How ya’ll doing? My name is Olivia and I’m a Sociology student at the University of Surrey who’s completing my final year! Not too long ago I completed a year-long study exchange at one of America’s biggest and most vibrant university campuses, the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida. Completing an academic year in a country that I have never been to before was a huge step in the right direction for me as not only did it help me expand my academic skills and abilities, but I left with life-long friends, greater cultural awareness, and a stronger sense of self.
One of the main highlights of studying at UCF was the abundance of free events that were put on for students such as free football games, drone shows, and masquerade balls. Those were the moments when I felt like I was living out my teenage American movie. Such experiences are what make your study exchange journey so special and it’s even more precious when you are enjoying it with the people you meet along the way. Another major highlight of studying abroad is that I got to travel around the US. I was in awe of how big and beautiful some of the US’s most iconic landmarks are such as the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Cloud Gate sculpture (The Bean) in Illinois.
While I did have such an amazing time at UCF, it did come with a lot of challenges. Studying abroad in America would have been the first time that I was away from home for a prolonged period without seeing my friends and family back home. Considering that Guildford isn’t far from my home in South London, I always had access to see familiar faces. This was not the case for me in Orlando, Florida. Furthermore, I found it hard to make friends with some of the other exchange students in my program as I felt that I couldn’t connect with them. However, I managed to overcome such challenges by expressing feelings of sadness and isolation to my friends and family via calls and putting myself out there to meet people who I eventually connected with.
The top three pieces of advice that I would give to those who are interested in doing a study exchange is that they should start saving in preparation for their chosen country. Studying abroad can be quite pricey and once you are in your host country you’d want to do as many things as possible which may add up! My second piece of advice is to do your research. I picked UCF as the best school for my sociology degree. Remember, while you are there to have fun, at the end of the day you are still a student. My Third piece of advice is to be proactive and talk to other people who had their own study exchange experience and while you are in your host country don’t be afraid to talk to others when you are feeling alone or stressed out. Studying abroad is a big thing, so it helps to vent to people to help process your emotions.
