John Cabot University

I am a year-long study abroad student at John Cabot University, pursuing a BA in International Affairs. There are several reasons why I chose to study abroad, apart from having the opportunity to live in Italy; I wanted to improve my academic and professional resume in order to be a more attractive candidate when applying to graduate programs and jobs.

Below are some ways that I applied my study abroad experience to personal, academic and professional growth:

1. Studying abroad demands adaptability and flexibility. While in Italy, I have had to adapt to new environments, people and customs, and have become a more flexible person who can perform under new, and sometimes confusing, circumstances.

2. With the expanding global system, it is becoming ever more difficult to remain local, or even national. Studying abroad has given me a global perspective, introducing me to different markets, currencies, business practices and expectations. I know that employers and recruiters will seek candidates who display a global outlook.

3. Being away from home for the first time has definitely encouraged my personal growth, given me increased confidence and independence and better prepared me for the world outside college as I have had to depend on myself for balancing finances, school work, and free time.

4. There is definitely a great difference between a candidate for a job who has never left home, and one who has lived in a different country. I believe this study abroad experience has given me a great appreciation for diversity that lies in the world, as I have came across many nationalities, races, religions, languages and cultures.

5. While in Rome, I have strengthened my communications skills in understanding different languages, gestures and tones of voice. For employers, this means that I will be a great candidate in communicating with not only foreign clients, but with coworkers and the people in charge, as my communications skills have expanded beyond just speaking.

Studying abroad is a life changing experience in many ways, both big and small. While making new friends, visiting new and exciting places and trying new cuisine comes with the process, there are many ways in which you can take your experience and apply it to benefit you in the future. Personally, these have been the best times of my life and I am glad I chose to study abroad, especially for a year.

Learning a new language, immersing myself in a new culture and making new friends were only a few reasons why I wanted to study abroad. The experiences I gained while attending John Cabot University allowed me not only to become more independent and mature, but also a global citizen.

I chose to attend JCU because it is an American liberal arts university in Rome. As a Communication of Arts and Science major, John Cabot had all my required courses. It was also very easy to apply - all I needed to do was fill out my application online and send in my transcripts. In addition, John Cabot University allowed me to save money, because it was less expensive compared to my university in the US. This was a pleasant surprise, as I used to think that studying in another country would be a lot more expensive relative to the U.S.

I made so many memories while attending John Cabot University. From the diversity of students from all over the world to my travels across Europe, it was truly the adventure of a life-time!

Ever since high school, I knew I wanted to study abroad; deciding where, well, that was the hard part.

I had taken some language classes in high school and college, but ultimately I wanted to immerse myself into a culture that was distinct and foreign from my own. John Cabot University provided me with the best guidance on how to apply and convinced me that Rome has so much to offer, yet is a safe and affordable city.

Because JCU is an accredited American university, my student loans and scholarships transferred over and in the end, it ended up being more affordable than the university I was currently attending. John Cabot University is extremely helpful in advising and helping their students in every way to make them feel comfortable studying abroad. I even convinced my friend from another university to come and study with me. Our families felt more comfortable as we traveled to various cities both inside and outside of Italy (the Rome airport is a hub for many airlines).

Sharing these experiences has created a lifelong bond between us, and I am so proud to call John Cabot my 'study abroad alma mater!'

'My time in Rome allowed me to grow as a person and develop a unique skill set of independence and self-confidence; I learned how not only to survive, but to thrive in foreign cultures.

To this day, it's the personal connections I made with new and old friends - American, Italian and international - that I remember most fondly. I realized that travel is all about bridging those cultural gaps. When we learn and live in a country that's not our own, the world begins to shrink around us and the cultural differences that we initially consider inconvenient, overwhelming and confusing melt in to a fuller comprehension of the beautiful diversity on this planet.

Almost immediately, I realized that my educational experience at John Cabot was not confined to the classroom. You're walking through it every day: from the halls of the Vatican City to the ancient Roman ruins, history is all around you. It's a chance to live in the subject youre studying rather than read it in a text book, and the great professors bring this fascinating history to life before your eyes.

Furthermore, Europe is your oyster and a semester at JCU is a perfect springboard to explore and pursue your passions beyond the ancient Roman walls. My friends and I made the most of every weekend and our voyages took us from Dublin to Prague, from the Swiss Alps all the way to Greece, where we chartered a sailboat for a week to cap off an incredible semester. It was on these weekend trips that the concept for Weekend Student Adventures, the student tour company I founded and now run, began to crystallize.

The application process was easy, and my semester affordable. I'm continuing to reap the benefits of my rich semester at John Cabot University. So sign up with your friends, and I'll catch you on the other side of the pond!'