University of Scotland, Edinburgh, 2006-07

"Studying abroad has honestly been the highlight of my life.  People are constantly asking me, how was it over there.  The only response I feel I can give is simply amazing.  There is no way I could possibly describe my experience from the past year.

"My decision to spend my junior year abroad at the University of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, was not a choice that came easy.  I put a lot of thought into my choice and even more consequent work into making it happen.  However, all the hard work that came with planning and organizing this trip seems inconsequential to the experience I had.  I now have friends all over Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium…  I had the opportunity to travel across Europe, take a daytrip to Dublin, and simply immerse myself in another culture for an entire year.  From a learning and academic prospective, studying abroad definitely helped me mature as a student.  The university system is slightly different in Britain, emphasizing different aspects within a class, different teaching styles, more or less a completely different university experience.  Yet, through this new style of education, I feel like I have grown as a student and increased my ability to learn.  Studying at the University of Edinburgh has given me a new educational and discriminative prospective as well as highlighting my great opportunity here at St. Thomas.

"If I could, I would study abroad all over again.  I think everyone should study abroad.  Even if it is just for a J-term or summer course, get out of the country.  Its something you’ll never regret."

-Kai
UST Biology, 2008