Hear From a Peer Who Has Studied Abroad
What is it really like to study abroad? Get the flavor of international study by talking to MIT students who have done it recently. Reach out to Peer Mentors who would be happy to share their experiences and give you insights on how to prepare and what to expect while abroad.
Peer Mentors
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Cambridge-MIT Exchange (CME)
Course 6-2, Academic Year 2011-2012
The Cambridge-MIT Exchange Program taught me I didn't need to be afraid of the unknown. The school work was challenging, but nothing I couldn’t handle. The bigger challenge was integrating into the culture, but in the end I was able to do it. Now I have a truly international network of friends and know so much more about the rest of the world. Some of my closest friends studied music, medicine or geology, and I got know them really well even though I was only there for a year. That summer I got my dream internship at Google in Zurich, Switzerland, where my host, the product manager for YouTube Analytics, was an MIT Alumni. Through these experiences I realized, that I could not only survive but I could reach new heights if I went abroad.
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MIT-Madrid
Course 14, Spring 2012
I initially became interested in study abroad because I wanted to improve my Spanish skills, but studying in Madrid turned out to be so much more than just that. Living and studying abroad expanded my horizons on many levels, and I loved being able to immerse myself in a different culture, taking classes with Spanish students and living with my awesome Spanish host mom. I also enjoyed getting the opportunity to be very independent and travel to new and exciting places (like Morocco!) on the weekends. I had so much fun during my semester abroad, and I definitely learned a lot, not just about Spain but also about myself! Participating in study abroad was by far one of the best decisions I've made here at MIT.
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Cambridge-MIT Exchange (CME)
Course 10, Academic Year 2011-2012
I love to travel and knew that I wanted to apply for a study abroad program for a long time. While I love MIT and could not have imagined spending my undergraduate years anywhere else, I wanted to see the world and try something new. And I have to say, I'm so happy I did. MIT is great for collaboration and bouncing ideas off of each other, but I felt I had become dependent upon my friends to finish my work. Due to Cambridge's much more independent style, I restored my own academic confidence as both a student and a chemical engineer. In addition, the year was one of the best I've ever had. I made a lot of great friends with whom I still keep in touch and I have plans to visit for a few weeks this upcoming IAP!
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ESTP/ EPF French for Engineers (Direct Enrollment)
Course 6-7, Summer 2012
Studying abroad in Paris has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my MIT career. In 9 weeks I learned more French than I had in 4 years of high school. I made connections with engineers from all around the world. Being immersed in a different culture helped me become more independent and gain a new worldly perspective.
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MIT-Madrid
Course 12, Spring 2012
I decided last year to Study Abroad because I wanted to learn more about a different culture, become more of a global citizen, and gain experience adapting that I could never quite get in Boston. Studying and working in Spain was the first time when I was able to learn a lot, work hard, but also love my life. The Spanish lifestyle helped me to truly relax and make the most of my free and working time, which I want to do with every moment of my life. Studying in Spain also gave me the attitude of putting my happiness above my school work (which at MIT means putting happiness above stress). There are so many lessons I’ve learned about the world and myself from Study Abroad; it truly is the opportunity of a lifetime!
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Sciences Po-MIT Exchange
Course 14, Spring 2011
I think study abroad is a great opportunity to go out and see the world, to experience a different culture, to meet new people, and to get a better sense of yourself. Sciences Po was a great supplement to my education at MIT because I was able to be immersed in a school focused in the humanities and to see what that was like.
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Beijing Language and Culture University (Chinese Government Scholarship)
Course 6-3, Fall 2011
After taking two years of Chinese language and culture classes at MIT, I really wanted to experience the country firsthand and was eager to have an adventure during my college years. I had never traveled abroad without my family, and five months alone in such a different environment was both terrifying and exhilarating. I remember the first time I had an extended conversation with a taxi driver (cabbies are notorious for being difficult to understand), and I was just so proud of myself. The amount my language skills, and honestly, my life skills, improved over the course of my stay was phenomenal. The experience definitely made me into a stronger and more independent person, and I will cherish the memories I made in Beijing for the rest of my life.
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CET Beijing (Outside Provider)
Course 18
, Summer 2012
I spent the summer in Beijing to study Chinese, out of the hope that immersion would provide both motivation and a more congenial environment in which to attempt learning a new language. The daily interaction with locals--and the fact that my questions about what I was seeing could only be asked and answered if I made significant headway with the language--made a huge difference. Moreover, simply being in China for the summer provided a great deal of insight into the country. It definitely did not make me an expert on the language or the society, but seeing in person a place I'd read about in the news and studied in class opened my eyes to the biases of those environments and the aspects of China that seem almost to be taken for granted by people who know the place well. Thus, beyond the language benefits of studying in Chinese where it's spoken, the modicum of cultural understanding I gained was extremely valuable.
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Become a Peer Mentor!
If you studied abroad while at MIT and would like to help other students do the same, review the peer mentor application and drop it off to 12-189 or send it in by email. Please contact Global Education with any questions.
