International students

Sophia

My name is Sophia and I am studying Marketing & Management with Industrial Experience. I am currently working on my year out at Pfizer on the Healthcare Partnership Management Team as a marketing & sales undergraduate.

I am from Chandler, Arizona. Arizona is far different from the UK. To start, it is about 30-40 degrees year-round! No wonder everyone has a swimming pool! In Arizona, I enjoy playing tennis (yes in the heat), hiking, cycling, swimming, golfing, and of course shopping.  Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon as well! 

I wanted to study at the University of Exeter for quite a few reasons:

  • It is a top business school & Russell Group university
  • The city is filled with very nice restaurants, a shopping centre, lovely quay side for a run, movie theatres, cafes to study in (I LOVE my acai bowl from the Undergrad café)- ultimately Exeter has everything you could want and more!
  • The countryside won me over at the campus tour! The rolling hills are truly stunning (especially to someone from the desert!)
  • There are a LARGE range of clubs and societies to get involved in. I have played tennis, been on the dance performing team, attended Hispanic society & more
  • The opportunity to travel all around Europe (I have been lucky to explore Spain, France, Italy, Amsterdam, Portugal, & Scotland). Next year I plan to add Switzerland, Germany, Greece, and Turkey to the list!
  • The price is comparable to going to university out of state in the USA

I am a Student Ambassador and tell everyone on my tours this: at many Universities, each student is just a number to the institution. At Exeter, this is not true at all. University professors invest in their students. They truly care about students’ development & progression while on their course as well as after. Each professor is always willing to provide additional support and guidance whenever needed. Additionally, as I am now working this year, I realize just how useful & relevant most modules have been; I’ve been able to use my marketing foundations quite a bit at Pfizer! Because of the high-quality professors and modules at Exeter, I feel very prepared and excited to enter the work world!

I arrived just as Covid 19 rates were decreasing, but my parents were still not allowed to help me move in (quarantine restrictions). Luckily the International Team were extremely helpful! When I arrived at the airport in London, they were there greeting students in their bright pink shirts! I remember the team being so kind & happy to answer all of our nervous questions. The coach took us from the airport straight to campus which was very easy and convenient. As well, they hold an international students café (all welcome, even students from the UK) that my friends and I still attend every Friday. It is a great opportunity for international students to meet as we all are experiencing the same things.  Additionally, with the large breaks between terms (1 month for Christmas, 1 month in April, 3 months in summer), I am able to go back home quite a bit!

My favourite things about Exeter:

  • THE PEOPLE are absolutely lovely & have made my time at Exeter amazing. I know I will cherish my time at Exeter forever (it’s even saying something that I have LOVED working at Pfizer & have learned so much, but I cannot wait to be back at Exeter in my final year).
  • Sport- there is such an inclusive culture- you are encouraged to try any & every sport you want! I have been to hockey, football, bench ball, and golf tasters with little previous experience!
  • My time on the tennis team has been unforgettable as well.
  • There’s something for everyone! There is so much in the city to do – the cathedral, quay, restaurants, cafes, movie theatres, pubs, clubs, shopping, beach.
  • COLLEGE TOWN FEEL- you can walk around town & bump into people you know. It’s big enough but not too big.
  • Some of my favourite memories are of the 3rd term in the summer after exams are over! Everyone is celebrating, the weather is beautiful. We went for long beach runs, played spike ball in the garden, barbequed, held a boys vs. girls tennis house tournament, went out……
  • I also LOVE going on a day trip to Bath.

I have used the Career Zone to help with my placement! (they kindly checked & offered advice on my CV). I plan to work in sales at Pfizer after university, but right now I am very excited to spend my last year learning more, having a blast with my friends, and travelling before completely entering the real world.

M advice for a US student thinking about studying in the UK/ Exeter: DO IT! Exeter is the perfect home for you! It will be scary, but it is so worth it. The people you will meet, professors you will learn from, opportunities for working/ traveling abroad, activities you can get involved with, things you can do in town are all amazing and endless!

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