Why did you choose Radboud University?
After having a great Student-For-A-Day experience, I noticed that both the university and the city perfectly catered to my needs and to my expectations of academic life. The university gives you plenty of freedom to form an academic year to your liking while also being of great assistance when something goes awry. Nijmegen is a great city because it is really quite small without feeling crowded or cramped.
How did you experience the transition from high school to university?
I personally did not experience that much of a rocky transition, except for the way of testing. I had never written an essay before university, but suddenly nearly all of my exams were essays. Luckily, there are courses which sole purpose is to teach you how to write an academic essay, and I got the hang of it in no time!
What do you like about the Bachelor's programme and why?
American Studies is perfect for me because it is extremely interdisciplinary. I did not know what I wanted to do after high school so studying American Studies gave me the freedom to do a little bit of everything while still feeling cohesive and catering to my interests. With courses about music, art, history, politics, popular culture and literature as well as plenty of linguistics courses, it never gets dull.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
Lecturers in American Studies are highly involved in the students' life, mostly because the study is relatively small. Lecturers show genuine interest in the goings-on of your life. Since you all picked the same study, your interests align with your fellow students'. This makes making friends and talking to fellow students so much easier than in high school. The study association (USA Nijmegen) also helps with the bonding process among students.
I have been a very active member of USA Nijmegen this year, and next year I will be in the board! I will be CIA (Chief Internal Affairs) and will make sure that all committees run smoothly and that all events will be a big success.
What are your plans once you have received your Bachelor’s degree?
I would love to fully move to the US, hopefully to be a correspondent or journalist for the Dutch news. As a plan B, I also love teaching so I might become a lecturer at Radboud!
What do you like about Nijmegen?
Nijmegen is really open-minded, safe and accepting for anyone and everyone. The city is hard to get lost in, yet there are hidden gems all over the city where you can have a great dinner, enjoy nature or have drinks with friends. I have lived here for nearly two years now and I still discover something new every time.
Did you visit any information meetings at the campus before you signed up for your studies?
Yeah! I was a student-for-a-day and I visited the open day, which really cemented my choice to study American Studies as opposed to other comparable studies. By talking to students who are already studying the track, all my suspicions were confirmed and all of my questions were answered.
What would you advise students when choosing a study programme?
Really dive into the 'courses and curriculum' tab of the studies. There, you can find exactly what you will study over the course of three years. The study homepage gives a brief overview, but it is often not as in-depth as you would want it to be. Also check out the corresponding study association since that will be a great way to socialise with your fellow students.