Everyone’s life is composed of a multitude of decisions, each one opening new pathways and closing the door on others. For young people today, one of the most important decisions of this nature is, to co-opt a phrase, ‘Should I stay, or should I go?’ That is, should I embark for new lands and new institutions to continue my studies, or invest myself in the system I know inside and out and where I can thus expect readier traction?
At a time when the percentage of overseas students attending UK universities is dramatically expanding, the question of whether our own students should consider going in the opposite direction – generally, towards Europe or the Americas – is one we are discussing more and more.
This term, we are delighted to confirm that two of our Year 12 students, Clara and Sera have chosen to make the bold step towards the US for the next phase of their education. Collectively, they have received offers from Columbia, Rhode Island, Michigan State and the University of Tampa. In committing to US study, they join the ranks of OHS alumnae who have studied overseas, with former students since 2011 going to Harvard (one with a highly prestigious sports scholarship), Brown, and Rochester, NY.
We caught up with Clare and Sera to hear why they chose to study in the US and what they hope to gain from taking what is still, for now, ‘the road less travelled.’
Clara
Clara is going to study towards a Liberal Arts degree at Columbia University in New York. For her, the appeal of studying in the States is the diversity of the degree programme she’s pursuing. Clara wants to write herself one day, and as such feels the need of a range of influences. The opportunity to continue studying history alongside literature, as well as taking electives in new subjects such as anthropology and political science, is really appealing, therefore. Who knows, the opportunity of living and studying in New York might also have been a factor…
Sera
Sera has also chosen to take a Liberal Arts programme, but she will be pursuing hers at Michigan State University, one of the prestigious ‘Big Ten’ universities alongside Northwestern, Penn State and Ohio State.
Like Clara, Sera was drawn to study Liberal Arts by the academic diversity of the course. But she was also motivated by the diversity and openness of American academic culture itself. From the application process through to the course literature and experience of meeting people, Sera found at every stage that the emphasis was very much on welcoming strangers and encouraging you to tell your own story.
Indeed, Sera was so inspired by this culture of openness and inclusivity that she successfully applied for one of Michigan State’s ‘You Are Welcome Here’ scholarships. This required her to detail how she would aim to bridge cultural divides at university and in the wider world. Given that Sera plans to stay in the US in order to realise her ambition of becoming a Marketing Director for a major bluechip such as Apple or Google, the prospect of US study, with its manifold appeal in terms of encouraging self-expression, welcoming diversity and promoting social change, seems ideal.
We wish both girls the greatest of success and happiness in their ongoing studies.