An International exchange?
Can I do an exchange to the United States when I am 28 years old, married, have a mortgage to pay and have a job?
Let’s start by rewinding ten years…
When I first came to QMU in 2006 as a fresh faced eighteen-year-old to study Sociology and Cultural Studies I was ready to take on the world. The sociological world that is. Most reading this blog will not be able to comprehend that I came from Fife to study at QMU…in Corstorphine! Before the huge, shiny, hospital like Craighall Campus was erected I studied at the old campus which was a world away from pre lecture, student discounted Lattes from Starbucks.
Fast forward to the age of twenty and I was defeated. Struggling to cope with the financial challenges of being a student and the work / life balance, I decided to take a year out after my second year. After obtaining my Diploma in Higher Education I planned to return a year later. After a few quick promotions at work I was earning well and living a more comfortable life. I asked myself; why go back and eat super noodles and drink Value Lager when I can afford to eat out and buy beer that’s not on promotion? That would be crazy…wouldn’t it?
Well no it wouldn’t be. After eight years working with the same company, a good five years picking up invaluable management experience, I decided enough is enough. If I ever want to get my degree and follow my dream to do a job helping people improve their lives, it needs to be now.
With a wedding coming up…that’s my wedding I’m talking about…a mortgage payment coming out the bank every month and a honeymoon to pay for would this be the best decision? After much deliberation and support from my now wife, I decided it was time.
After a few chats with a very helpful head of department I was back at QMU as an associate student. Studying one day a week, whilst working fulltime, I obtained a satisfactory grade to return as a direct entry to 3rd year Public Sociology. I couldn’t believe that I was going to get my degree. Super chuffed!
That brings us to September 2016.
Now a third year Public Sociology student, working as a disability employment advisor for a fantastic voluntary organisation based in Edinburgh, I am now on track to achieve my goal.
You’re now probably thinking, well that was a very nice story Greg however what about the exchange? Ah yes…this is all relevant to the decision to go on an international exchange in which I will share next…
Part 2
I love the term “Mature student”.
My wife said to me when I was accepted as a direct entry “It will be funny; you’ll be a mature student”. The reason we found this so funny is there is very little that’s mature about me. I still listen to the same pop punk bands I listened to when I was fourteen, I still refuse the notion that I’m too old to be in a nightclub during the week and still feel as young as I did when I left school. So why am I a mature student?
Well firstly I’m eight years older that most in my class, I ask more questions than I probably should and I sit in the front row just to make sure I don’t miss anything! Jokes aside though I feel like I enjoy University more than I ever have. By being able to relate a lot of what I learn to real life experiences I have had I enjoy it a lot more than I did previously.
But how will this mature student go and live somewhere abroad with so many commitments at home in Edinburgh…
The reason all this exchange talk happened in the first place was the simple. I asked myself the question all third years ask themselves, or really should ask themselves…” What I am going to write my dissertation on?”.
Luckily I had been thinking about this for a while. Being lucky enough to work in the social service sector I decided I will incorporate my work into my studies. Why ignore a wealth of experience and potential research opportunities that I am exposed too for sixteen hours a week? It was decided. I will be writing my dissertation on disability rights amongst the people of Edinburgh in relation to the job market.
But wait, why stop at Edinburgh? Could I carry out research in Glasgow, or London, or…. The United States? Surely not. The home of the disability rights movement in the 1970s. That would be too good.
Well turns out it wasn’t too good, it was possible.
But how easy would this be…
Part 3
Now that I was decided I was going to enquire about the chance of a semester abroad I thought when will I do it? After a quick read on the RILO section of the QMU website I realised I couldn’t carry out an exchange in my fourth year as we all require to study write our dissertation at our home University.
Now in September I thought the only chance I have is getting a last minute place on the semester two exchange in January. But would there be a place? How much would it be? Where would I stay? Where would I go?
Bring in Laura…
I took a quick walk up to student services to speak to someone in the RILO team. After having a chat with a friendly Gentleman, also called Greg (we awkwardly laughed), he introduced me to Laura. We sat and chatted for two minutes and Laura indicated that if I had a look at Universities, modules etc. I could take up a place on one of the outstanding spots.
Please note at this point I was trying to do everything last minute. If I had been at QMU for my second year I would have followed the correct process for applying for an exchange and would have had a lot more time to look this over.
