What made you decide to go on SEP?

I have always wanted to study abroad and experience living in a foreign country. While I wanted to experience independent living, I was worried that I won’t be able to endure a long time away from home. A semester was just the right duration; I get to truly immerse myself in the local culture without being away from home for too long.

Why did you choose to go to Georgia Tech?

There were more than 100 options of universities to choose from and I was spoiled for choice. After considering the courses offered, the accessibility of the university and the climate, I decided to go to the Georgia Institute of Technology (GaTech) in the US for my SEP. It has the best Industrial Engineering programme in the US. The location was also excellent; it is conveniently situated in Atlanta, an aviation hub, and the Institute was situated in the centre of the city which was really accessible. Atlanta also had a very comfortable climate that isn't too cold nor hot (but it did rain a lot while I was there so that wasn’t the best). 

How was the education system different from NUS?

One thing that really surprised me was how the students actively asked questions and were not afraid to admit that they cannot keep up with the teachings. The duration of the classes were different as well. Each class had 6 hours of lecture a week as compared to a typical ISE module with 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of tutorial. Some classes also had unscheduled pop quizzes so we always had to be on the ball.

What was your most memorable experience on SEP?

My most memorable experience on SEP was definitely the 2-day 1-night backpacking and camping trip that I went on with GaTech ORGT (something like ODAC). Sleeping in a tent in sub-zero temperature, trekking for hours to get to our destination, making S’mores with a twig and actual Graham crackers on a fire, the list goes on. Of course, as someone who wasn't fit at all, I couldn't walk the next day and just laid in bed but I definitely had no regrets going on that trip. I even went on to hike at different nature parks in the US when I travelled. It was an experience that I will never get in Singapore.

What was your biggest takeaway from SEP?

Besides the global exposure, something much less mentioned would definitely be independence. Being away from home was definitely a struggle—the biggest one was when I had to look after myself when I caught a flu. I was terrified because COVID-19 was prevalent at that point and I feared that I had contracted it somehow. I had to travel all the way to the school's health centre to see the doctor alone (which I must say was one of the best doctors I have met), slowly trudged back to my dorm and had only canned chicken noodle soup to eat. I don’t think I have ever felt more helpless and alone before that so that was definitely a huge growth experience for me. 

A more lighthearted one would be settling my meals. I was fortunate to live in the same block as a few of my friends from ISE so we cooked a lot of meals together because eating out was too costly. Unfortunately, all of us could not cook. The number of times we almost triggered the smoke detector is uncountable. But I’m proud to say we strengthened our friendship during the process and managed to master spaghetti bolognese. 

What surprised you the most during SEP?

Something that surprised me was how dangerous and difficult it was to get around. Despite going to one of the largest and most populous cities in the US, it was truly a hassle to get around. We had to take an Uber/Lyft whenever we wanted to go somewhere out of school. This is a stark contrast to Singapore, in fact just in NUS we have access to many public buses and Kent Ridge MRT. There were also multiple armed robberies that occurred near the school so I never dared to walk around alone and always made sure I got back before dark. Unlike in NUS where people would go on late night jogs at 3 am alone without any fears. Safety and convenience are something that we take for granted in Singapore which I came to appreciate when I was on exchange. 

Would you recommend going on SEP? 

Yes, definitely!! Studying abroad as an exchange student is a once in a lifetime opportunity—it is nothing like travelling where you are just seeing the country from the lens of an outsider, you will really be immersed in the culture through and through. The cultural exposure gained while living and studying with locals definitely helps you grow and change your perception of the world. I also got to travel a fair bit domestically and got the opportunity to visit all sorts of places that are not commonly visited by foreign tourists.

I stepped out of my comfort zone and gained a lot of life skills like communication, independence, self-discipline and time management. These are some skills that you simply cannot learn online, it is something that you experience while being there. It is an invaluable experience that is challenging yet rewarding.

What advice would you give to Pre-University students who are selecting a university?

I think one often overlooked factor when selecting a university is the global opportunities offered. A global opportunity will expand your worldview and it's something much sought after by employers. NUS ISE definitely fits the bill with the myriad of overseas opportunities offered. If my experience or the thought of studying in a certain country interests you, don't forget to look into the options available and the chances of going abroad when selecting your course. If you are concerned about the costs, NUS has many grants and scholarships available for SEP. Besides SEP, NUS also has many other overseas programmes, some even provide you with allowances or salary which allow you to be financially sustainable or even make an income, so do check them out. 

Are there other ways to experience studying abroad? 

NUS ISE undergraduates have so many options to experience and gain global exposure. Besides SEP, I was fortunate to attend the summer school at Hanyang University in South Korea. If you are worried of being away from home for an entire semester or if you have financial concerns, this is for you!! This month-long programme not only allows you to take classes related to your major, it also has classes which exposes you to Korean culture.