Paola from Communication and Audiovisual Media won the Uni scholarship for a semester at the Universidad Mayor, Campus Santiago, Chile.


When you entered UNI, did you know there were international programs?

Yes, it was one of the reasons I chose to study at the University of Celaya.

When and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country? Since my first semester I started to prepare and work to get a scholarship, but it was in my fifth semester when I started to apply; I always wanted to go on an exchange program to learn about another culture.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

I chose to go to Chile because it is one of the most developed countries in Latin America, besides having a diversity of landscapes, it is a country full of incredible places.

How was the scholarship application process?

I started to do things since I started my career and have a profile to be selected for the scholarship; from volunteering, services and extracurricular things. So when the scholarships are announced you have a better chance of being a beneficiary. 

How did you prepare for this new experience?

I started looking for accommodation from Mexico, and making a list of things I would like to visit or do to make the most of this experience. 

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

Arriving in Chile I was nervous and excited at the same time, it was a totally new experience for me, I felt ready for anything to come. Chile is a country with warm people and everyone helped us to get to our accommodation, even when we arrived they helped us to find what we needed. 

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

The Universidad Mayor, since we were in Mexico, helped us with the process to obtain the visa, they also offered us housing options, and when we arrived in Chile they gathered the exchange students to welcome us and explain a little about the University.

What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
Without a doubt the food, in Chile things don't have much flavor, besides they don't have much variety of products, about UNI what I miss the most is the community, at UMayor they don't have events to socialize, so it is difficult to meet new people.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? And the most difficult?

The most exciting thing I have experienced is to be able to travel with my friends to different places, it is an unforgettable experience, the most difficult thing so far has been having to organize myself, now everything depends on me, so I have to organize my time very well.

How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?

This experience helped me to grow as a person, I feel more capable of achieving my goals, coming on exchange opened another perspective of the world, and of what I would like to do with my life. 

What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?

Make the most of this opportunity, live and experience as much as you can, do things you wouldn't usually do, and make friends with people from another country, exchange cultures.

Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?

I would 100% recommend going on an exchange, it is an experience that is like nothing else, you may be scared to go alone at first, but I promise you that after that you won't want to go back, you will meet amazing people and travel to places you never imagined. Thank you UNI!