When & why did you decide to Study Abroad? “Studying abroad had been a long-time goal of mine since high school. I didn’t immediately know when or where to start, but I knew I wanted a break from the stereotypical engineering routine & a chance to do something that would set me apart from other engineers. With a bit of planning & patience, I made this dream happen during the fall quarter of my junior year.” What location & program did you choose? Why? “I chose the UCEAP program specifically because I was able to integrate UC credit into my time abroad. All while paying the same amount of tuition. In deciding where to go, I was looking for an English-speaking country with cooler weather (I’ve lived in California my entire life), a University that offered relevant courses for my major, & ultimately a country known for its fair share of outdoor activities. Ranked amongst the best in the world, the University of Auckland, New Zealand was the perfect choice”.

Did you receive any credit towards your major? “Yes! I was able to complete MAE 130A as well as three general education courses that I needed to graduate.” Was it difficult to study abroad as an engineering student? “This was arguably my biggest concern while planning to go abroad, & even some friends of mine worried I would fall behind if I wasn’t taking engineering courses at UCI. Nevertheless, I went & I have zero regrets. The only issue I had was one of the engineering courses I planned to take at UOA was no longer being offered for the term I was in Auckland, so I was forced to take an extra GE. Even so, this lightened up my schedule & made my time in New Zealand that much more enjoyable. Final exams were weighted more heavily abroad, but UOA had a generally lighter amount of coursework than UCI, so I couldn’t complain!”

Engineers Abroad

Lauren Taggett Aerospace Engineer

New Zealand Fall 2017 University of Auckland

(Waitomo Glowworm Caves in Waitomo, New Zealand)

(Queenstown, New Zealand)

(Piha Beach, New Zealand)

For more information visit: Engineering Undergraduate Student Affairs Office | 305 Rockwell Engineering Center UCI Study Abroad Center | 1100 Student Services II 949-824-4334 | ugengr@uci.edu 949-824-6343 | studyabroad@uci.edu undergraduate.eng.uci.edu studyabroad.uci.edu

Engineers Abroad | Lauren Taggett | Aerospace Engineering | New Zealand | University of Auckland

Were you able to visit other cities outside of Auckland? “During my orientation week in New Zealand, I was lucky to make really good friends with whom I would rent cars & travelled with to different beaches, waterfalls, & other incredible landmarks all throughout New Zealand on a weekly basis. My friend & I also rented a camper van for a weeklong road trip from the south island & headed northward across the entire country, stopping at some of New Zealand’s most well-known areas on the way & even finding the time to go bungee jumping! During my two-week mid-semester break, I travelled solo to Sydney & Melbourne in Australia. I saw koalas, kangaroos, visited the Opera House, & went on countless ferry rides to different spots nearby. This was easily one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life!” Would you recommend studying abroad to other engineering students? “A million times, YES! It’s hard to put into words how incredible my time abroad was. Upon returning to the States, I’ve noticed how much I miss the culture, lifestyle, & people that I met in New Zealand, not to mention the independence & ability to explore ridiculously cool places on a weekly basis. Past returnees advocated how valuable studying abroad would be, but hearing it from others didn’t mean nearly as much to me until I experienced it first-hand. As an engineer, I feel better equipped to interact with more diverse groups of people, & I have a renewed appreciation for time-management, flexibility, & self-awareness.”

What advice would you give to engineering students who are considering studying abroad? Just do it! Don’t even think twice! Well, that’s not true. Definitely give going abroad some thought & planning, but realize that this really is an experience of a lifetime. I am incredibly grateful for the people I met in New Zealand & the friends from other UC campuses with whom I returned home. Applying to go abroad may initially seem intimidating, but the application process is actually quite simple. Follow the deadlines, plan ahead, time manage, & go do something unique that will help shape you as an individual & have a direct impact on your life that you won’t find elsewhere. Going abroad was easily the highlight of my college career thus far!”

(University of Auckland Campus)

(Karekare Falls in Waitakere, New Zealand)