Catherine Cobb

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Studying abroad helped me expand my professional network by allowing me to meet so many new people from other countries and also from here in the States! Academically, it was fascinating to study topics from an international perspective. For example, I took an American history class while in the UK, and it was a very cool way to get a British perspective on American issues.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

My host university put on a ton of programs and excursions for students to explore the university, Brighton, and personal interests. Some of my favorites were a introductory cooking class held in the Student Union, and the trip to watch a performance of La Traviata at the Glyndebourne Opera House! I also took advantage of the wide variety of clubs and societies on campus, as they were a great way to explore Brighton with local students who shared interests with me.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

Brighton is an amazing city to be a student in! It has a ton of cool shops to explore and cafes and restaurants to hang out in, and a beautiful beach to relax on and enjoy the scenery. Plus, it is very well connected to the rest of the country, making it very easy to visit neighboring towns (like Lewes!) or travel to further cities (like London, or even Edinburgh or Paris!). And the University of Sussex itself has a great mix of programs and a large population of international students, so anyone can find a class they're interested in and know that they'll have an experienced advisor to effectively help guide them through the process of studying abroad.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

For me, cheap and reliable public transportation was a very high priority. I wanted to be able to explore more than just my host city while I was abroad, so I made sure to research my transportation options, any student discounts, and what apps/passes I would need to travel. Cost of living was also important! I had to budget enough money to cover my living expenses and any recreational activities I wanted to do, like travel or joining a club.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

Every year, the University of Sussex hosts "Freshers Week", a way of introducing new students to the Uni and the host city. As an international student, it was a rapid-fire way of immersing myself into the new culture. Within the span of that week, me and my new friends learned the ins-and-outs of the public transport system (buses and trains!), explored the top sights in Brighton, and experienced British party culture (turns out students in the UK stay out a lot later than students in the US!). During the downtime between Freshers' events, tried out some of the local pubs, including my first pub trivia night, where we won the £200 cash pool and a bar of Tony's Chocolonely!