“It gave me a whole new mindset – I felt like I could achieve anything.”

We caught up with third-year Criminology and Sociology student Rachel to hear all about her experience studying abroad. She talks about what motivated her to go, how she navigated the challenges of settling in, the confidence she gained along the way, and why she thinks every student should consider taking the opportunity.

Hi Rachel! Tell us, what made you want to study abroad?

Part of the reason I chose to study at Stirling was because it offered the Study Abroad Programme. I thought it would be really interesting to learn from a different perspective and immerse myself in another culture. The fact it was just for a few months felt like a good balance – I’d get the experience without feeling like I was missing out on what was happening at home.

Did you know where you wanted to go when you applied, or did that come later?

That came a bit later. When I first started at Stirling, I had it in my head that I wanted to go to San Diego State. But after a few months, I realised I really liked the smaller, close-knit community at Stirling. So I started looking at universities that had a similar vibe – ones with a local feel and a nearby town everyone went to.

Because of what I’m studying, most of my options were in America. I did have the choice of New Zealand or Australia too, but they felt a bit too far away. In the end, I put Washington State as my second choice – and that’s where I ended up. I was really happy with that.

How did you prepare for going away?

I knew for a while that I wanted to study abroad, but I also knew my parents wouldn’t really be able to fund the trip, so I spent the summer working to save up.

Once I got accepted, I had to sort things like my visa application – but Stirling’s Study Abroad Team was great and so friendly. They talked me through everything step by step and were always quick to reply to emails when I got confused about things.

So apart from saving money, there wasn’t much I had to do on my own. There was always someone there to help, which made the whole process way smoother than I expected.

Was there anything that helped you settle in?

I brought a lot of personal stuff, like photos of friends and family, so I could decorate my dorm room. I think I ended up with about 100 photos on the walls! I also brought some of my favourite sweets and chocolate from home for a bit of comfort.

But honestly, the biggest thing that helped was just throwing myself into things. I joined loads of clubs, and if I heard people making plans, I’d just say, “Oh, I’ll come too.” That was so different to how I’d usually be at home, but I knew I had to jump in head first and see where it took me. I figured “I’m only here for five months. If I embarrass myself, it’s not like I live here permanently.”

There was also an International Centre at Washington State, so I met a few people by hanging out there. It was nice to meet other students in a similar situation and share stories about culture shocks and settling in.

What was the biggest difference you noticed between UK university culture and American college culture?

Maybe the academic structure? At Washington State, I had five classes instead of three modules, with smaller, more regular assignments each week. The grading system also took a bit of getting used to. The percentages mean different things, so I had to adjust my expectations. But once I got into the swing of it, it helped me build a consistent study routine that’s actually stuck with me since coming back.

The other thing I would say would be the school spirit. During football season, the stadium would be packed. There was this vibrant atmosphere that made you feel – and I know this sounds cringey – but, like, part of a family.

What was your most memorable experience?

That’s a hard one! I’d say the confidence I gained in myself. A lot of that came from all the new experiences – putting myself out there to make new friends and travelling to places I’d never been. I came back feeling like a totally different person with this whole new mindset that I could achieve anything.

And the people I met – that was massive too. It was just so lovely to find that, even when you live on opposite sides of the world, you can still have so much in common with people.

What was your biggest takeaway from studying abroad?

Definitely the confidence boost, and also a renewed belief in my academic abilities. A lot of my friends talk about feeling a bit burnt out by the end of second year – just as a result of juggling a lot of things at once. I resonated with that a lot, but it was like studying abroad snapped my brain back into focus.

I think because it was such a complete change of scene, it reset everything. When I came back, I felt so much more ready to take on the new semester. It wasn’t just the same old routine, it was fresh and different, and it really helped.

What would you say to other students considering studying abroad?

First of all, nerves are totally normal. But if it’s something you want to do, don’t let anxiety get in the way of that. I think it’s always better to give something a try because if you don’t you might regret it later in life. There’s so much support available, so you’re never doing it alone. And it’s such an exciting opportunity – exploring the world is fun!

Find out more about the University of Stirling’s Study Abroad Programme on our website.