Study Abroad Student Spotlights | Study Abroad | Yale University
Study Abroad Summer Session COMPASS

Study Abroad Student Spotlights

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Connect with Yalies Who've Already Studied Abroad 

Studying abroad can be a truly rewarding experience, but don't just take it from us - ask fellow Yalies who have studied abroad before you. All of the students listed below are eager to share their experiences with you, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Grace Burton (she/her)

Hello! I am so grateful that I participated in DIS Stockholm. I met amazing people and was able to travel to so many interesting places. I fell in love with Stockholm and hope to complete my graduate studies there after Yale. I highly recommend the program!"

Zara Ashford (she/her)

Hi, I'm Zara and I studied abroad in Ireland at Trinity College Dublin! I loved exploring Dublin, the rest of Ireland, and even some other European cities as a directly enrolled student at Trinity, while also meeting tons of new people and learning about Irish history. If you're interested in studying in Ireland, doing a direct enrollment program abroad, or wondering if doing study abroad is worth it (spoiler- it is!), then feel free to reach out."

Gabrielle Roman (she/her)

Hello! I’m Gabrielle. I studied abroad in Kenya with the School for Field Studies (SFS) during my junior spring, and it was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I've never met anyone who regretted going abroad—only people who wish they had! So if you’re considering it, my advice is: go for it! If you’re worried about missing out on a semester at Yale, don’t be. My time in Kenya helped me solidify my academic interests, ignited a passion for community conservation, and deepened my understanding of climate change. Plus, I made lifelong friends and experienced some of the most beautiful places in the world. As an Environmental Studies major, I loved learning in the field and spending so much time outdoors surrounded by incredible wildlife. I’m happy to chat about anything related to studying abroad—whether it's SFS Kenya, Yale Summer Session in Bilbao, vaccines, East Africa, mental health, or academics!"

Owen Haywood (he/him)

Hi all! My name is Owen and I did a semester abroad in China with Middlebury in Beijing on a Yale Light Fellowship. I had an incredible experience exploring Beijing and China more broadly -- there is so much to see there! I went abroad primarily to develop my Mandarin language skills, which I was able to do thanks to Middlebury in Beijing's quality language education and its emphasis on language immersion. I'd love to chat about Middlebury in Beijing, studying abroad as an American in China, the Light Fellowship, returning to Yale after a semester abroad, or studying abroad in general."

John Owen Weber (he/him)

Hi! I'm John and I studied abroad in the Czech Republic with CIEE. This program was so immersive in Czech and central European cultures, and gave me a large number of opportunities to explore both the Czech Republic and Europe as a whole. Ever since leaving Prague, I have been hoping for the opportunity to return. Studying abroad has been one of the most enriching experiences I have had at Yale, and hope that anyone with the opportunity to studies abroad. I would be more than happy to talk about CIEE, the Czech Republic or anything study abroad-related to anyone considering applying!"

Alex O'Sullivan (he/him)

Yo! My name is Alex, and I studied abroad at St. Anne's College at the University of Oxford in England. I loved my time there. Best six months of my life. I found amazing community at St. Anne's College amongst my fellow visiting students from around the globe and the matriculated students who go there full time. I got to take advantage of the unique tutorial system Oxford offers. And most importantly, I found Jesus and converted to Christianity. The Church community in Oxford is truly one of a kind! Happy to answer questions about literally anything."

Aimee Chang (she/her)

Hi! I'm Aimee and I studied abroad in Sweden with the Swedish Program at the Stockholm School of Economics. Studying abroad was most definitely a highlight of my time in college and I loved immersing myself in Swedish culture and student life at the university, diving into European politics, and making the best friends. I had incredible experiences like visiting the Arctic Circle (this picture was taken here) where I went dog sledding and saw the northern lights. Excited to chat about any questions about the Swedish Program or study abroad in general!"

Yana Tucker (she/her)

Hi everyone! My name is Yana, and I am a senior in Silliman majoring in Global Affairs. I studied abroad in Spring 2024 in Nepal, Jordan, and Chile through the SIT IHP Human Rights program. Learning from communities on the ground in these three places was incredibly impactful and helped me solidify my interest in fieldwork, human rights, and conflict resolution. I also studied abroad in Summer 2022 in Paris, France in an L5 French program, which was a fun immersive experience and greatly helped me improve my confidence speaking French. I'm happy to answer any questions about IHP programs, studying languages abroad, or anything else you may be wondering about!"

Esha Akhtar (she/her)

Hello! My name is Esha Akhtar, and I studied abroad my junior fall in Nepal, Jordan, and Chile! I completed a comparative human rights program with the School for International Training— here is a photo from me in Wadi Rum in Jordan! I am happy to talk about doing research while abroad, spending time in countries where you may not be familiar with the language, and spending a whole term away from Yale. "

Steven Zhang (he/him)

Hi! My name is Steven and I studied Economics at the London School of Economics over Summer 2023 and Chinese with the Inter-University Program (IUP) at Tsinghua University in Beijing during Fall 2023. I had an incredible time immersing myself in both regions—exploring landmarks like the Great Wall (where this photo is from!) and connecting with locals along the way. Feel free to reach out with any questions about LSE, IUP, Europe, China, language learning, or anything else!"

