When I sat in a classroom at the Korean Language Institute (KLI) at Yonsei University in Seoul, where phrases in Korean were written on the board with a black marker and the seonsaengnim (the Korean word for professor) was lecturing, I had an epiphany. I realized studying abroad isn’t just about academics – it’s about learning how to live in someone else’s world, embracing discomfort and finding meaning in the unexpected.
For years, I believed that studying abroad was unattainable – too costly and reserved only for students at elite schools like the University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

My interest in Asia began when I was 13 years old, inspired by my grandparents’ travel stories and my curiosity about Japan and Korea. Still, I didn’t think it was possible until I discovered the California State University International Programs (CSUIP).
I first considered studying abroad in Asia after returning home from a two-month internship in Washington, D.C., which included a visit to the Embassy of Japan in July of 2023. But I didn’t learn about the CSUIP program until the following December.

Through CSUIP, CSU students, like me, can spend either a semester or a year overseas while paying regular CSU tuition. I had hoped to join the Waseda University program in Tokyo, but after missing the deadline, I applied to Yonsei University in Seoul.
At Yonsei University, even the simplest tasks tested my patience. I relied on translation apps and struggled in my Korean course. Many nights, I lay in bed wondering how I could improve or why I was struggling so badly. Being an outsider was exhausting. Yet, those difficult days shaped me the most. They taught me resilience and humility.

There were also unforgettable moments. I discovered that connection doesn’t depend on perfect grammar or flawless pronunciation. Shared laughter, curiosity about one another’s backgrounds and openness bridged gaps that language couldn’t. Friendships reminded me that across cultures, students share similar struggles.

Studying abroad wasn’t easy. I had to quit my on-campus job and delay my graduation from Spring 2025 to Spring 2026. Financial planning was tough. CSUIP tuition matched CSU costs but didn’t cover everything. I applied for the Benjamin A. Gilman and Freeman Asia Scholarships, which could have provided up to $12,000, but I wasn’t selected. Instead, I relied on financial aid and took out loans for the 2024–25 academic year, totaling $18,434.

Housing at Yonsei University was highly competitive. Dorms like SK Global (co-ed) and International House (female only) filled within seconds of applications opening. Some students who missed spots had to look for alternatives off-campus.
Of course, the competitiveness didn’t stop at housing – classes at Yonsei University were just as challenging to enroll in, if not more. Some fields, such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, law and music, did not allow international or exchange students at all.

To this day, I’m still not sure why I was not allowed to take classes or, at the very least, declare a major in these fields while I was abroad. However, I suspect that this is due to a language barrier in the programs. Despite this, I ended up majoring in mass communication, although there are times when I wish I had been a major at Underwood International College (UIC). I competed with many UIC students because some study abroad courses had reserved spots for them. While I was able to secure most of the classes I wanted, there were also some classes that I did not get, and I ended up placing low on the waitlist.

The enrollment process was conducted in two rounds. The first round was for mileage, and the second round allowed me to enroll in classes I had not used my mileage on, as well as to substitute for courses I was waitlisted for to secure spots in classes with open seats. I always found this to be strange, but it also proved that no one is above the system, regardless of whether they have a learning disability and need accommodations or not.

To anyone considering studying abroad at Yonsei University, I advise them to thoroughly research their options and remain open and flexible in all aspects – housing, classes and the major they choose. I also advise people who have not left yet to begin studying the language of their study abroad center as soon as possible, as it will really help with locals who are not as fluent in English as you will be.

During my time in Korea, I was learning both Japanese and Korean simultaneously, and I had a delusional thought that because Japanese and Korean were somewhat similar, I wouldn’t struggle – which, as it turned out, was not true. Just as Italian and Spanish are not the same, neither are Japanese and Korean.

Another piece of advice is that going abroad for a year requires a lot of courage and a level of understanding about how the world works outside of the United States. At the end of your journey, you will find that the one year you spent abroad will not only help you enhance your education, but it will also help you see how different that said country is and how its customs and traditions contrast with American customs and traditions. And who knows, maybe you can make a new friend along the way, or you may find yourself yearning to go back one day.