Now I am sitting at home looking through the list of available places. Do I want to go to the States? Should I go to Sweden, Germany, Australia or New Zealand? With a great choice of excellent schools, I narrowed it down to three choices.
I could go to Amherst, Massachusetts. A bus ride from Boston, carry out my lifelong dream to see the Chicago River died green for St Patricks Day. Sounds good… Or I could go to New Britain, Connecticut. Right in the middle between New York City and Boston. Also a quick bus right from Hartford, once Americas Richest City. What about Pennsylvania? Slippery Rock University…I know it’s hilarious. With Pittsburgh an hour to the South and Cleveland an hour and a half North West I could visit a part of America I have never thought to see.
It all sounds very exciting doesn’t it.
Before I got too carried away with which city I am going to visit next I met with my PAT (Personal Academic Tutor). It is very important that I get the correct amount of credits and necessary modules to contribute towards my dissertation and in the end my degree. This was an eye opener and a great indicator to where I would end up in January.
Through process of elimination I was down to one. And as hysterical for my friends as it is, I am off to Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania.
So that’s me sorted. I have my modules picked, I know where I am going, I have spoken to my work and I know how much the flight is.
Oh but wait…how am I going to pay for it?
Part 4
Hmmm…this could be pretty expensive.
At first glance I am looking at paying for housing, a mandatory meal plan, flights there and back and I might want to leave my room when I’m there so I could do with some spending money.
I am however one of the many students that receives a student loan. I will be working from now until I leave, could I save some money up? Could I bank my holidays so I can receive some wages whilst away? As they say ‘Where there is a will there is a way”. I don’t know who ‘they’ are or if they have ever needed to shell out over two grand for housing but ‘they’ have a point. If I focus my mind to it and work out a budget for the coming months I should be able to afford it.
Keeping up regular communication with Laura from the RILO office I felt that throughout the process I was taken care of. This was extremely important having just started new Modules and a full time course of study.
It was during a recent meeting with Laura that the whole exchange became very real.
I have been lucky enough to have my housing cost covered by the University which has been a huge relief due to covering my mortgage whilst receiving unpaid time off from work.
Although the housing is now paid for I still have a lot of costs to cover.
Things got even better over a coffee one morning with Heather from the funding office, one quite Friday morning.
Part 5
Still sweating after my shower at the Uni gym, I sat in Maggie’s Bar throwing back a Bacon Roll and Coffee. Just over two pounds, I couldn’t believe it!
Heather and I had agreed to meet each other to discuss potential funding for my exchange. I had no idea what this was, how much we were talking about and what I would need to do to obtain it. We had also agreed to meet on email so I was extra stressed as I didn’t know what she looked like. Luckily at 09.30 on Friday morning the union wasn’t buzzing, I happened to be the only one there.
After pleasantries I filled in Heather where I had been up till now and why I wanted to do an exchange. Heather was very helpful and thorough when informing me of several funding opportunities, most importantly the Santander Fund. Once again I left with a beaming smile on my face. Heather had agreed to offer me funding to support my exchange. In return I agreed I would support her in the future to help students with any queries they may have with regards to an exchange.
University picked, Modules selected, finances managed and my wife has already looked at flights for her holiday whilst I’m there.
So to answer my original question….
Can I do an exchange to the United States when I am 28 years old, married, have a mortgage to pay and have a job?…
Hell yes I can.
I have spent a lot of time in this blog thus far talking about worries I had, how I would survive 3000 miles away with commitments at home and can I really manage the work load? Let’s not forget although I will study and be assessed to contribute towards my degree, I will also be in Pennsylvania!
I can watch the American Football when it is intended to be watched on a Sunday. I can indulge myself in a culture I have been fascinated since going to Seattle in 2002. I can eat American food, drink American drink and be loved by everyone just because I’m Scottish. Everybody loves a Scot. Yeah?
It’s not only about the academic experience, it’s all about the life experience and potential career opportunities post QMU.
I hope this blog has been useful to answer any worries anyone may have about looking to find out more about an exchange. The team at RILO are the experts however I thought it would be helpful to share my experience over the last month as I thought, I could never do this. Now I’m off to Pennsylvania for 16 weeks!
I will update this blog regularly from now until I return from my exchange in May 2017. I will also post more leading up to my exchange to share my experience with QMU and the students taking there valuable drinking time to read my blog!
Thanks again for reading and I’ll check in soon.
