I've always been fascinated with the idea of moving to Australia or New Zealand after graduating university. There's just something about those accents and the way of life there. I feel that it's more my style of living than in America. I can't say in Europe because Europe IS my style of living and I love it but I just don't picture myself living and working there forever.
Recently, I've become romanced by New Zealand though, especially Queenstown on the South Island. All of the mountains, lakes, nature and photos I see that convinced me it was the place I will settle down one day. I've never been there but I just have that sure feeling. I'm actually hoping I can make a trip to New Zealand either this December or January 2015.
Fingers crossed!
But anyways, I am wondering if any wanderlusters have been there and what they think about it, even better if you live there!
Well, I'm back to dreaming about New Zealand, travel on wanderlusters!
Showing posts with label university. Show all posts
Showing posts with label university. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Monday, May 13, 2013
STUDENT LOANS
Let's face it, a majority of the world has these dreaded burdens. Whether you are getting ready to go to college, are already in college, have just graduated from college or are a working adult who has student loan debt and sees no end to these monthly horrors, this post is for you.
Usually in your third or fourth year of high-school, you begin planning the next step in life. Some of us have/had big dreams of attending a specific college and then joining a certain fraternity/sorority or other club on campus, as well as getting a dream internship sometime in the four years. Some of us decide to go to community college for 2 years and then to another state or out-of-state school for the last 2 years. Some of us decide to take off for a few years and either work or travel the world. Some of us just do not attend college and go on with our lives.
Now, the most stressful part of it all is how to pay for it. In the States, some schools are outrageously expensive (especially if they are public institutions) while others are pretty cheap for the in-state price. Still, it's a big bill that needs to be paid upfront or down the road...and for years to come. Even schools in other countries throughout the world have high tuition prices and a price of living that is associated with university life.
So, unless you are lucky enough to have a family that can afford paying it all upfront or if you manage to get a full-ride to a certain school, you are stuck in this limbo or deciding whether or not to pay with loans or not pursue higher education. Students who are beyond their years (in terms of intelligence) are not being given the opportunity to study and prosper in their prospective fields of study because they simply cannot pay for the high tuition and living prices that are a part of the whole package.
Let me tell you my story:
As you may have read in the first few posts or if you watched the Traveling with Wanderlust video, you know that my decision to study in Prague was extremely spontaneously and, financially/academically, the best decision I could have ever made.
For the better half of high-school and my senior year for that matter, I was set on going to either New York University (NYU), some random college in California, the University of Colorado: Boulder (my first choice and I even applied early) or the University of Washington: Seattle. If you know about colleges in the U.S., then you know that these are NOT cheap schools. In terms of dollars, the yearly cost is about $50-60,000 USD; by the time I walked across the stage with a Bachelor's degree, the grand total would be between $200-250,000 USD.
My parents did not have an account set up on the side with money for my schooling and I was not a contender for a large grant or any type of scholarship. I worked throughout high-school but the money that I made (after paying my car bills, monthly gas money and going out with friends expenses) was nowhere enough for even one year of college. Even the state schools where I lived were quite expensive and I did not receive any financial aid or scholarships from those schools.
Basically, I was trapped in corner with various loan options taunting me into taking on extreme debt with high interest rates after I graduate. I was ready to take the loans head-on and worry about the repayment once I was done.
However, I just couldn't keep calm during that time and heck, I couldn't imagine for the next four years how much I would have stressed about it. I was constantly thinking about how the loans would haunt me after college and how long I would be paying them for after college. "What if I didn't get a job right after college? What if I had to have a Master's degree as well for my future career? What if I could never pay it all back? What if I failed out of college and was stuck with these loans? What if, what if, what if?"
We all know that those "what if's" are no good to constantly think about.
I wasn't the only one going through this. My friends and a good majority of my graduating class also faced this dilemma. I decided, in about March 2012, that I did not want to be one of the many college students who would face enormous amounts of debt from student loans after college.
This is why my spontaneous decision to study in Europe (Prague) was the best decision I have ever made.
In the Czech Republic, state universities are actually free but are quite hard to get into and the exams are are a b*tch (from what I have heard). The university I currently go to is not free but in comparison to the tuition prices in the States', it is dirt cheap (even cheaper than my community college). Because of this, my parents were able to pay for my education out of pocket.
What exactly does this mean?
It means that I am going to graduate from a private university, in 3 years (it's shorter here) and with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Communications, with no debt whatsoever. I could not be more grateful for this and the fact that my parents were able to pay for my college out of pocket. During the semester, I work to support myself and I also fully intend on paying back my parents with a fully paid trip to their dream destinations after I land myself a full-time job (hopefully at a travel magazine or a fashion magazine).
