What Motivates Students to Study Abroad?

An international education can be exciting, it can develop who you are and prepare you for a great future. However, some still find it difficult to take this step, for  real or imaginary reasons.

 So we spoke to four students who traveled the world to study at the Catholic University of the West in France, to learn about their motivations, the challenges they face, and their work. study abroad  and continue to benefit them.

 Respondent

 María Mercedes Gómez Muñoz from Guatemala is currently in her first year of a master's degree in social sciences. She was drawn to French studies for “La culture française. I really like its history, tradition and way of life. Also, I want to improve my  French; Living and studying in France gave me this opportunity and I benefited from the experience.

 Maria

 Nitza Delgadillo, Bolivia, a student at Beaux-Arts, in her second year. France is alluring above all because of its wonderful art traditions, museums and galleries, especially the international recognition of these places.

 Nitza

 Peruvian Contreras Vargas is an MBA student; a career he describes as "excellent". When asked about his motivation for choosing France as his destination, Contreras replied quite poetically: “I was inspired by one of Latin America's greatest poets, Cesar Vallejo from Peru, who passed away in Paris. I hope to visit his grave one day.

 Contreras

 And finally, Karem Arguello from Mexico is currently a French university student, because she loves the language and the culture. She mentioned that she "also wants to do [her] master's degree at UCO."

After all, don't we need  a single reason to study abroad?

 When  choosing a country, language and culture and places to explore can be great motivating factors. And there are few places that can boast a stronger culture or a more beautiful language than France, while there are countless places to visit in such a historic country.

 With regard to UCO's choice in particular, our interlocutors have been much broader.

 "The teachers are very attentive due to the reasonable number of students per class and the university has all the necessary equipment such as Mac computers, cameras and video, and even a recording studio," cheerful Nitza happy.

 "I really like that the learning groups are small, allowing for more teacher-student interaction and in the same classmate, we can share more," says Mercedes,  Karem agrees that she She loves UCO because of "The learning methods teachers use and 

 In fact,  small classes and interaction with teachers and professors are particularly emphasized as the benefits of studying at UCO.

 Contreras says: "I like the courses and the methodology. Not many students and  teachers are very friendly but there is another thing that I like and that is the cultural exchange and the new network  that I am creating. I learn a lot from each culture.

This network of contacts and cultural exchange that Contreras mentions is certainly a benefit of studying at UCO, but can also perhaps be said of each international education journey- a testament to one if the many benefits of taking that step.

The Challenges of Studying Abroad

With something as worthwhile as studying abroad, it is inevitable that there will be some roadblocks that have to be navigated. Doing so may occasionally be frustrating, but students that do so realise how much they have to gain.

One common challenge is obtaining a visa and working through the application process, which can often be dull more than anything. However, most of our interviewees actually found the visa process very simple!

“Actually it was all very fast and versatile, very neat,” Contreras said. Mercedes expounded on that idea, “The visa process was very simple. The French Embassy in my country (Guatemala) has very clear instructions to follow, so submitting the documents are required and with the UCO registration letter  I have no problem. Just take into account the application time,  you won't have to spend a few days  waiting for your passport!

 Karem also talks about the help  Campus France has given him with his visa, which can be a very useful resource.

 Another common challenge can be  language and getting to know people. Difficulty is inevitable wherever you choose to go, but our students have provided some great advice.

 Mercedes says about meeting new people: "I think the most important thing is to go out and participate in different activities, that's what will allow you to meet not only people from the University but also in other places." Particularly from France, she believes that "people understand foreigners very well and make an effort to understand, the most important thing is to talk about it and remove your fears!"

 Nitza agrees: "Once you gain confidence and lose your fear, it becomes easy because people are so kind."

 Funding is another common problem that students face when they want to study abroad. We asked  interviewees if they worked in France  to financially contribute to their education.

 Nitza helps fund her studies by occasionally working as a nanny, a popular choice among many students, and she is also  currently interning at the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers," for the first time. contact the person in charge of human resources first by email and then  through an interview", which would look great on his resume for a future artistic career.

