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Janice Shih

Student Profile

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Janice Shih
jxs992@psu.edu

McGill University, Montreal, Spring 2005
Microbiology

The best time in your life to travel is as a student. When you get older, you acquire more responsibilities that sometimes hinder your opportunities to explore and to discover new things. There is so much outside of State College . You would be surprised to see what else is out there!

A lot of people ask me why I chose to go to Canada, but why not? Quebec is actually quite similar to Europe, with many francophones who provide a more "foreign" experience, but all instruction at McGill is in Engish. Although many people consider Canada to be a "Second America," that is completely untrue. Quebec is absolutely and extremely different from America and from the rest of Canada as well. Besides the European feel, Canada is one of the few western countries that have a weaker currency than the U.S., so studying abroad at McGill was financially a better choice for me too.

From my study abroad experience, I learned not to stereotype and to have an open mind. McGill is known for its diversity, and I met people from all over the world. I think all of my friends were from different continents, let alone different countries! The best thing I have gained from this experience is to not be afraid of trying new things. Even if you think something looks unappealing, at least give it a shot before formulating a preconceived notion against it. Understanding other cultures makes you a well-rounded person for the better.

Although McGill is a world renowned university, known as the "Harvard of Canada", do not be intimidated. I wouldn't say that the material at McGill is more difficult than Penn State, but the instructional pace is a little different, as well as the exam process. Most of my courses had one midterm exam and then a final exam. Just like Penn State, requirements really vary from course to course. I don't think it was easier or harder, just different.

I know that many science students fear studying abroad will delay their graduation because of credit transfers. However at McGill, I took courses from the Faculty of Science, so I essentially studied what I would normally have studied if I had stayed at PSU. With that said, I definitely would encourage science students to look into studying abroad.