KWC in Rome
David Bertschinger is a KWC junior majoring in physics. He is spending the Spring 2010 semester studying abroad on the campus of Richmond University in Rome. He will be providing regular updates to KWConnect. This is his first installment.
Studying abroad has long been a goal of mine. Over three years ago, I began my college search (September of 2006). Little did I know a hunt that took me around the entire Midwest would land me less than three miles from my house at Kentucky Wesleyan.
From the very beginning, one of my important criteria for a college was a good study abroad program. I even applied for a study abroad scholarship at the University of Illinois, a top contender at the time. I finally settled on Kentucky Wesleyan, and this goal was set aside for a time, but not forgotten.
Early on, my plan was only to stay at KWC for three years or less. This set back my study abroad semester to when I was to go to the aforementioned University of Illinois. However, when my plans changed to stay and graduate from KWC, I realized my study abroad plans would also have to be revised. Numerous changes in my academic schedule made this seem like a daunting task.
In the middle of my sophomore year, my parents drew my attention to the imperative nature of finalizing my academic schedule so that I could spend a semester in another country. After many visits with the Academic Dean and emails to my advisor, Dr. Johnson on sabbatical at the University of Kentucky, my class schedule for the next two years was chiseled out so that a semester of my junior year was freed from classes at KWC. However, this required me to take two upper level classes over the summer (Calculus IV and Differential Equations) and pack 18 hours into this past fall semester.
In February, I obtained an application for study abroad from Pam Parr, our academic support advisor at KWC. KWC required an application, mostly for scholarship purposes. I had looked over a program book from the American Institute for Foreign Study, and I decided on their Rome experience. While it was a top contender with other locations, the class “Religions and Cults of Ancient Rome” offered there sold me on that program. Needless to say, I am enrolled in it right now.
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Congratulations on final achieving your goal. I’m looking forward to seeing your progress and adventures abroad.