I studied abroad at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and it was a huge culture shock! From the Dutch food to the public transportation to the cold weather, there was a lot to adjust to. One of the biggest changes was the university itself. Maastricht University uses problem-based learning (PBL), where students work in small groups to solve complex, real-world problems. This was a major shift from USC, where I was used to large lecture halls and scantrons. As someone who is comfortable speaking up in class and working in groups, I was eager to try out this new approach. So, is problem-based learning the future of education? Here's my take.

When asked, “What was your favorite part of college?” many  tend to say study abroad. In general, travel is a learning experience, but when mixed with studying, it offers even more enrichment opportunities. While not everyone is able to study abroad in college, I highly recommend looking into Maymester options that allow you to travel to another country for one to two weeks with your USC peers while focusing on a specific aspect of your educational journey. Studying abroad and Maymester options range across most continenst and often are linked to USC’s partner universities. Here are some of USC’s best and most popular study abroad programs.

Visiting Milan, Italy, one of the world’s biggest fashion capitals, is a notable experience, especially during Fashion Week. Similar to New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, Milan Fashion Week attracts some of the most well-known celebrities, designers, and brands. However, with Italy being home to exquisite leather goods and one of the most notable brands – Gucci – Milan Fashion Week stands out above the rest.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Here’s a secret about me— I’m a senior. And yes, I’m stressed about paying back student loans, finding a job after college and senioritis has consumed my entire being. Despite the beautiful mess that is the end of my college career, there is a multitude of experiences and lessons to be grateful for. So for my freshman, sophomores, and even juniors, here are some lessons you can pull from my college experience, and hopefully, you’ll come out on top.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

The 2019 QS, Best Student Cities Rankings, have been published, and once again, London has been ranked as the best city for study abroad students in 2019. And from first-hand experience, I know London is a great city to travel, learn, and break out of your comfort zone.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

It’s always exciting to receive your acceptance letter in the mail, but sometimes, it can be overwhelming when you find yourself with an unplanned free semester. So what are your options for the fall semester? Fortunately, USC provides plenty of options for those students.

By: Talia Walters ‘20

I want to make it clear that the “standard” study abroad options aren’t bad. The key is that your comfort zone is something that only you are able to measure, and decisions based off of that are yours alone. I just don’t think the image of a great, vast world filled with billions of people who aren’t the cookie-cutter USC student is well-presented to students traveling abroad. USC’s programs are created to file large numbers of students through a standardized and safe system of “experiencing” other cultures without any care of the overwhelming self-exploration that travel can provide. Entire parts of the world are ignored despite my own experience, and many other’s experiences, traveling there, being entirely safe, and realizing so much about myself and the world around me. Choosing a place outside your comfort zone to study abroad can open up a whole new world of discovery during your semester away, and I think that’s the point of even studying abroad in the first place. So go somewhere you never even dreamed of before, and learn something about yourself you never expected. In order to help with measuring your own “sliding scale” comfort zone, I’ve put together a list of unique and different study abroad programs that aren’t as advertised by USC. For a lot of people, the gate that keeps them from going somewhere out of their comfort zone is the language requirements. I think they make sense, and they’re there for a reason, but that doesn’t make them any less frustrating. First, if you have the time, I would recommend just taking the two semesters of any language that are usually required to go somewhere like Russia, Japan, or Morocco. Otherwise, if you don’t have time to study a new language, this list is English-language study abroad programs organized by the most “comfortable” to the least “comfortable.”

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

In my opinion, study abroad opportunities are one of the best parts of going to USC. I’m currently studying abroad in Madrid, Spain and absolutely LOVING it! If you’re considering study abroad, it can be daunting to decide where to go. There are so many amazing places to choose from…how can you be sure you pick the right place for you? Read on to find out!

By: Adriana Bernal Martinez ‘20

I remember the day I got this little red and yellow box in the mail. It was in late March of my Senior year of high school. I was coming back home from Debate practice at around 6 and at the sight of two little boxes just chillin’ on my doorstep, my breath caught in my throat. I wasn’t really sure what they were about whatsoever, but they seemed rather important and they had the colors of the school I had just committed to on them, so. I was anxious and excited and maybe a little teensy bitsy sweaty but upon opening them, I learned one thing and one thing only: I was going to China.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

My friends keep asking me if it’s weird to return to USC after two semesters and a summer program abroad and the answer is a resounding “Yes!” A lot of other folks who were abroad have had similar experiences of reverse culture shock. I saw a line down the bookstore steps and decided to order my textbooks online only to discover later that my peers were in fact waiting for $6 cupcakes to be dispensed from an ATM.

By: Carolina Canseco ‘16

If someone told me I would spend my spring break with 18 strangers in a foreign country and love every second of it, I would have been skeptical. But now that spring break is over, I can’t believe how lucky I was to go on this amazing trip. Hours of volunteer work, late nights playing Mafia, and tours of the city left me more exhausted than any midterm season ever could. However, every long day made the trip an unforgettable experience.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

In my experience, the most difficult times abroad, whether for the culture shock or the homesickness, are during holidays back home. If you would like anecdotal proof, last Thanksgiving I was probably going on hour ten or so working in front of my laptop and a fan on my ISP in Nicaragua when I FaceTimed by family during Thanksgiving dinner. Eating a bag of peanuts and raisins from the pulpería while everyone I missed dearly passed the phone around mid-feast, including my new “brother” Kevin (who’s from Nicaragua studying in my home town), was a less than festive experience.