Catherine Gorman's Shift in Academic Focus in Ireland

I happened to walk into a study abroad fair in the Student Union and a table for this program in Ireland caught my eye! I was able to ask questions to the professor and a student who had previously participated in the program.

I decided to apply for this experience because the program was easy to fit into my schedule, as it was only two weeks long and the literature-based curriculum would be a complete change of pace from my regular STEM coursework. Not to mention that I’ve always wanted to travel to Ireland and study abroad is an extremely cost-effective way to do that!

I felt extremely lucky to have been accepted into the program and for my scholarship opportunity. I didn’t feel nervous to travel alone or to figure out living in a different country, especially because I knew I’d be able to reach out for help if I needed anything!

The most important thing that I learned was that I’m capable of figuring out a million new things at once: directions, money, cultural norms, etc. Living abroad gave me a strong sense of confidence and I feel like now I’m able to easily handle new challenges. My biggest take-away was that nothing is as scary as you might think—you can always figure it out.

Over the course of the program, I stayed at two different colleges/universities in Ireland. I had a roommate in one and was by myself in the other. I was entirely responsible for transportation and meals. Additionally, I enjoyed lots of free time to explore the country by myself. I had to attend each event described on the itinerary, pay attention and then share my thoughts with the small group I was traveling with. There were two short assignments due after I returned to the U.S., which was nice because I didn’t feel any pressure to spend time inside on my laptop while I was abroad. The professors had a good mix of cultural tours, plays to attend to and overall I felt like I had a huge variety of experiences.

The assignments required for this program helped me improve my critical thinking. I can now notice both strengths and weaknesses in performances and literature when I am viewing and reading. I feel more confident in my ability to understand, enjoy and critique art, all while learning about things that I didn't know before.

Just do it! Studying abroad was a cost-effective and easy way to travel alone for the first time. Housing and several cultural stops are figured out for you and it's up to you to fill the gaps in your schedule with what interests you!

I have a passion for healthcare and helping other people. By going to medical school and hopefully becoming an OBGYN, I can help women of all ages take care of their health and feel comfortable with their knowledge of their own bodies.

I live with eight siblings, seven dogs, four parents and an aunt. Moving out of both of my parents’ houses and into a room with one roommate felt lonely at first, but eventually it was a really exciting experience. It made me think about who I am when I'm not playing the role of child or sibling.

Join clubs, find where and how you like to exercise, establish a routine. Don’t just let yourself float through every day. Be intentional, make conversation, be in charge of what happens to you.

I live in Syracuse, so I wanted to attend a SUNY school somewhat close to home. UB stood out to me as the best SUNY school because of the location and the chemistry program. At UB, there are so many opportunities to try new things— all the time! You’re never stuck.

I chose to study chemistry because I loved taking AP chemistry in high school and wanted to pursue that field. Many classes in the BA curriculum are necessary pre-requisite classes for medical school, which made it really appealing to me. What I like best about my chemistry classes is taking smaller sized honors classes, where I can easy talk one-on-one with the professor and feel comfortable participating in class.

I’ve grown up around rugby and knew that I wanted to play some kind of team sport once I got to college. Someone from the women’s club rugby team approached me at the club fair and from there I was hooked! I joined the team my first semester and loved it. Playing a contact sport for the first time in my life has been exhilarating. Playing with a team of kind, strong, fun girls has been a great way to make friends without even meaning to.