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You are here: Home / Columns / Dispatches from London / Introducing a New Weekly Column: Dispatches From London – The Adventures of an American Grad School Student in London

Introducing a New Weekly Column: Dispatches From London – The Adventures of an American Grad School Student in London

Jul 31, 2014 By Samantha O'Brochta

Editor’s Note: Let’s give a big Londontopia Welcome to Samantha, an American Grad student who will be writing a weekly column for us about her adventures in London being a grad student. We can’t wait to read about her adventures!

Westminster Offer
My offer from the University of Westminster

Perhaps it was my mother watching British television shows with me as a kid, or drowning myself in Jane Austen novels as a pre-teen, or waiting patiently for each Harry Potter film to come out as a young adult, or then finally studying abroad in England for a semester in university, but my entire life I have been an Anglophile, and my love of the UK has never faltered. Like many fellow Anglophiles, I felt the need to make England a permanent part of my life and started looking at school programs when I was in 9th grade. I thought my parents could send me to boarding school, but that plan failed when it turned out to be too expensive. I waited until I was a senior in high school to try again, and I applied to Richmond, the International University in London. I got accepted as well as achieved a partial scholarship. Still, my parents were not impressed with how expensive it was and turned me down.

I ended up going to university only an hour and a half away from home, which was not nearly close enough to England as I had wanted. In yet another attempt, I went to my school’s study abroad office and looked at my options to get abroad. So many of the programs were insanely expensive, and I figured my dreams of getting out of America were shattered yet again. But before I could give up, my research drew me towards a program that wouldn’t cost me any more than the attendance I was already getting. I prepared this information to show my parents, they were satisfied, and after getting accepted, I got on my first flight ever to a town in Northwest England called Chester.

Chester
Chester, England.

Chester was eye opening. I finally got my first taste of England and I was hooked. It was everything I ever imagined it would be, and then some. But of course, the side of England they don’t show you in television and films became a reality to me as well. I was dumbfounded by words and phrases I hadn’t heard before, and even cried one night because I was so confused about the postal code system. It was also the first time I had been away from home in this capacity, so I yearned for my family and friends and even returned back to America a week earlier than planned. But during my time there, I got the chance to go to London twice, and that was when I knew my heart was captured.

Notting Hill
Winter in Notting Hill, London.

The following year, I managed to win two travel contests, and got to go back to London twice. Both of these trips gave me the fuel to find some way to spend the rest of my life in this international, historic city. It wasn’t easy though. Work visas for Americans were getting harder to obtain, and I didn’t think I really needed a postgraduate degree to continue with my public relations career. I got into a slump. It didn’t seem possible to be able to make it back to London as anything more than a tourist. I researched other ways to be able to go. I considered being an Au Pair, even though I am not particularly good with children. I thought I might apply for a Fulbright Scholarship, but the application process scared me. I even considered living there illegally; that’s how desperate I was.

It took me a while to sort out my priorities and what I wanted to do about this dilemma, but I finally came to the conclusion that the best way to make sure I could at least get some time in London would be to take that expensive step and apply for grad school. I had decided between a few different programs at a couple London schools, but in the end, my top choice was to study at the University of Westminster and to take on their MA in Creative Writing: Writing the City of London. I knew this would be the best course for me, since all my writing had been UK-specific since middle school, and that if I was going to do anything in London, it would be to finally finish writing one of the many novels I’ve started.

The application process was stressful though. From writing the personal statement, to asking for letters of recommendation, filling out all the personal details, applying for scholarships and purchasing official transcripts, I had a lot under my belt to get together. But it was all worth it. I was accepted to my program, and even more, received a full-fee waiver scholarship, which covers $20,000 of free education. But the hard part wasn’t even finished. I still had to apply for other financial aid to cover my living expenses, apply for accommodation, fill out the dreaded student visa application, and work out a million other tiny things, all to make sure I had every inch of this process covered.

Wigram House
Wigram House, my school accommodation.

But it’s getting to the one month mark and everything has come together! I have a wonderful dorm I’ll be staying in (a ten minute walk from Buckingham Palace), my paperwork for everything went though so I am now the proud owner of my own Tier 4 UK Student Visa, and my flight is set for September 5th. I am so close to London, I can almost taste it. My dream of waking up, looking out the window and seeing London laid out before me is only a few weeks away, and it’s finally starting to become real for me. I worked so hard for this, and it has actually happened, and I hope my story can inspire others to follow their London dreams as well. The process can be scary, but it’s so rewarding when things come together. I hope you follow my continuing adventures through my dispatches from London and maybe even find yourself in England’s capitol someday.