All the time I have people asking me about this decision. Especially the financial aspect of it and say "wow, you are so lucky!" Why don't you do it too?! I always want to ask why they don't do it but stop myself because I tend to get worked up in conversations having to do with the hideous figures in college tuition prices.
With all the above being said, my best piece of advice when it comes to higher education: do NOT go to a school that you CANNOT afford.
Yes, you can "afford" it with a loan but could you afford it after college?
If you have a low-paying first job?
If you get fired?
If you drop out of school early?
Probably not...I urge all of the high-school students who might read this to wisely think about your decision if you are in the position I was in before my final decision or the position that most kids your age are in throughout the world.
Usually in your third or fourth year of high-school, you begin planning the next step in life. Some of us have/had big dreams of attending a specific college and then joining a certain fraternity/sorority or other club on campus, as well as getting a dream internship sometime in the four years. Some of us decide to go to community college for 2 years and then to another state or out-of-state school for the last 2 years. Some of us decide to take off for a few years and either work or travel the world. Some of us just do not attend college and go on with our lives.
Now, the most stressful part of it all is how to pay for it. In the States, some schools are outrageously expensive (especially if they are public institutions) while others are pretty cheap for the in-state price. Still, it's a big bill that needs to be paid upfront or down the road...and for years to come. Even schools in other countries throughout the world have high tuition prices and a price of living that is associated with university life.
So, unless you are lucky enough to have a family that can afford paying it all upfront or if you manage to get a full-ride to a certain school, you are stuck in this limbo or deciding whether or not to pay with loans or not pursue higher education. Students who are beyond their years (in terms of intelligence) are not being given the opportunity to study and prosper in their prospective fields of study because they simply cannot pay for the high tuition and living prices that are a part of the whole package.
Let me tell you my story:
As you may have read in the first few posts or if you watched the Traveling with Wanderlust video, you know that my decision to study in Prague was extremely spontaneously and, financially/academically, the best decision I could have ever made.
For the better half of high-school and my senior year for that matter, I was set on going to either New York University (NYU), some random college in California, the University of Colorado: Boulder (my first choice and I even applied early) or the University of Washington: Seattle. If you know about colleges in the U.S., then you know that these are NOT cheap schools. In terms of dollars, the yearly cost is about $50-60,000 USD; by the time I walked across the stage with a Bachelor's degree, the grand total would be between $200-250,000 USD.
My parents did not have an account set up on the side with money for my schooling and I was not a contender for a large grant or any type of scholarship. I worked throughout high-school but the money that I made (after paying my car bills, monthly gas money and going out with friends expenses) was nowhere enough for even one year of college. Even the state schools where I lived were quite expensive and I did not receive any financial aid or scholarships from those schools.
Basically, I was trapped in corner with various loan options taunting me into taking on extreme debt with high interest rates after I graduate. I was ready to take the loans head-on and worry about the repayment once I was done.
However, I just couldn't keep calm during that time and heck, I couldn't imagine for the next four years how much I would have stressed about it. I was constantly thinking about how the loans would haunt me after college and how long I would be paying them for after college. "What if I didn't get a job right after college? What if I had to have a Master's degree as well for my future career? What if I could never pay it all back? What if I failed out of college and was stuck with these loans? What if, what if, what if?"
We all know that those "what if's" are no good to constantly think about.
I wasn't the only one going through this. My friends and a good majority of my graduating class also faced this dilemma. I decided, in about March 2012, that I did not want to be one of the many college students who would face enormous amounts of debt from student loans after college.
This is why my spontaneous decision to study in Europe (Prague) was the best decision I have ever made.
In the Czech Republic, state universities are actually free but are quite hard to get into and the exams are are a b*tch (from what I have heard). The university I currently go to is not free but in comparison to the tuition prices in the States', it is dirt cheap (even cheaper than my community college). Because of this, my parents were able to pay for my education out of pocket.
What exactly does this mean?
It means that I am going to graduate from a private university, in 3 years (it's shorter here) and with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Communications, with no debt whatsoever. I could not be more grateful for this and the fact that my parents were able to pay for my college out of pocket. During the semester, I work to support myself and I also fully intend on paying back my parents with a fully paid trip to their dream destinations after I land myself a full-time job (hopefully at a travel magazine or a fashion magazine).
All the time I have people asking me about this decision. Especially the financial aspect of it and say "wow, you are so lucky!" Why don't you do it too?! I always want to ask why they don't do it but stop myself because I tend to get worked up in conversations having to do with the hideous figures in college tuition prices.
