Sam McKenzie | UCB Study Abroad

What led you to study abroad? Why did you choose your country/program?

I have always wanted to live in another country, and this opportunity with UCEAP allowed me to experience this firsthand. I chose to study abroad in Scotland because I have had family live there and tell me how great of a country it is.

What was the most interesting cultural experience you had abroad?

I found it interesting that the people who I met were all very nice and respectful. They wanted to listen to you and give you the time of day. They never seemed to be in a rush and wanted to live by the moment, which I learned to adopt as my time abroad went on.

What was the biggest challenge/concern of your study abroad experience? How did you respond?

The biggest challenge I faced was understanding the Glaswegian accent. That thing is killer, and almost impossible to understand, especially after a pint or two.

What coursework did you take while abroad? How did courses abroad compare with Berkeley classes?

I would normally wake up around 8am to go to the gym, come back to my accommodation for breakfast, go to my day of classes, walk about the city and do some errands/explore the city with friends, and later in the evening have dinner and go to the pub for a pint with a group and then the clubs for a fun night out on the town!

What was the most memorable/meaningful aspect of your time abroad?

I took three courses (the normal amount of course load for a semester). The three courses I took were Geomorphology, Philosophy, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The main difference in education in Scotland is that the professors expect you to do a lot of your learning on your own, so they give you lots of reading. There is much less busy work and more essay-based assignments (usually one mid-semester essay). the finals are usually worth 50%-80% of the final grade, depending on the class.

What impact did studying abroad have on you personally?

The most meaningful time abroad was meeting all of the locals and international students. I am happy that I was exposed to their lifestyle, and I feel like I fit in very well there, as we lived very similar lives. I now have a wide-net of contacts globally, and I am very happy that, when I return to Edinburgh, that I have friends and hopefully a place to stay!

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially to your country or program?

Studying abroad was one of the experiences in college that I will cherish for my lifetime. I will always advocate for it and push people out of their comfort zones to do something that they won't regret. I, for one, was very influenced by their way of life, and see myself living there for a small chunk of time. Studying in Scotland has also made me very interested in scotch, and I have been researching more about the different brands and tastes.