For seniors, the end of high school means change in many ways: transitioning to adulthood, independence, and, for many, college. Although attending a university is not the only post-graduation path students may take, this year, most of the school’s seniors have committed to universities across the United States, from California to New York. A few students, however, have chosen to study abroad.
Interested in fashion and design, senior Sofia Ladegui Caldwell has committed to IE University in Spain. There are many factors that contribute to a college decision, several of which depend on the prospective student’s interests. Having visited the university with her family, Caldwell expressed her immediate love for the school’s beauty.
“We all went on a little road trip to the university in Segovia, and the second I walked in, it was just so pretty,” Caldwell said. “I fell in love with its architecture immediately. It’s gorgeous, and there’s a lot of history behind it, which you wouldn’t really expect.”
For most students, the programs that a school offers are just as important as its visual appeal. Senior Catalina Holliday plans on attending Utrecht University in the Netherlands next year. She explained that the school’s academic opportunities were a major reason for her decision.
“They have a lot of research opportunities, and it’s really prestigious,” Holliday said. “It’s ranked globally, which is a draw… This program that I applied to is really interesting; it’s only about 180 students, so the groups are really small… It’s something a little bit more personal.”
One of the most appealing characteristics of international universities is their location. Far from Arlington, Virginia, Holliday hopes the Netherlands will offer her more opportunities to travel, given its proximity to other European countries.
“The pros [of going to school abroad] are more freedom and, you know, more chances to travel, see new things, and I also hope to kind of start my life there,” Holliday said. “I don’t really see myself coming back, so it’ll be cool to go out and see the world when I’m young.”
The world is vast, filled with many different cultures that Holliday hopes to see and experience while abroad. In contrast, Caldwell is more focused on connecting with her own culture while at IE University.
“So it’s kind of funny,” Caldwell said. “I’m going to Spain because I am Spanish. So it’s actually to learn more about my culture, be close to my extended family, and improve my Spanish. So I only applied to schools in Spain.”
For students with family abroad, even if they do not choose to attend an international school, time to reconnect with their culture can be extremely important. Senior Bolor Amarbayar plans to take a gap year in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after high school to reconnect with her roots.
“[I plan on] a lot of reconnection with my family, just a lot of visits and activities that I know are a part of normal life in Mongolia,” Amarbayar said. “My main plan is also to work… The main motivation behind working retail specifically is that you get to talk to a lot of people, and I want to be able to have that experience where you meet so many people from everywhere.”
The decision to travel internationally for an extended period, whether or not education is involved, is difficult. Students who choose to do this typically have ample external support. Holliday thanked her father for helping her with the college process.
“I didn’t originally think of going abroad until the summer before my senior year. Attending an American university has always been the norm, and even then my dad was telling me to go, and I was like, ‘No,’” Holliday said. “But then, I don’t know, I started taking it a bit more seriously… He’s really excited that I get to do this. Everybody in my family is excited.”
Amarbayar’s family additionally played a role in her decision to take a gap year abroad, particularly when they discovered that deferred enrollment was an option, allowing her to take a year off before attending the University of Virginia.
“My parents were very supportive of the gap year option,” Amarbayar said. “They were the ones who brought up the option to me. They said that they wanted me to get that rest and relaxation. They agreed with its benefits.”
In addition to her immediate family, Caldwell pointed to her church community and her religion in general as supportive of her decision.
“My close friends, especially my friends in church, they’ve really supported me in just being there,” Caldwell said. “The reason why I chose this college is because I can really feel that this is God’s plan for me.”
Although going abroad is fun, interesting, and often relaxing, there are also drawbacks to being in a foreign place. Holliday emphasized her worries about her distance from home.
“I don’t have any family in Europe,” Holliday said. “I don’t have any connections there. I’m not a European Union citizen. I’m just going to go, so, you know, if I get homesick it’ll be kind of hard… Also, I really only speak English. Traveling around like that will be difficult.”
Even for students like Amarbayar, who have many family members waiting for them abroad, the transition to a new place can still be challenging. Amarbayar explained how different Mongolia is from the United States.
“I will be far away,” Amarbayar said. “There will be stuff I can’t expect. I don’t know what to expect. It’s sort of like going into the unknown, right?”
Despite these doubts, most prospective international students and travelers would argue that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Caldwell encouraged any students considering attending university abroad to take the chance, arguing that if they waited for another opportunity like this, it would never come.
“I get to experience a whole other country,” Caldwell said. “Tuition is cheaper, which is a really big plus; the food is actually good, and then I get to have my own adventure. Though it is sad… Since I am far away from my family, I have space to grow and develop my own path.”
Regardless of whether they plan to attend a university abroad or take a gap year, each of these students has demonstrated initiative in their post-graduation plans. They have the ability to think beyond traditional expectations, allowing them to find their place wherever they go.
As Amarbayar said, “I’m going home.”
