2022 has brought a lot of things into my life that I never expected. This year so far has brought new experiences and people in my life that I know will affect me for a long time. This semester, I committed to a big decision that I hope turns out good in the end.
With the help of an amazing friend, I started the process of applying to Seoul National University. There are many reasons why I want to attend SNU; it is one of the most prestigious schools in the country (ivy league level), and is located in the biggest city of the country. Seoul is THE place you need to visit when traveling to South Korea since it has everything you can experience of Korean culture in one place. The food, attractions, shopping, and people you can see there is unlike other places in the world.
To be honest, I’m very nervous about studying abroad. For one, I’ll be learning a new language in a place where I only understand a few words. The language barrier will perhaps be one of the biggest challenges. Also, I’m usually anxious about traveling to cities in the U.S. I am unfamiliar with, imagine how I feel going across the ocean to a whole other continent! Homesickness will definitely hit me hard since I know I will be uncomfortable for the first few weeks.
As much as I feel anxious about going to South Korea, I am equally excited. The anticipation of waiting for the acceptance letter from the university is almost too much to handle! Studying abroad in South Korea will open me to new experiences, opportunities, and skills that I can bring back to the U.S. and use for my future career. I mainly hope that what I learn as a study abroad student will help me assist the international/exchange students that attend UNK. If studying abroad can help me better understand their struggles, then I will do anything to make it possible.
Applying to an exchange program was harder than I imagined. There are a lot of forms and policies to take into consideration when applying. I am glad that I had the guidance of my friend and the study abroad office to show me where to find certain information on applying. I had to prepare a lot of things for this process, including getting a passport, writing essays, paying fees, and researching program information. I’m not even completely done! I’m still waiting on the other school to accept me into their program. Once that is done, then I can move on to getting a student visa, choosing classes, and packing up!
Studying abroad is not a cheap thing to do. Luckily, the program is cheap thanks to scholarships. I applied to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, which helps to pay for the fees involved in applying to an international study abroad program. I have a lot of hope to get this scholarship since it will relieve a lot of the stress I have about paying for the program. Even if I don’t get the scholarship, I am determined to attend SNU and make many memories!
What I am looking forward to the most about studying abroad in South Korea is seeing my friends. I made many friends from Korea while they studied at UNK for a semester or two as exchange students. I miss them and want to talk about what has gone on in our lives! It would be incredible if the could show me around their favorite parts to make the trip even more unique and memorable.
Fingers crossed I can attend Seoul National University in August with a scholarship! I’ll make sure to update this blog on my experiences there!
Location: USA (for now)
~Evelin
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