Do you want to study at California State University Northridge, but still have questions about this international experience? Check out the interview with our student Flavia Gomes.
1) What motivated you to take a course abroad? How did you hear about IBS Americas?
On Instagram. I’ve always wanted to take a course abroad, but I never had the means. The IBS scholarship competition, together with some money I had saved up, made it possible for this dream to come true.
2) What is your academic background and what were your expectations for the international program?
I’ve been a lawyer for over ten years and I expected to bring knowledge outside my field into my day-to-day.
3) How did you choose the course and the university? What were the decisive factors in your choice?
I chose the course based on the syllabus available on the website, as it met my expectations of gaining knowledge in an area I’ve always been interested in but that isn’t part of the law school curriculum nor any postgraduate program in the field. The decisive factors were the flexibility of the dates, the scholarship exam, and the course content, which I considered very much aligned with my trajectory. As for the university, I made my choice by the state, because I believe California has a great reputation in education, with a modern and innovative style. In addition, I researched the universities and found CSUN very beautiful, apparently modern, with excellent infrastructure.
4) What were the main challenges you faced being in another country, with another language and classmates of various nationalities?
Without a doubt, it was the language. It’s one thing to travel for tourism and chat casually with people from other countries; it’s quite another to give presentations in English, in a formal way. That, in fact, pushed me past any obstacle I’d ever had. Moreover, working in a group with people trained in completely different fields, and, from that, being able to develop a complete project was an enriching experience.
5) How do you evaluate the quality of teaching, the infrastructure, and the resources offered by the university?
I’d rate it as incredible! The professors were wonderful, with tremendous professional backgrounds, always willing to share their knowledge in a kind, patient, and competent way. The university has excellent, modern, beautiful infrastructure!
6) What were the main lessons and skills you developed throughout the course?
I learned a lot about branding, design, and the responsible use of data to expand my client base and improve the services I offer. I also gained knowledge about marketing strategies and, because everything was in English, developed a broader perspective.
7) What places did you have the opportunity to visit in your free time?
I visited the Walk of Fame, several nearby spots and restaurants, but that entire trip took place before the course.
8) How were your experiences in the lectures?
The lectures were very interesting, the speakers were excellent and shared a lot of information about their professional lives, but I would have preferred more class hours.
9) Were you able to expand your networking during the course? Could you share a bit of that experience?
In truth, as I’m a lawyer and people were from various parts of Brazil and other countries, it wasn’t something I managed to do. But the friendships I made were incredible and enriched my life immensely!
10) In what way will this international experience impact your career?
It will have a significant impact, as international experience brings seriousness and greater credibility. In addition, the knowledge I gained made me rethink my entire professional communication and marketing strategy at my law firm.
11) What advice would you give to students and professionals who want to take a course abroad with IBS Americas?
Do it! Don’t let any difficulty stop you. If you feel afraid, go with fear anyway! At 39, I had that courage, and this experience changed my life and my way of thinking. Even being around much younger people was great too, because youth has an excellent outlook on life and a unique energy! So get organized, take your course abroad, and enjoy it to the fullest! I’m very grateful to IBS and the CSUN team, who were wonderful to me throughout this experience. Gratitude!
