Exploring the Oregon coast on my year abroad

I studied BSc Biology and in my second year I went to Oregon State University for my year abroad. Choosing Oregon State was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Although I was about as far as I could get from England, the surroundings and people I met in Oregon made it feel like home.

Throughout the year we camped amongst Oregon’s beautiful forests and beside its lakes, explored the Oregon coast, spotted bald eagles on Vancouver Island, road tripped through the redwoods in California, celebrated Thanksgiving, (sadly) watched the elections, skied on Oregon's mountains, and visited Portland to experience much of the great food Oregon has to offer!

Some of my favourite places in Oregon were Crater Lake, Smith Rock, Painted Hills, and Blue Basin. I also got involved in Corvallis life, and volunteered at the local animal shelter. I would go to shelter a few times a month and take the rescued dogs for walks.

Throughout the year we camped amongst Oregon’s beautiful forests and beside its lakes, explored the Oregon coast, spotted bald eagles on Vancouver Island, road tripped through the redwoods in California, celebrated Thanksgiving, watched the elections, skied on Oregon's mountains, and visited Portland to experience much of the great food Oregon has to offer!

Maddy Brunt

BSc Biology with a Year Abroad at Oregon State University in the USA

Of course, I did go to classes on my year abroad as well! Classes such as honey bee biology and ichthyology (studying fish) were among my favourites. I loved how classes in Oregon were so focused on field work and I got to experience and explore much of Oregon this way.

The workload in America was much heavier than in England, and I definitely spent my fair share of late nights in the library, but the lecturers were always so friendly and willing to help that the work didn’t seem so daunting.

I would advise anyone to go on a year abroad; it was one of the best years of my life.

It grants you so much freedom and independence, along with a change of scenery and the opportunity to meet so many new people. It is definitely an experience that changes you, and I feel I’m changed for the better.