 Karem financed his studies in the traditional way, by saving his salary, while Contreras contracted for a bank loan As you can see, there are  different ways when it comes to funding for an international education.

 As for Mercedes, she said: "I think  maybe in a few months I will consider going to work, because as students we have a work permit, so if I find a suitable job option Also, she applied for the "Scholarship for Central Americans  by the French Ministry of Education, even though it is  "social insurance" and not 

 For  details on potential financial aid, please contact UCO for advice

  Benefits of Studying Abroad

 However, these The challenges of an international education pale in comparison to the benefits,  and no one understands the benefits of studying abroad  like those who have experienced it

 When asked if studying abroad is and will be beneficial. for their future or not, the students unanimously replied positively:

 “Definitely yes” (Nitza)

 “Yes, I think it is a good choice if you want to experience studying at the university. a different learning rate in another language, participating in another culture. You have to take into account that there are challenges as well, but that is part of the personal experience and  learning that people take” (Mercedes).

 “Of course, any new experience is rich” (Contreras).

 “It was the best decision of my life because it helped me open up more  and  learn more languages” (Karem).

 Studying abroad experience  can also make  a  person better, students believe. Karem said  she believes "if we had the chance to travel, we would have better people in our country."

 Nitza credits her studies at UCO for helping her  become “more independent and responsible. It also made me more interested in other cultures  than my own or that of America that has a big influence in Latin America.

 Mercedes elaborated on this idea in more detail, saying “Absolutely possible! And it's not a radical change either, but rather the pace  and outlook of many situations change, and so the way you think and act in the face of  certain experiences leads you to make objective decisions. more important.

And these are just the things students have come to understand about themselves. Who knows how they will see themselves in five or ten years? Or more? Studying abroad can have  a positive effect on us that we may not even realize in the first place.

 But of course, studying abroad doesn't necessarily mean radical change or  dramatic growth. Sometimes it's the simple joy of finding a delicious restaurant you've never  found  or sitting in a park looking at people you might never have met if you'd stayed where you are.

 The main campus of the Catholic University of the West is located in Angers, a city in western France on the banks of the Maine River. Every student we spoke to had their own favorite place to visit in this amazing city.

 Contreras preferred Parc Balzac; “More than a forest, where you can practice sports, have picnics and concerts. A very entertaining and pleasant place. Le California is a restaurant located in downtown Angers, whose specialty is very good burgers.

 "I'll say all squares in Angers!" The city offers a lot and there is always a "hidden corner" that can be explored around every bend. Also, it is very pleasant to walk there. The joy of being answered by Mercedes in her words.

 Nitza has a long list of places of interest, “Wallaby's has a great vibe. The Falstaff bar is for dancing. Tonton Foch for a very good burger. The Crêmet d'Anjou for its famous dessert and La Réserve for a beautiful view of Angers.”

 “I really liked Paris but Angers is perfect for a student life”, Karem summarised.

 What Advice Would You Give to Prospective International Students?

 Ever-sensible Mercedes responded thusly: “I think the most important thing to keep in mind is organization. When you arrive in a new country with all the administrative processes and also with the study program, it is normal that it takes time to adapt to a new rhythm, but you have to be very disciplined and orderly so that things turn out as you expect and you really achieve your goals and academic objectives. Enjoy the moments, challenges and lessons learned.”

 Contreras was more direct with his advice, “Look for accommodation in advance.”

 Karem agreed, “If you have the opportunity, travel as much as you can (France is perfect for living that experience) and prepare your trip with time so you do not stress.”

 Nitza’s advice was more general, but no less important, “The only thing I would change is not to be afraid of making a mistake.”

 “My advice to International students is to encourage them to do what they have to do for their dreams, like going to the other side of the planet without even knowing the language to learn new things and discover the world for themselves.”

 --

 Thank you to Mercedes, Nitza, Karem and Contreras for their time in regards to this interview.

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