Hillary Kramer, USA

Institution Attended: NUI Maynooth

"I am the third person in my family to successfully complete a college degree but I am the first to pursue a course of study outside of the United States. From the second I stepped foot in Ireland I knew that I had discovered a new and exciting facet of my life and I have not looked back since. This experience at NUI Maynooth has shaped my future in a powerful way - by giving me an appreciation for the culturally and intellectually diverse world in which we now live.

I moved to Ireland in the summer of 2006 to begin a Bachelor of Arts, Double Honors in English and Spanish at the National University of Ireland - Maynooth. I had heard about NUIM from friends of mine who told me that it was one of the most widely recognized and highly accredited universities not only in Ireland but Europe as well. I undertook the application process while still living in the United States and I honestly felt as if the staff at the University warmly welcomed my application. It was because of this warm welcome that I knew, even before stepping foot in Maynooth, that I was not going to have any problems adjusting and settling in. The first time I came to campus, I instantly felt that I was walking into a University that was buzzing with a strong thirst for knowledge as well as plenty of competent staff who were eager to provide any and all assistance that they could to the students. Perhaps one of the most striking features of academic life that I’ve found in Maynooth is the availability of useful services for students. For many students, the transition from secondary school to university life can be a stressful and daunting task but readiness of each and every one of the professors, teaching assistants, counselors and other staff helps to minimize the difficult adjustment time that many students have. The enormous sizes of lectures, especially in an area like Arts, was something that I personally found a bit intimidating but after the creation of helpful things like tutorials and online forums, the fear of not being able to fully grasp the lectures was reduced dramatically. Additionally, the large student population has allowed me to branch out of my comfort zone and meet people whom I can relate to academically and socially as well.

Upon being named 'University of the Year 2008' by the Sunday Times University Guide, the atmosphere around the campus has livened up even mre because the students and staff walk around with their heads held high knowing that everyone is responsible in their own unique way for gaining that recognition. Although my time in NUI Maynooth is nearly over, my education structure stands firmly on the foundation of a well-rounded education nurtured not only by myself and what I've done in my studies but also those who passed down the knowledge and encouraged me every step of the way."