With all the above being said, my best piece of advice when it comes to higher education: do NOT go to a school that you CANNOT afford.
Yes, you can "afford" it with a loan but could you afford it after college?
If you have a low-paying first job?
If you get fired?
If you drop out of school early?
Probably not...I urge all of the high-school students who might read this to wisely think about your decision if you are in the position I was in before my final decision or the position that most kids your age are in throughout the world.
There are TONS of options for students with little money or no money and no scholarships coming their way.
Here are some:
1. Berea College (Kentucky, USA)
2. Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky, USA)
3. Webb Institute (Glen Cove, New York, USA)
4. College of Ozarks (Missouri, USA)
5. Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)
6. CUNY Teacher Academy (New York, USA)
7. U.S. Academies (Military, Air Force, Marine, Naval, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine)
8. State universities of Washington (for those who live in the state and meet the requirements)
9. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (Needham, Massachusetts)
10. University of the People (online)
11. As an international student in Norway, no tuition is required but a fee of $50-100 USD is required each semester.
12. For non-EU students studying in Austria, a fee of about $400-$450 USD is required each semester.
13. In Germany, only 4 of the 16 state schools charged a tuition fee of about $600 USD a semester.
14. In Sweden, international students have tuition fees waived while Swedish students are given either full or partial scholarships.
15. Some colleges in Australia also offer free tuition to international students, but again, that's only some.
I hope you all got something out of this and if you have student loan debt horror stories, share below!
Travel on wanderlusters!
P.S. I just came across an article about a guy hitch-hiking around the world...without paying a penny for transportation! I am going to somehow find a way to contact him and see if I can get a guest post/interview with him for you guys! More on that soon!
Travel on wanderlusters!
P.S. I just came across an article about a guy hitch-hiking around the world...without paying a penny for transportation! I am going to somehow find a way to contact him and see if I can get a guest post/interview with him for you guys! More on that soon!
Friday, April 26, 2013
BOATS N BREWS
I have been enjoying the bliss of doing absolutely nothing but relaxing the past few days. There's that little angel on my shoulder urging me to: "GO WRITE THE ITALY POST, DO IT, DO IT!" But the devil on the other side is telling me to just relax, go with the flow, you can do it later.
Well, today I have a day off from work for the first time since starting in February so I get to spend my day at the gym then at the park with friends and then finally at my university's annual ball. Not sure how excited I am...I have been to enough homecomings and proms in my day but hey, why not see what this dance has to offer. The venue is amazingly beautiful and in Vinohrady, a beautiful neighborhood here in Prague (we actually looked at flats there). Okay, so maybe I am excited...I'll share pictures with all you wanderlusters in tomorrow's post.
If we backtrack to Wednesday evening, I got out of my last class for the week and one of the last of the semester, so I ran home (literally, because the trams were broken), grabbed my roommate and we headed to the river for a paddle-boat ride. When we finally got there, we had to walk a long ways because the trams were not working, we bought ourselves a nice Plzen beer and got to paddling. As we were on the river, the sun was setting behind the Prague Castle and it was just one of those "lucky to be alive" moments. Breathtaking actually. My roommate and I were laughing about how if we got sucked into the fast waters, it would be okay because at least we got to see a beautiful sunset in Prague on the river (god forbid that actually happened though, I would be a woman overboard!)
Of course, we took one too many pictures so here are some of my favorites:
As we walked, I was amazed that I felt like I was actually walking somewhere in New York and Paris. It was as if we discovered an entirely new Prague. We also found out that where we are moving to, there is a lovely jazz club on the water with delicious smelling food just around the corner from the flat. SCORE.
If these photos do not make you want to move to Prague or at least visit...you crazy! Then again, maybe it isn't for everyone. If you do ever come to Prague, wanderlusters, make sure to take a paddle-boat ride on the river; for one hour it is 250kc, which is about $12 USD aka worth every single penny.
Off to the gym and the rest of today's shenanigans!
Travel on wanderlusters!
Well, today I have a day off from work for the first time since starting in February so I get to spend my day at the gym then at the park with friends and then finally at my university's annual ball. Not sure how excited I am...I have been to enough homecomings and proms in my day but hey, why not see what this dance has to offer. The venue is amazingly beautiful and in Vinohrady, a beautiful neighborhood here in Prague (we actually looked at flats there). Okay, so maybe I am excited...I'll share pictures with all you wanderlusters in tomorrow's post.
