Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: I have always wanted to study abroad but I could never figure out what courses would benefit me the most. I attended a workshop on campus and was informed of a brand new program in Spain where people can complete the entire Physics course in two months over the summer. I needed to complete Physics for my major requirement and it has always been my dream to go to Spain, which is why I chose to study abroad.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: The highlights of my experience was seeing all of the beauty that Spain has to offer and obtaining A's in both Physics courses.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: In this program, we had three different instructors, which was very difficult because their exams and lectures were different. The way many of the students overcame this was by asking the professors what the exams were based on and attending most of their office hours.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: The coursework abroad was very similar to the courses at UC Merced. We had lectures, discussions, and labs just like we do at UC Merced.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: I gained a lot of self confidence from my study abroad experience. Coming into the program I did not know how well I was going to do because of how fast paced the course is and the horror stories I always hear about Physics. Despite all of this, I studied hard and ended up obtaining an A in both the first and second part of Physics.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: Go in with a very open mind because I guarantee wherever you go the culture is going to be very different. Do some research on the history and culture before you leave. Most importantly enjoy every moment when you are out there because the time goes by so fast.
Q: Describe a typical day for you abroad.
A: Monday through Thursday I had class from 9 am to about 1:15 pm. After class, I would go and eat in the cafeteria and then go to the gym. After, I would go home and shower and then study for the rest of the night. Friday's and Saturday's I would go and explore Madrid with friends. Finally, Sunday's I would review material for the exam.
