Talk to me about: The year long abroad experience and managing academics, travel, and a full social life. I cannot recommend staying a year more highly, as it was the most transformative year of my life. I’m happy to talk about the nerves you might feel before such a big decision, alongside the welcoming nature of Scotland in general and the University of Edinburgh specifically. I can tell you the best places to hang out around town, the best trips I did (and the quick nature of Edinburgh Airport!), my tips for making friends, how to navigate the different educational system, and anything else you might have questions about. Edinburgh truly feels like a second home to me now and I’m always happy to talk about the best year of my life!

Advice: Take advantage of every single opportunity that comes your way. Have a little bit of a plan before you leave (for example, if you have any “must take” weekend trips or friends to see abroad), but for the most part make friends, put yourself out there, trust the process, and see what comes along. Some of my best memories came from spontaneous adventures. Another really big piece of advice is remember that this is STUDY abroad. Be prepared to do your classwork, but don’t expect to be as coddled by the professors as we are in the US. Studying in the UK is a great way to really hone your organizational and time management skills. Don’t be afraid to say “yes” to things and do your time abroad on your own terms. Don’t compare yourself to your friends or the things you see on social media; instead, get out of your head and be in the moment, because once it’s over it feels like one beautiful dream that you can’t believe actually happened.

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