If we backtrack to Wednesday evening, I got out of my last class for the week and one of the last of the semester, so I ran home (literally, because the trams were broken), grabbed my roommate and we headed to the river for a paddle-boat ride. When we finally got there, we had to walk a long ways because the trams were not working, we bought ourselves a nice Plzen beer and got to paddling. As we were on the river, the sun was setting behind the Prague Castle and it was just one of those "lucky to be alive" moments. Breathtaking actually. My roommate and I were laughing about how if we got sucked into the fast waters, it would be okay because at least we got to see a beautiful sunset in Prague on the river (god forbid that actually happened though, I would be a woman overboard!)
Of course, we took one too many pictures so here are some of my favorites:
If these photos do not make you want to move to Prague or at least visit...you crazy! Then again, maybe it isn't for everyone. If you do ever come to Prague, wanderlusters, make sure to take a paddle-boat ride on the river; for one hour it is 250kc, which is about $12 USD aka worth every single penny.
Off to the gym and the rest of today's shenanigans!
Travel on wanderlusters!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
EXCITING NEWS!
Yesterday when I was at work, I was checking my email when...boom! Got one inbox from the study abroad selection panel at my university aaaaaand...I WAS ACCEPTED TO UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVIDEO, URGUAY for the spring 2014 semester! With my best friend too! So both of us would be going together for a semester. That's a check off on the bucket list right there.I screamed at my desk, startling the other 20 people in the office which was then followed by "ahh that's exciting", "congrats!!" I am a happy girl, a happy girl. The great thing is that I have never been to South America but have always wanted to go. A friend wants to go to the World Cup in Brazil next summer so that would be an easy commute from Uruguay to Brazil for the matches. Of course some additional things will need to be done so it's not set in stone that I am going but it's just exciting to have been accepted. Other exciting news is that I applied for a summer internship in California with Dick Clark Productions, I should hear back from them in the next few days/weeks.
Have any of you wanderlusters been to Montevideo or elsewhere in Uruguay? Any tips or suggestions? I would love to hear them so I know what I could potentially be getting myself into.
Travel on wanderlusters!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Terrible Tuesdays
Stressful days are the worst! Today has been just one of those horrible days where you don't want to wake up because you know you have a lot of things that need to be done and no where near enough time to do them.
Sometimes you just need a big cup of your favorite tea; a good, dramatic 5 minute cry and 'me' time to get yourself sorted out. So, that's just what I did. Spent a majority of the day watching Pretty Little Liars and True Blood (my newest obsession), drank too much tea and slept until my evening class. Usually, when I get stressed out, I will take a few deep breaths, stretch myself out, watch my shows or oogle on Pinterest or my favorite clothing sites. A few minutes...or an hour...of doing that and I feel relaxed again.
When I was at work last week, in the bathroom, there was a sign on the door about how March is mental health month and all the different things you can do to avoid a mental health breakdown or how to improve your mental health. I laughed because it was literally in my face, almost like it was telling me that I am too busy this semester and that I just need to slooooow down. Sheesh, I wish. Summer is just around the corner though, that's what keeps me moving at a full pace.
What do you do when you are stressed out? Whether it's from work, school, mid-terms, finals, big projects, family, friends, relationships or just life in general. We all have those moments where we realize we are moving too fast and trip over our own feet. It's then we eat pavement, lie face down for a few moments then pick ourselves back up and start moving again, but at a slower pace.
Happy almost hump-day and keep it moving! Travel on wanderlusters!
P.S. found this article today, pretty funny because as much as I love traveling, I dread the airplane flights and the whole process. I like being in the airport, just relaxing and exploring but that's about it.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Study Abroad 2013
Good morning wanderlusters...or good afternoon to the European/elsewhere wanderlusters!
I got back to Prague from Berlin late last night then woke up super early for an 8 o'clock uni class which I almost passed out in several times. However, now I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop contemplating what I should write for my "letter of motivation" towards my Fall 2013 study abroad application. Sadly, the Perth, Australia university was not offered but after thinking about it long and hard, I decided that since I plan to move to Melbourne, Australia in the summer or fall of 2015 (after I graduate uni) I might as well go somewhere I will not get the chance to live in in the future.
So far, my top three choices are universities in: South Korea, Hawaii and Uruguay...because let's face it, when do you get an opportunity to live in these countries?!
Have any of you traveled to either of the three? I figured that living in Europe I should broaden my horizons to places other than other countries in Europe to get the full "traveling/living with wanderlust experience."
Well, I'm back to uni now and tonight will write about my weekend in Berlin with the girls. Expect a post tomorrow morning!