Samantha O'Brochta
Author: Samantha O'Brochta

Samantha was formerly an expat in London in 2014/15 before moving to New York City, where she can be found blogging and taking photographs for her site Some Call Me Adventurous. Samantha has an affinity for traveling the world, watching BBC shows, making people laugh, dancing alone in her room, dressing fashionably, and attempting to make Pinterest crafts with disastrous end results.

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Filed Under: Dispatches from London, Life in London Tagged With: dispatches from london, grad school, London, postgraduate studies, university of westminster

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About Samantha O'Brochta

Samantha was formerly an expat in London in 2014/15 before moving to New York City, where she can be found blogging and taking photographs for her site Some Call Me Adventurous. Samantha has an affinity for traveling the world, watching BBC shows, making people laugh, dancing alone in her room, dressing fashionably, and attempting to make Pinterest crafts with disastrous end results.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy Martin says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    Good luck I hope everything is perfect for you.

  2. intrepidwriters says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    Welcome, Samantha! I’m a lifelong Anglophile as well. Also, the vast majority of my ancestors are from the UK so I feel like it’s home. Best of luck in school. Looking forward to your future posts. ~ Sara

  3. Leila Horsey says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 4:35 pm

    My experience here the US as a Brit helping my son to apply to undergrad school both in the US and the UK has convinced me that the British system is much easier, better and less stressful, (not to mention way cheaper.). I guess there are many more hoops for a non-Brit to jump through but I ca’t believe its as bad as all the stuff kids have to do here. And that was while he was studying for the IB at the same time. Needless to say, he’s going to be attending university in the UK in September! Just outside of London actually

  4. Mark Smith says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Good luck with it all, Samantha! My now wife did grad school in Leeds, then we lived together outside London for 4 years. Now ‘paying back’ the favour in Washington, D.C. 🙂

  5. Lisa B. says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    Looking forward to your blog, Samantha! You made your dream happen! I actually went a semester at Richmond (then College)in London in 1989. Was strange to see it mentioned! Sorry school didn’t work out then, but your on your way now! 🙂

  6. Lisa B. says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    YOU’RE on your way. 😉

    • Dick Bringloe says

      Jul 31, 2014 at 5:42 pm

      CONGRAtS & I’m VERY happy for you !
      My favorite time in my life was when I studied over there See my Facebook page 🙂 !

  7. Elaine says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    Loved reading your entry. I love London as well and try to get there as much as I can. When I am not there, I think of it all the time and read, read, read novels, history everything I can. Good luck to you and I eagerly wait for your next entry–also, love the pictures.

  8. Karen I Ford says

    Jul 31, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    Congratulations Samantha. I look forward to reading your blog. Just getting into grad school is tough enough!!!

  9. Dave Rotchell says

    Aug 1, 2014 at 1:59 am

    Well done Sammy and a very big welcome to London.
    Looking forward to reading your ‘reports’ and ‘ updates’ have a great time in your studies and getting out and about around London and the rest of Britain.Enjoy.

  10. Robin in DeSoto says

    Aug 7, 2014 at 12:16 am

    Congratulations! I’m looking forward to your posts, and wish you the very best of luck!

  11. Dr Irfan says

    Aug 9, 2014 at 7:00 am

    You have made an excellent choice of the education institution you are going to – University of Westminster. I recently had an opportunity of getting a scholarship for a short course in the university, and stayed in the ‘Wigram House’ for 10 days. It really was a wonderful experience. Situated in the heart of London under the shadow of Westminster Cathedral, the hostel is a short distance from Buckingham palace, Victoria Station and Big Ban, British Parliament. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, having a number of kitchen and the bathrooms are just nearby. The manger is most helpful. Its a great experience being there.

    • Dr Irfan says

      Aug 9, 2014 at 7:03 am

      PS I am from Karachi Pakistan

  12. accidentallondoner says

    Aug 10, 2014 at 6:18 am

    Congratulations, Samantha! London looks forward to having you over here, and I shall be following your new column with interest.

  13. raenforest says

    May 10, 2015 at 8:25 pm

    Looking forward to your blog. I was born in the UK, grew up in Canada and live in the USA, though hubby and I lived in Edinburgh the first year we were married. I’m writing a novel and came to this site for London research. What did we ever do without the internet!!

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