away as it almost did to me. Look at it as a life-long investment that will never depreciate or lose value.

Favorite study abroad memory:

Playing "the dating game" with our students. It was awesome to see them all having so much fun with their classmates while also putting into practice all the English they had learned.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your academics and/or future plans?

This program gave me valuable experience in English teaching and reaffirmed for me that I am following the right career path for me. I can't wait to be an English teacher!

Advice for students considering study abroad:

Do it!! It's a great opportunity to develop professionally while also learning about the world beyond Wisconsin and the US. There are also many scholarships available to help you financially, and many of the programs at UWRF are more affordable than at other large universities. Also bring your favorite snacks with you just in case you randomly get homesick at 3am for a box of Cheez-Its!

Favorite study abroad memory:

For a few days, some friends and I stayed in a small village in France. This was the first time that we were staying in a country where we didn't speak the language at all. We stayed at an Airbnb that was a farmhouse belonging to an older couple. They spoke absolutely no English but were nice enough to not only bring us food but drive us to the landmarks in their town. They took the time to point out anything relating to America to try to make a connection with us.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your future plans?

Now that I have had the chance to study abroad, all I want to do is travel to more places! I had never left the country before this trip and now I'm hooked. I am already planning my next trip for when it is safe to do so. I am also trying to take more classes this semester regarding international relations and cultural studies to prepare myself for any opportunities that may come my way.

Favorite study abroad memory:

Being able to travel to a ton of other countries. Going to Greece and cooking an authentic meal with our Airbnb hosts as well as all the historical field trips!

How has your study abroad experience impacted your academics and/or future plans?

My plans stayed on track! I'm actually graduating early and if you are thinking about studying abroad, save some of those first or second year generals!

Advice for students considering study abroad:

It may seem scary but DO IT - it will make your college experience.

Anything else you would like to share?

Take advantage of the programs available that best fit your major. You can meet lifelong friends from studying abroad.

Favorite study abroad memory:

My favorite study abroad memory is when we got to ride on a gondola in Venice! It was peaceful and felt like we were in a movie, definitely a moment I will never forget!

Advice for students considering study abroad:

Sign up for a trip and go! If you're scared or nervous about it, go out of your comfort zone and do it, I promise you will not regret it!

Favorite study abroad memory: 

Every single moment of this trip was incredible! I'd have to say that my favorite memories from the trip were running through the streets of Pisa to catch our train back to Florence, and celebrating my 20th birthday in Venice!

Advice for students considering study abroad:

Take the risk! When I first explored the idea of taking this trip I was extremely hesitant and almost decided not to go. I'm the first of my immediate family to leave the country and wasn't sure if studying abroad was the most practical thing for me to do at that point in my life. I had never flown and didn't personally know any of my peers prior, so I was incredibly nervous! But I am so happy I followed through and took the chance. This trip changed my life! I met the most amazing people and am still close with them to this day. To students on the fence about going, my best advice would be to do your research, connect with the staff and faculty in the study abroad office, ask questions, and take tons of pictures!

Favorite study abroad memory:

My favorite memory was our chaotic adventure of getting stranded in Rome for an extra day. It may sound like the worst possible thing to happen while traveling, but it was quite the adventure to get back to Scotland. Rome was also our first trip away from Dalkeith, so there were so many more things that we did not know we needed to plan for and just getting to Italy seemed like a huge accomplishment. It was well worth all the unique complications to finally enjoy real, Italian gelato, pizza, and pasta!

Advice for students considering study abroad:

Create a priorities list of where you would like to travel outside of the place you are staying and plan accordingly. With being sent home months early from COVID, we did not get to all the places we wanted, but everything we did do was absolutely amazing. Also, take the time to be amazed by the history of everything in Europe, for example, the oak walls in the dining hall where we stayed are 300 years old which is older than the United States. Crazy!

How has your study abroad experience influenced your future career plans?

I took a Career Exploration course offered through the Experience Scotland program. Though I did not get to complete all of it while still abroad, the class solidified my ideas of what I want as a career. I plan to find a position in the Research and Development (R& D) department of a company hopefully working with dairy products, particularly ice cream, gelato, or other frozen treats. During the class, I ended up interviewing a lady who owns a gelato truck in Appleton, WI who attended Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Itlay and she gave me really good advice on the food science industry.

Favorite study abroad memory:

I went on a small river tour in North Queensferry, touring the three bridges of the fife. While on that cruise, me and a local Scot ended up grabbing a cup of tea and sitting on the table as we sailed around. We talked about life, politics, history, he taught me so much about what life is like as an everyday Scot, as well as the lessons he has learned from a longer life (he was 76). That tour was really special for me.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your academics and/or future plans?

It gave me the courage to go for what I want to do in life, even if it does not make a high amount of money. Life is a beautiful thing, some people are happy in a small studio apartment and some are happy with a large house near the cities. What is important is what makes you happy, not what people tell you should make you happy. Also taught me that I might move to Scotland, but do not tell my parents!

Favorite study abroad memory:

My favorite memory while abroad happened in the Isle of Skye while on our Highlands Trip. After a long day of driving and hiking in the pouring rain, nearly everyone on the trip gathered in the common room of the place we were staying at to play games, sing songs, and hang out together. For me, this was the defining moment of when the students and staff bonded, and ultimately became a second family for everyone.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your future plans?

My study abroad experience has impacted my future academic plans greatly because I am now looking at Masters programs over in Scotland, and the rest of the UK.

Advice for students considering study abroad:

Two words: do it! Studying abroad was the best decision I have made! I have met so many life long friends and I have created so many incredible memories. The idea of studying abroad seems kind of scary and daunting at first, but within days of starting your study abroad experience, wherever you end up going starts to feel like home.

Favorite study abroad memory:

Visiting the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, and visiting Mont Blanc (the tallest peak in Europe) in Chamonix, France/Italy. Both of these locations were some of the most beautiful and incredible things I've ever seen in my life. The Acropolis has so much history, and it was absolutely incredible to see in real life. Mont Blanc was taller and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Both of these experiences were something I didn't think I would ever be able to experience, but study abroad made this possible.

How has your study abroad experience impacted your academics and/or future plans?

Because my major is Spanish, I have almost completed my major since taking classes in Seville for the semester. My future plans as an orthodontist haven't changed, but I already had plans to incorporate my knowledge of Spanish into this career before studying abroad. Since studying abroad, however, my love and knowledge of Spanish have grown tremendously and have only confirmed my career goals.

Advice for students considering studying abroad:

If you are considering studying abroad, DO IT! Although not every experience is the paradise you may think of or see when other people study abroad, it is more than worth it! You will discover many things about yourself and grow as a person! Adapting to different cultures can be hard and take a while, but you will have a bigger cultural insight and expand your global perspectives. I would recommend studying abroad to every person who can! It has changed my life and I have countless memories of the places I have had the opportunities to travel to. If you are on the fence about whether or not you should study abroad, just think about the fact that this is most likely the only time in your life that you can travel abroad for one or two semesters for the price it costs. Take advantage of the opportunity when you have it, or you might regret it down the road!