Xinqian Jiang | UCB Study Abroad

"I am a first-generation college student. My family didn't have the opportunity to study abroad. And this is something I have been wanting to do. It was important and exciting for me to experience a different culture and share those experiences with my family."

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

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and see a different world. I wanted to make friends with students from a different country and get to learn the local culture by actually experiencing it. I chose UCL in London because I wanted to experience the British culture. And London is an international city that has a lot to offer.

What salient identities do you hold? How did your identity/identities impact the way you prepared for, or chose your study abroad experience?

I am a first-generation college student. My family didn't have the opportunity to study abroad. And this is something I have been wanting to do. It was important and exciting for me to experience a different culture and share those experiences with my family.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

After waking up at 8am, I prepared my own breakfast. And then I went to the seminar at 9am. After having lunch, I went to a museum with other exchange students. In the late afternoon, I had a meeting with my team of the class. Then I went to grab dinner with friends or cooked with them. In the evening at 7:30 pm, I went to a musical with friends.

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

I took managerial accounting, accounting for business, business in the digital age, and human resource management. The course structure was quite different from the one at Berkeley. Typically there are two papers/exams for each class that determine the course grade, which means that each assessment is significant with regard to the final grade. Berkeley classes usually have some small assessments regularly throughout the semester that lower the weight of midterm and final for the course grade. It is hard to say which one is better. But for exchange students, we do need to keep that in mind and try to adapt to the structure as soon as possible.

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

The most memorable aspect of my time abroad was making lots of friends who are similar to me in a different way by exploring the country and culture together.

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

The biggest challenge of my study abroad experience was getting sick. It was a difficult time because I didn't have family members abroad who could take care of me. In addition, I was not familiar with the medical system and the procedures abroad. I got to call both the school medical center as well as the hospital. They were not so helpful and it seemed impossible to schedule a recent appointment. I ended up going to the pharmacy and getting advice from the pharmacist to buy medicine. And I followed the instructions to recover gradually myself at the dorm.

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially if they share similar identities and/or are considering your country or program?

I would definitely recommend students to study abroad. I would encourage them to be open-minded and proactive to explore the new environment. London has a lot to offer and they really should make good use of every single day they spend there.