Queen Mary University of London BSc Geography student Maisie Prestridge is spending the full academic year at University of California Santa Barbara – swapping the hustle and bustle of London for ocean-side life, gaining priceless memories and experiences.

Living in California has been one of my biggest dreams since I was young, but actually committing and moving there for a year was still a scary thought. Even after going through the whole University of California application process and getting placed at my first choice, I still debated whether moving there would be the right decision for me. My biggest advice for someone going through something similar, and is on the fence, would be to just go for it. I’m not even halfway through my year abroad and yet, I’ve gained countless memories, perspectives and lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  

One of my biggest worries was moving into a house with people I’d never met before. Now, I can honestly say that I was worried for no reason and that those girls are some of my closest friends. I’m really grateful that I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and am excited for those that I have yet to meet. 

Not only was I lucky with the people, the living situation at UCSB is unbelievable. I opted out of on campus housing and chose to live in Isla Vista – the surrounding town. I found my house on Facebook through a post that the girls had posted. It’s still surreal to me that I live right next to the beach and can go down there whenever I want. A beach town is a complete change in pace from what I’m used to with the bustle of London. The only real adjustment has been the lack of convenient public transport, especially as someone who doesn’t have a drivers license. But, even that is manageable with the buses and helpful friends.  

One of my favourite moments so far was spending Thanksgiving with one of my housemates and her family. Experiencing something I’d only ever heard about felt unreal, and I honestly think it lives up to the hype. Seeing as she was from Northern California, I also had the opportunity to explore some of the area. We visited spots like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Monarch butterfly sanctuary in Pacific Grove, and some beautiful coastal viewpoints. 

Academically, I’ve really loved the flexibility I am able to have with my module choices. I’m able to choose classes that genuinely interest me, and this aspect of the year abroad has even helped me clarify the career path I want to take. When comparing the assessment styles of UCSB and QMUL, the system here is much more continuous. Your final grade is based on a much more continuous process, with quizzes, attendance, and smaller assignments spread throughout the quarter instead of relying on final assignments and exams. 

I also wanted to take the final few sentences to express gratitude for the Turing Scheme, as it has given me the freedom within my year abroad to join different clubs – like the Excursion Club – and to explore countries across the continent that I’ve never had the chance to visit before. This first quarter at UCSB has already been so life-changing and I can’t wait to see what else the year will bring.