Studying Abroad Personal Statement

As a transfer student from a community college my time at my new institution is limited, and as a STEM major, there is a need to accrue as much time in a lab as possible to increase the prospects of admittance into a graduate program. With so much to do in the allotted time the idea of studying abroad simply did not cross my mind, however, it was not until several failed attempts at receiving into a summer internship that I began to turn my attention elsewhere. Despite my initial plans not coming to fruition, I decided that the best way to make the most of the upcoming summer would be to take additional classes over the summer. I had accepted the fact that I would be taking classes over the summer, but if I was going to do so I at least wanted to make the most of the situation and take classes somewhere else. Eventually, after exploring the various programs available through the UC system I came across the study abroad programs. Thankfully the UCEAP has a program that offers the possibility to attend the Yonsei International Summer School (YISS), hosted by Yonsei University. …show more content…
For me it was not just that Korea is a new place, over the years I have developed an interest in the country after consuming hours of media; I had essentially fallen for the Korean wave and consequently had a longing to visit the country. The study abroad program for me serves as an opportunity to immerse myself in Korean culture in a completely different level, in a way that naturally would not be possible through just watching videos. In addition to completing, courses towards my major I would also like to take an introductory course in the Korean language. Figure that what better way to reinforce what is being taught in the class than by practicing with native speakers and obtaining feedback from