Hi everyone!

My name is Mckenna Bowes, and I am currently a third-year student in the Frederick Honors College at Pitt. I am a molecular biology major (on a pre-medicine track), with minors in chemistry, creative writing, and German. I was fortunate enough to spend the month of May in Munich, Germany as part of the Pitt in Munich Program.

Truthfully, studying abroad was never something I wanted to pursue until a few friends shared how great their experiences were. Hearing about their time abroad encouraged me to start researching the programs that Pitt offered. I began by thinking about where I wanted to go and, for me, the answer was obvious: Germany. Prior to studying abroad, I took three German language classes at Pitt. Studying in Germany would not only allow me to finish the German minor, but it would also enable me to experience firsthand what I was learning about in the classroom. Experiencing something, as opposed to learning about it in a classroom, can offer a different perspective, so the chance to study in Germany was very exciting. Beyond this, participation in this program would allow me to improve German language skills. I have always been passionate about learning another language; it is not only a good challenge, but it also provides one with more opportunities and allows one to communicate with a larger scope of people. However, I often find it difficult to dedicate as much time as I would like to it during the semester since a majority of my schedule is dedicated to major-specific classes and extra-curricular activities such as research and volunteering. 

So, why German? I have always found the language interesting, but I think being able to speak German aligns with my professional goals. Though I plan on becoming a physician, I hope to conduct research. Research is collaborative and often involves people from all over the world. Germany contributes ground-breaking and innovative research to the scientific community, so being able to communicate and work with scientists preforming top research will improve my future research and contributions to the scientific community.

After deciding that I wanted to go to Germany, I spent time researching the different programs in the country. Fortunately, I had help from both the study abroad office and the German department in narrowing down a program. They helped me consider factors like type of program, time, length, and courses offered. With all these taken into consideration, it felt like the Pitt in Munich Program was the best fit for me. It was a Panther Program, which meant I would be surrounded by other Pitt students and faculty. I felt that being with my peers would ease the transition of traveling abroad and allow me to create new friendships. Besides this, the length and timing were appealing. Summer is advantageous for me because, during the fall and spring semesters, my schedule is filled with pre-medicine requisites, which can be difficult to move because of the MCAT and medical school application cycle. Lastly, I felt the courses offered, in combination with the city itself, would help increase my language proficiency.

Clearly, participating in a study abroad program would offer countless academic benefits, whether this be helping me fulfill the minor, improving my language proficiency, or allowing me to learn more about the culture. However, I believe that the benefits from spending time abroad extend beyond the classroom. Studying in Munich would help develop skills that would be difficult to acquire in a classroom alone. It would encourage me to gain new perspectives, obtain better communication skills, improve my problem-solving skills, among a variety of other traits. The lessons and takeaways from abroad could be applied to various aspects of my life and enable me to become more engaged and involved in the classroom and beyond. Beyond these benefits, I felt that studying abroad would be fun and allow me to fulfill personal goals (like traveling to Europe). 

To say that I was excited going into this program would be an understatement. Thanks for reading and be sure to check back for other blogs about my time in Munich!

Have any questions about the Pitt in Munich Program or my experiences abroad?

Please feel free to contact me at MMB182@pitt.edu.