Sofia Khemani (she/her)

Hi! I'm Sofia and I studied in Hungary through the AIT Budapest program in Fall 2023, and in Morocco Spring 2024 through SIT Morocco - Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation. I had a great time in both countries and am so grateful for all of the wonderful experiences, ranging from living with a host family to exploring new places and food. I'm happy to answer questions about study abroad, AIT or SIT, dietary restrictions/allergies, doing a full year abroad,, and any other questions you have!"

Emma Barrett (she/her)

Hello, I’m Emma and I studied abroad in Ecuador, Malawi, and Spain with the SIT IHP: Food Systems program! Learning about sustainability in food systems across three countries was incredible, and my favorite part was forming relationships with people across the world. I even traveled back to Malawi the following summer to do research for my senior thesis!"

Sarah Katz (she/her)

Hi! I'm Sarah and I studied abroad in Sweden in Fall 2024 with DIS. My time in Stockholm was unforgettable—immersing myself in Swedish culture and exploring the beautiful city were incredible experiences. As an Urban Studies major, I felt especially lucky to study smart and sustainable cities while living in a city renowned for its sustainability. Outside of class, I ate a lot of delicious meatballs, explored Sweden by train, fell in love with saunas, and enjoyed quite a few potluck dinners with my Swedish neighbors. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about DIS, studying abroad in Sweden, Urban Studies, or anything else!"

Reese Neal (he/him)

I'm Reese. I was enrolled at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. I am happy to answer questions about studying in Mexico, particularly Mexico City, and doing direct enrollment in a university. "

Victoria Lu

I'm Victoria and I studied abroad in Morocco, Nepal, and Ecuador with SIT Climate Change and Taiwan under the Light Fellowship. I also had the great privilege of working and studying in Tokyo for two summers through the CIPE and EVST fellowships. Having such diverse experiences have enriched my personal, academic, and professional growth in countless ways. There are so many amazing opportunities to see the world in your time at Yale. Please contact me if you want to talk about anything!"

Norma Mejia (she/her)

Hi, I'm Norma! I studied abroad in Spain through the IES Barcelona: Arts & Culture program in Spring 2024 and the Pembroke Cambridge program in the UK in Summer 2024. Both of these programs helped solidify my interest in experimental film/photography and TV writing. Truly grateful for the endless creative inspiration, enhanced production skills, and cultural enrichment both of these experiences provided me with. I am happy to talk about IES, the University of Cambridge, studying abroad as a film student, or anything else regarding study abroad! "

Micah Derringer (he/him)

Hi! I'm Micah, and I had the opportunity to study abroad in the fall of 2023 with IES Amsterdam and in the summer of 2023 with the Yale Economics and Law program in Paris. Both experiences were incredible, and I’m so grateful to have met so many amazing people—many of whom are now some of my closest friends. I’d be more than happy to chat about any aspect of the study abroad experience, whether it’s choosing the right program, planning travel while abroad, or returning to Yale afterward."

Jason Wang (he/they)

Greetings and Salutations! I'm Jason, and I spent Spring 2024 abroad in Osaka with CET Japan. I had an incredible time abroad not only sharpening my Japanese skills, but also taking a deep dive into Japanese society and culture, observing its deep history and its differences and connections to the American and Chinese culture I come from. I was able to explore the country from Nagasaki to Hokkaido, and I made so many great connections with all sorts of amazing people. I'm thrilled to share my experiences with everybody! Feel free to ask me anything, especially about Japan/Japanese, or any concerns about term-time abroad study!"

Spencer Greenfield

Hello! I’m Spencer and I studied abroad in Chile with the School for Field Studies (SFS). Truly so grateful to have called Chile my home, and my favorite part of the program was getting to learn and apply our learning in the field. (My picture was taken on the program!) Happy to answer questions about SFS and doing a non-traditional program, Chile, study abroad in general, the petition process, studying abroad as a science student, or anything else!"

Linden Skalak (she/her)

Hi! I’m Linden and I did the Spring 2024 term abroad with the CET at FAMU program. I studied filmmaking on 16mm and 35mm, and I am so grateful for the experience. I learned a lot about filmmaking, but also about being open to new experiences, making friends, and about Czech culture. My favorite part of the program was the exceptional mentorship from filmmakers actively working in the industry and the chance to connect with students at other colleges who are also young filmmakers. I am very passionate about creative work and analog film, and I would love to connect with anyone interested in learning about these things! "

Evan Bowman (she/her)

Hello! My name is Evan and I am a junior in Timothy Dwight College from Los Angeles, California. I'm a pre-medical student majoring in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. I studied abroad through the SIT IHP Health & Community program in New Delhi, India, Cape Town, South Africa, and Buenos Aires, Argentina in Spring 2024. I'm happy to talk about this experience and answer any questions that you may have!"