As I've mentioned before, IEDP is very international--most of us have studied, worked and/or lived or are from abroad. For me, the transition to the US for school was a BIG change, but I wanted to talk with Micaela, a fellow IEDPer from Lima, Peru, to hear what she had to say about her decision to come to the US to study and what her thoughts are so far. Here are some snip-its of what she said:
I have been working for 9 years in the education field; I have taught to kids in elementary school, to undergraduates at University, worked in a Latin American NGO and worked in a research center. After those years working, I really wanted to go back to school, because I think I need a lot of tools and knowledge to continue working in education. I chose to come to the US mainly because the best schools of education are here. Penn was always my first option, since GSE is one of the best schools in the field and the program, which I am sure you know really well from Rachel’s posts, fitted my career plans really well.
But the process wasn’t easy. Doing all the applications from Peru was a real torture. There weren't much people that I knew that have applied to these universities, and the Peruvian system is not the fastest, easiest and friendlier, so trying to find out how and where to do all the paperwork that universities asked for was really difficult.
After I was accepted and I made my decision, trying to find a house in Philly while being (and working full time) in Peru was the next challenge. One thing that helped me a lot was that GSE contacted me by mail with other Latin American students in my program. They really helped me with a lot of things. I would say that this is something that all new students should do, trying to ask for the contact of current students and ask them all the questions that you have. I even skyped a couple of times with one of them.
All these difficulties were definitely worth it. I am now more than halfway my first semester here and I couldn’t be happier. At first it was difficult, especially because of the language. I didn’t have a hard time adjusting to the city or the school system, but not being a native English speaker makes everything a little more difficult, especially because of the amount of reading and writing that we have to do. My brain is having an English overdose, but I guess is getting easier. I’m kind of scared of myself now when I walk everyday to my house thinking what I have to do in English!!!! I haven’t talked to myself in a language other than Spanish in 31 years, so it’s really weird.
I haven’t been here for very long but I feel like I’m learning more than ever. The professors are great, the university has a lot of resources for us, and my classmates are amazing. It’s not easy to go out of your comfort zone: leaving your country, your language, your family, your friends, your boyfriend…. but in my experience it’s what makes you learn and grow the most.
There ya have it folks! There are plenty of 'necessary annoyances' to come to the US to study and to also start a Masters Program. However, the amount of knowledge we are gaining, the experiences, the people, the crazy work-load...we will all finish at Penn with MORE than we had before, no matter what way you look at it. Well, except we have less money...but MORE earning potential.
I'm off to a wedding this weekend in Connecticut, so I will not be here to meet all the prospective students at the GSE Fall Open House. However, I encourage everyone who is interested in the programs to come visit! There may even be FREE stuff!!
I have been working for 9 years in the education field; I have taught to kids in elementary school, to undergraduates at University, worked in a Latin American NGO and worked in a research center. After those years working, I really wanted to go back to school, because I think I need a lot of tools and knowledge to continue working in education. I chose to come to the US mainly because the best schools of education are here. Penn was always my first option, since GSE is one of the best schools in the field and the program, which I am sure you know really well from Rachel’s posts, fitted my career plans really well.
But the process wasn’t easy. Doing all the applications from Peru was a real torture. There weren't much people that I knew that have applied to these universities, and the Peruvian system is not the fastest, easiest and friendlier, so trying to find out how and where to do all the paperwork that universities asked for was really difficult.
After I was accepted and I made my decision, trying to find a house in Philly while being (and working full time) in Peru was the next challenge. One thing that helped me a lot was that GSE contacted me by mail with other Latin American students in my program. They really helped me with a lot of things. I would say that this is something that all new students should do, trying to ask for the contact of current students and ask them all the questions that you have. I even skyped a couple of times with one of them.
All these difficulties were definitely worth it. I am now more than halfway my first semester here and I couldn’t be happier. At first it was difficult, especially because of the language. I didn’t have a hard time adjusting to the city or the school system, but not being a native English speaker makes everything a little more difficult, especially because of the amount of reading and writing that we have to do. My brain is having an English overdose, but I guess is getting easier. I’m kind of scared of myself now when I walk everyday to my house thinking what I have to do in English!!!! I haven’t talked to myself in a language other than Spanish in 31 years, so it’s really weird.
I haven’t been here for very long but I feel like I’m learning more than ever. The professors are great, the university has a lot of resources for us, and my classmates are amazing. It’s not easy to go out of your comfort zone: leaving your country, your language, your family, your friends, your boyfriend…. but in my experience it’s what makes you learn and grow the most.
There ya have it folks! There are plenty of 'necessary annoyances' to come to the US to study and to also start a Masters Program. However, the amount of knowledge we are gaining, the experiences, the people, the crazy work-load...we will all finish at Penn with MORE than we had before, no matter what way you look at it. Well, except we have less money...but MORE earning potential.
I'm off to a wedding this weekend in Connecticut, so I will not be here to meet all the prospective students at the GSE Fall Open House. However, I encourage everyone who is interested in the programs to come visit! There may even be FREE stuff!!
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