Meet Talbot!
Talbot is a fourth-year CCAS, Honors student who is currently finishing the Global Bachelor’s Program (GBP). She is a Biology major who started the GBP in Spring 2022.
Due to restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, her cohort went to Santiago, Chile for their first semester. After that, she spent a semester in Rhotia, Tanzania. Then, finally, Melbourne, Australia.
If you have any questions, Talbot works in the Office for Study Abroad and would be happy to talk with you about her experience and the Global Bachelor’s Program!
Why did you decide to apply to the Global Bachelor’s Program?
I actually decided I wanted to apply to the Global Bachelor’s Program before I decided I wanted to go to GW. I have always wanted to explore other cultures and meet people from all over the world - what better way to do that
than to live abroad myself?
The chance to do that three different times
before graduating was not one I wanted to pass up, and it’s a decision I have never once regretted.
How did you meet your requirements while abroad?
There are a lot of great study abroad programs that offer classes in biology, so for my major it was really just about looking on GW CATS and through the specific program websites to see which had the most classes that met my specific major requirements. For example, I knew I wanted to study in Australia for one of my semesters but was not sure which university I wanted to attend. I looked at the classes offered by three different programs I was considering and found that I could complete at least three courses at the University of Melbourne that would satisfy remaining requirements I had on my degree. So, I decided to go there and had an incredible semester studying animals.
In terms of the Honors Program, those classes do not have equivalents abroad. So, I took both of my Origins and Evolution of Modern Thought courses Freshman year, like everyone else does. Then, I made sure to take one Self and Society and one Arts and Humanities course the Fall of my Sophomore year so that, after my three semesters abroad, I only had one of each left to take during my senior year. By planning ahead when signing up for these courses, I was able to spread them out a bit so that I didn’t end up having to take four Honors courses my Senior year. The Honors Senior Thesis is also something I am working on right now, so all I had to do while abroad was communicate with a potential research supervisor, Dr. Scott Powell in my case, to figure out how I could meet that requirement once back at GW. Due to this planning, I was able to focus on meeting my major requirements while abroad so that I will have all of my requirements completed in time for graduation.
What is one moment you’ll never forget from your time abroad?
There are a lot of moments that stick with me, but one of the first that comes to mind was watching a lion catch a zebra. I plan to go into Zoology, so I have always been interested in animals, but I had only ever seen scenes like that on TV before. Witnessing that live was one of the coolest experiences in my life and I will definitely never forget it.
Do you think your studies benefitted from your time abroad?
My studies definitely benefitted. Personally, as someone who wants to pursue zoology after graduation, I feel like I was actually able to focus my studies even more than if I had stayed on campus all 4 years.
In Tanzania, for example, the entire program was centered around wildlife management. I was not only taking classes in the subject, but also going into the field to study the animals in person and gain research experience. That is what I want to pursue as a career, so gaining experience as an undergraduate was incredible.
On a more general note, though, I think taking classes in your field from all over the world really lets you see first hand how different countries are responding to the challenges facing our world today. I took classes about wildlife in all three countries and learned about how they are managing invasive species and working to conserve their native ones. That
really gave me a multifaceted perspective on those issues, which is crucial when working to solve them. I also think this aligns with the focus of the Honors Program on promoting interdisciplinary learning because it adds an intercultural aspect that is truly invaluable.
What advice would you give CCAS students interested in the GBP?
I would say the two most important things are planning and flexibility. Completing the GBP is possible with any major or program, but the key is to really plan ahead. Start looking on GW Passport at the different programs that might interest you, look at GW CATS to see what classes those programs offer for your major and make a 4-year plan to make sure that you have considered all of your requirements when looking at these programs. In the Honors Programs, this last step is especially important because you have to make sure you have planned to meet these requirements while on GW’s campus.
Although this planning is crucial, it is also important to recognize that not everything goes to plan. The course you were hoping to take in a certain program might not be offered the semester you are there, or you may decide to go to a different location instead. You have to be able to figure out a Plan B when faced with these changes, but know that, as long as you keep your requirements in mind and put in the work, you will be able to find another option and make it work. Sometimes, these changes actually lead to the best experiences, like my semester in Chile that was initially supposed to be in China. So, be open to different possibilities. If you do all of this, there is nothing stopping you from getting your degree while studying internationally.