As graduation draws near, four members of the Class of 2024 plan to go abroad for their university experiences. Seniors Caroline Clark, Chloe Gaudelet, and Samantha Mecane will further their educations at the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland, and Belen Scheggia will study at IE University in Madrid, Spain. Continuing their academic journeys outside of the United States (US) will allow these seniors to immerse themselves in new cultures, offering them unique global perspectives as they enter the next chapters of their lives.
Caroline intends to study international relations and management during her first year at St. Andrews, in addition to pursuing a Masters of Arts (MA) in social anthropology with honors. Samantha will also be studying art at St. Andrews and plans to major in French as well.
The University of St. Andrews, established in 1413, is the third-oldest institution in the English-speaking world and the first university in Scotland. St. Andrews is also the most international university in Scotland, with over 130 countries around the world represented in the study body, according to st-andrews.ac.uk.
Caroline will explore the ways in which humans establish and live social lives by analyzing all aspects of their interactions and experiences. Because St. Andrews allows her to integrate her European heritage with her American upbringing, Caroline values the international student body St. Andrews has to offer. Scotland appealed to Caroline due to its proximity to her family in England and France as well as the stunning landscape, which blends history, culture, and natural beauty. Caroline shared how going abroad will allow her to have more diverse experiences and broaden her perspective.
“I made this choice to enhance my personal growth, foster my independence, and open different doors to more international networks and opportunities,” Caroline said. “I am excited to immerse myself in a community of international students, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences. Overall, choosing St. Andrews University feels like the perfect blend of academic excellence, personal growth, and adventure.”
Chloe chose to continue her education overseas because she enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures. This fall, she plans to study economics at St. Andrews. When St. Andrews became an option for Chloe, she could not pass up the opportunity to spend all four years abroad. Chloe shared what she hopes to gain from her experience studying at St. Andrews.
“I most hope to gain a greater understanding of global perspectives, cultural immersion, and the opportunity for challenging personal growth in a new country,” Chloe said. “In the end, I decided to attend the University of St. Andrews not just for the academic prestige and study offerings but also for the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and experience a very non-traditional college experience.”
Belen will attend IE University, where she plans to receive a dual degree in business administration and fashion design. Belen already has a broad awareness of cultural differences because she has lived in various countries. The dual degree program at IE appeals to Belen, as this will allow her to study business and fashion simultaneously. She hopes to enter the fashion marketing field in the future, and IE will enable her to gain new international experiences. Belen has always known she would look abroad for university, given that her sister lives in Spain and her parents will eventually move to Portugal. She values the support from her family and the close proximity to them in Madrid. Belen shared how attending university in Spain will expand her global network.
“I hope that attending college in another country will help me gain new cultural experiences,” Belen said. “One of the reasons I chose IE was because of its very large international community. By studying abroad, I can gain diverse perspectives and use the academic programs offered abroad that are known for their expertise. Ultimately, I can build a global network that can offer diverse insights and opportunities.”
Featured Image by Brianna Timlin ’26
