Making the choice...

Basically I got a group email that was sent to all second year science students from my international office explaining that there was an exchange programme for third year students to either University of California, University of Connecticut, University of Virginia or San Jose State University...
I immediately thought 'yep, i want to do that!'
I rang my mother and read the email to her and she did her little sarcastic laugh and said 'yeh good one'... so i rang my dad who said 'wow, cool, go for it!'
...so I did! I had to do a bit of research to see how much it would cost, etc etc, and ended up nearly not going ahead with the application until my Dad told me that if I wanted to do it I should. He said that it's very easy to talk yourself out of doing something. Which is v. true!

If your in the position I was in and are undecided, here are some reasons why you should go ahead with the application:

1) You will still be a student of your home university so fees to your US college will not apply. Basically all you will have to pay for is for flights, accomodation, and living expenses. With the current exchange rate, it will be cheaper for me to live out there than it will for me to live in Dublin.

2) Because you will still be registered to your home university, if you are eligible for receiving a grant you can still avail of this during your year abroad.

3) Any money you borrow from your parents can be paid back when your rich and famous anyway. Duh.

4) If you apply and are accepted, you can always change your mind!