Travel on wanderlusters!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Gym and Berlin
After a long, exhausting day at uni yesterday I decided it was time for...the gym. Yes, the gym. That word that everyone either loves or hates. The gym and I have a love-hate relationship in recent years. Right now, we came to an agreement and are in a love relationship. I feel though by the end of this week we will be back to a hate relationship. I guess we will see what happens, hopefully it will continue to be a love relationship because I am paying for a 12-month membership!
Early tomorrow morning, some girlfriends and I are leaving for Berlin, Germany...first time for me...for the weekend for a little R&R. So excited to be actually in and exploring the country I was born in almost 19 years ago! It'll be a fantastic experience despite the weather forecast for the weekend. Nothing can stop me from traveling though. A new post will be up Monday about our adventures, review and what YOU should do when you go to Berlin, Germany!
Travel on wanderlusters!
Early tomorrow morning, some girlfriends and I are leaving for Berlin, Germany...first time for me...for the weekend for a little R&R. So excited to be actually in and exploring the country I was born in almost 19 years ago! It'll be a fantastic experience despite the weather forecast for the weekend. Nothing can stop me from traveling though. A new post will be up Monday about our adventures, review and what YOU should do when you go to Berlin, Germany!
Travel on wanderlusters!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
You Know...
Those mornings where you wake up...sick...? The WORST mornings. Yup, well that was my morning. However, I'm done with uni until February so that made this morning a little bit better.
The whole month of October I was really miserably sick and finally got better for the month of November but looks like it's back. WOO!
Anyone else feeling under the weather? The bitter, windy cold doesn't make it any better either. Well, I'm escaping on Sunday for a while so hopefully I will get better in Norway...
It's weird thinking these are my last few days in Prague for a few weeks. I already miss it!
Travel on wanderlusters!
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Email That Changed My Spring Semester
So, while sitting in a coffee shop this evening, having our first official "business" meeting and organizing the blog/website/clothing line...I check my email, mid-sip from the holy grail (the coffee is heaven and in a grail shaped cup)...and what did I receive?
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A big, wonderful, CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations what though? Congratulations I'm pregnant? Congratulations you looked like a smelly mess today? Congratulations there's a llama farm in the middle of Prague with your name as the title? No no no silly. Congratulations because I got the fashion internship I was crossing my fingers for about two months for!
I did a loud wiggle in my seat, accompanied with some squealing which caused the really confused stares, which then was followed by some fist-punching in the air. Yes, Jersey Shore style...
The website is called CollegeFashionista and it's fantastic. For students who are in college and love fashion instead of just going to class in stinky, wrinkly PJ's and sweats. The website is for students in colleges all across the United States and even internationally. I discovered the site when looking through blogs and was really hooked. I then wondered if my school, in Prague, was featured...it wasn't. So, I was ballsy and decided to email the founder and suggest Prague be included. I received an email back saying I should fill out and application and give them a sample of what I got (photos and writing).
A month later, I get the acceptance email. I am so so thrilled to be part of the CollegeFashionista family and start the Prague universities' page. This is also pretty exciting for my business partner and I because we are hoping that some of the students in our university will begin wearing our DIY clothing line so it will promote our new DIY community and clothing line. So many fantastic opportunities, I am more than grateful for them.
If you haven't checked the site out, you most definitely should. Pretty inspiring!
Check us out:
Travel on wanderlusters and happy Monday/Tuesday!
Monday mornings...are the worst.
That was my morning this morning, the morning of my final exam for Sociology. I had the brilliant plan to stay up all night then I decided that I needed a two hour nap from 2am-4am. So, I set my alarm but did not realize my phone was on silent...woke up and it was snowy and light outside (7:40am)....my exam started at 8:15. Keep in mind that it takes about 30-45 minutes to get to school on a good day.
Got ready in record breaking time (3 minutes) and was out the door. When I was walking I realized how ridiculous I looked; fur hat, no make-up, glasses, chapped lips, sweater leggings underneath huge, grey velvet, baggy sweats, long sleeve shirt and hoodie, gloves, huge parka jacket and my red studded motorcycle boots. Yeah, I looked like a discombobulated disaster.
I ran up the stairs at school and got there at 8:14, time was on my side this morning thank god. It was the worst feeling though, waking up and just having to rush and study on the tram. I swear I always wake up early on day where I can sleep in but on days that are really important, I almost ALWAYS wake up really late. Note to self: make sure my future wedding is in the afternoon.
Well, that was my wonderful Monday morning; Happy Monday wanderlusters! Maybe some of you experienced the same this morning?
Travel on wanderlusters!
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