As decision day gets closer, seniors are weeding out their options and choosing which college fits them the best. Some seniors are lucky, and have always had an idea of where they want to go, like Liam Waters, who is taking his college experience to a whole new level.
NWN: Where are you going to school this coming fall?
Waters: Unlike everyone here, I’m going to school over seas. I was accepted and will be attending Cambridge University in England.
NWN: Why did you decide to go all the way to England for college?
Waters: I chose to attend Cambridge for a few reasons, the most important being Cambridge is one of the very few Universities that offers the major I intend on studying. Also, I have always wanted to study overseas because it’s a totally different environment and there is so much history behind everything in England.
NWN: What major do you intend on studying?
Waters: The short answer is early medieval literature, language, and history. The actual course name is called Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic. Not many American Universities offer this, so Cambridge became a great fit.
NWN: Have you visited Cambridge?
Waters: Yes, I visited in early December because I had an interview there (British Universities are a little different on the admissions process so they require an interview) and that was my first time in Cambridge. I’ve been to England before, but never directly in Cambridge so I was excited about seeing where I was going to go to school and the places around it.
NWN: What were your thoughts on the University and its surroundings?
Waters: I really loved the fact that the dorms at Cambridge are single dorms with their own bathrooms. It’s really nice because I won’t have to share a room, or bathroom, with anyone. I really liked how focused the students are, and they all seem so scholarly.
NWN: What are you looking forward to most?
Waters: Like everyone else, I look forward to making new friends who are interested in my major and others. I really look forward to exploring England and the continent as a whole. It’s exciting to know I’ll be in a new place and be on my own, so I will definitely be doing a lot of exploring.
NWN: What are your family’s thoughts on you studying in a different country?
Waters: They have all been really supportive through it all, but I can tell my mom is starting to hang on tighter because she knows that I really won’t be home much once I’m in England. Because flying is so expensive, I’m not sure how often I will be able to come home, but I’m definitely making it a priority that my friends come to Cambridge and visit me.
NWN: What do you plan on doing during breaks if you won’t be flying home?
Waters: Cambridge is on a trimester system, so I get two major breaks. I plan on probably staying in Europe during those breaks and explore all the continent has to offer. I’ll most likely be visiting my family in Ireland since it will be so close. It’s nice that even though I’m far from home, I will have family somewhat close to me.
