"During my time abroad, I experienced an expansion in my independence, self-assurance, and personal development."
Hi! I’m Claire, and I’m a Senior (CC’24) studying Political Science. In the Fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to study at Queen Mary University of London as part of the Columbia in London program.

Claire taking a selfie with a group of friends near the chilly waters of the United Kingdom
It was amusing that my friends had spent so much time thinking about who I’d be when I went to London. I applied to Columbia in London almost on a whim because I had been a student of the coordinating English professor, Edward Mendelson, and wanted a program that wasn’t purely focused on language. It ended up being the best decision of my university career.
During my time abroad, I experienced an expansion in my independence, self-assurance, and personal development. Outside of the Columbia environment—and my academic comfort zone—I was able to redefine my identity as a student. I took

The Columbia in London cohort getting dinner with Professor Mendelson
Outside of school, I was eager to explore the city’s museums, theaters, parks, and pubs. Those experiences were made even better because I was able to share them with new friends. So while I didn’t pick up any British traits like my friends predicted (maybe besides gaining a strong affinity for the song “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis), I still left my time abroad with new memories and confidence.