Author name: elvern haryanto

Studying abroad might be something that seems daunting for most people as it involves venturing into a different country, with a completely different and unfamiliar environment. Although, as scary as it may seem, pursuing education overseas has become a primary goal to some who seek better academic opportunities. It happens that on 11th December 2024, UCIC (Universitas Ciputra International Community) hosted an online talk show that explored and shed light on this very case. For December, UCIC decided to invite a special guest, Victoria Janae Supit. She is an IISMA awardee that had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at the University of Texas at Austin in the United States. As the title “Breaking the Bubble: The Life-Changing Perspectives of Studying Abroad” suggests, Victoria shared her experiences and insights to studying abroad, allowing to shed a new light and perspective on studying abroad. To provide some context, the University of Texas at Austin is recognized as one of the top public universities in the United States. In which, as of recently, it holds the #66 spot in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Not to mention that it is home to the fifth fastest supercomputer in the world, Frontera. Still, with numerous more achievements left to mention, it would still be safe to conclude that the University of Texas at Austin stands as quite the prestigious university. During the talk show, Victoria shared her struggles that she faced, recounting how her initial attempt for IISMA got rejected. But rather than being demotivated, Victoria instead chose to use the setback as an opportunity for growth by identifying the areas in which she lacks through successful applicants’ experiences and trusted individuals’ advices, engaging in her own journey for self improvement which led to her successful reapplication for IISMA 2024. Concluding how self-efficacy was essential towards her goal for IISMA. She then continued with sharing her overall experience during her time studying abroad. A key worthy point shared was how overwhelmed and “burnt out” she felt initially during her efforts to seize and engage in every opportunity there was to offer. A prompt to practice mindfulness allowed her to reassess goals and focus on which aligns personally. Toward the end of the session, Victoria offered valuable advice on how to maximise the time when studying abroad. In which, firstly, she encouraged the importance of breaking out of the comfort zone by challenging yourself with courses within your scope of limitation in hopes to foster personal growth. And additionally, stressed the importance to explore and capture diverse opportunities ranging from internship to research. Something noteworthy to mention is Victoria’s reminder to have the right mindset and mentality when approaching studying abroad. She highlighted how embracing life opportunities should also be essential, that despite failures and challenges, people should practice gratitude, self compassion and also in building self confidence. A few notable points that emerged during the Q & A session included students asking initial intimidation to the diverse set of skills displayed by the students in Austin. In which Victoria addressed this by offering a healthier perspective which emphasizes that people have different strengths and weaknesses. And in response to another question regarding support, Victoria also mentioned the need for a support system to rely on. This advice rounded off the talk show, leaving the audience with practical insights and encouragement for their own respective journeys.

On 15th October, the UC International Community partnered with UC’s Networking and Partnership department to invite two IISMA awardees, Michelle Herlianto (IBM-IC ‘22) and Sabrina Marchella (PSY ‘21), to a UCIC talk, where they could freely share about their overseas experience at Yale University in the United States. For some background, Yale University is a prestigious institution of higher education, founded in 1701 and located in New Haven, Connecticut in the American Northeast. It is a member of the Ivy League, a group of eight private universities considered some of the most respected and well-known in all of America. As such, it’s a common university to aspire to enter, despite its acceptance rates being vanishingly thin. Both Herlianto and Marchella had the opportunity to experience Yale University, courtesy of the government funding provided by IISMA when they were accepted. They began the talk by speaking about the structure of IISMA itself, including how a student’s courses ought to be chosen before applying for IISMA, and how the education at Yale differed from conventional higher education. While they talk about the enjoyment they derived from the more practical-oriented learning, they also stressed that IISMA applicants should not underestimate the course load. Final and mid-semester assessments, pop quizzes, and reading assignments can all play major roles in a student’s final grade at Yale University. They also spoke about experiencing the United States in general, and how IISMA awardees are expected to act as cultural ambassadors for Indonesia. Both Herlianto and Marchella were able to immerse themselves in US culture through broadway shows and other subsidized trips, but despite such activities, it was important for them to maintain their Indonesian roots while interacting with American communities. Events such as Yale Nusantara, certain volunteer organizations, and New Haven’s Idul Fitri celebration allowed them to still maintain their grasp on the culture back home. Learning to perform tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and other necessities were also essential to adapting to overseas life, especially when it came to becoming an independent adult. Some highlights from the Q&A session include many students asking about the IISMA application process, particularly the essay, english proficiency test, and interview junctures (both of which UC can aid applicants with). Both speakers also discussed homesickness, and how it’s important to remain in touch with people back home and with Indonesian culture through events such as Yale Nusantara. The session ended with a few words on artificial intelligence, and how it’s important for students to use it responsibly for reference and sourcing purposes, but never for their raw writing. Applicants should also remember to schedule consultations for their IISMA application essays, such that they’re able to receive feedback for it from previous IISMA awardees from UC and docents.