Some advice that I would give to prospective students is to not be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. That’s what studying abroad is all about! Network with leaders, create lasting friendships, and go sightseeing every chance you get. Also, take lots of pictures! Every time I’m traveling, I think I’m taking so many photos and then I always wish I took more in the end. My biggest piece of advice is to just be present and take it all in. This might be your first and last time visiting the country you’re in so definitely make the most of it.
I think what surprised me the most is how easy it is for you to bond with other students in your program. Everyone is in a new place, and it forces you to be fast friends. I’ve made some of my best friends studying abroad and couldn’t recommend it enough. Studying abroad was an all-encompassing experience that allowed me to grow personally, professionally, and academically. Being able to see the behind the scenes of companies and interact with business and engineering leaders has greatly shaped my viewpoint of my own career. From this networking experience, I was able to gain insight on the job descriptions of different engineering roles and how individuals worked their way up the ladder to being leaders in their companies.
Prior to going abroad, I was unsure whether I wanted a more technical job requiring a PhD or if I wanted a more managerial role requiring an MBA. After having candid conversations, I discovered that my passion lies in leading people to reach their full potential and my strengths lie in my ability to communicate effectively. These traits align with a role as a product manager at a consumer products company. After returning from the program, I was able to use this insight during my co-op rotation with Lubrizol to set up meetings with product managers. In fact, I was able to connect with a product manager that travels to trade shows on behalf of Lubrizol to pitch products and also look for other sellers to acquire materials. I found that his particular position combined my passions for innovation, travel, and management. Because of the Plus3 Transfer Plus program, I have more clarity regarding my future plans and could not be more grateful for that.
