by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 31, 2026 | Americas, Local Living, UCLA
By Jamie Stickelmaier (UC Los Angeles), studied abroad in Santiago, Chile There are countless reasons why people study abroad—I was motivated to become fluent in Spanish. While Spanish was my mother’s first language, it was rarely spoken at home. My childhood is full...
by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 31, 2026 | Europe, Personal Growth, UCLA
Jillian Jimenez (UC Los Angeles) studied abroad in Edinburgh Making the decision to study abroad—leaving behind friends, family, and everything familiar—can be daunting. For introverts, or anyone who recharges or feels the most relaxed during moments of solitude, the...
by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 31, 2026 | Americas, Local Living, UC Berkeley
By Katherine Rodriguez (UC Berkeley) studied abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Studying abroad has been the greatest gift I could give myself. I’ve seen world wonders with international students, solidified my passion to teach English abroad, and fully immersed myself...
by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 30, 2026 | Europe, Personal Growth, UC Irvine
By Kylee Cochram (UC Santa Barbara) studied abroad in the Netherlands With pro tips shared by study abroad advisors As I prepared for studying abroad, I was so excited for all the new friends, experiences and opportunities. This would be a total shift from the life I...
by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 30, 2026 | Australia and Oceania, Choosing a Program, UC Merced, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UCLA
Contributors: Aliyah Flamson Rubalcava (UC Santa Cruz), Elias Veran (UC Santa Barbara), Sarah Schecter (UC Los Angeles), Shaun Colegado (UC Merced), and Sophia Chang (UC San Diego), 2024 blog writing contestants UCEAP alums agree that when it comes to studying...
