by Virginia O'Connor | Apr 20, 2026 | Europe, Personal Growth, UC Irvine
By Valerie Elizabeth Cruz (UC Irvine) studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland Like many first-generation college students, I started my journey at UC Irvine with a desperate need for a concrete plan. I had no idea what my undergraduate career would manifest, and as a...
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 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 | Nov 25, 2025 | Personal Growth, UC Santa Cruz
By Brooke McKenna Taylor (UC Santa Cruz), studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain If there is one thing known about me, it is that I love the color green. I love the green found at my home university, in the redwoods, in the seaweed by the seashore, and in the rolling...
by Virginia O'Connor | Aug 25, 2025 | Europe, Personal Growth
By Alyson Lee (UC Berkeley) Every study abroad journey begins with questions. How do I apply for a visa? Where will I live? What should I pack and why must all my liquids fit in a quart-sized bag? But as I discovered during my semester in Madrid, the real...
by Virginia O'Connor | Aug 15, 2025 | Personal Growth, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Contributors: Justine Pendergraft (UC Los Angeles) and Maria Newman (UC Berkeley) 2024 blog writing contestants It turns out all that talk in the UCEAP predeparture orientations about embassies, health care, and emergency numbers—none of which sounds familiar or...
