When London native and second-year global studies student Ella Wise traveled across the pond to attend college, or “uni” as it’s called for short in England, her friends had a pressing question about UCLA. Was it just like “The Hills” on MTV?
“I had to tell them that, no, there are normal people in Los Angeles,” she said, laughing.
Likewise, Wise is entertained by the American misconceptions she’s encountered ““ that the English are exceptionally proper and drink tea at 3 p.m. daily. Wise admits that she was surprised at the level of culture shock she experienced during her first year at UCLA, beginning with her orientation’s eight-clap lesson.
“In England, unis aren’t so spirited. … When I went to orientation and they were like “˜let’s learn a chant,’ I thought, “˜What? People have songs?’ It’s nice to feel a part of something, but I found that really weird at first. … It was like some kind of indoctrination ““ the Bruin baptism.”
According to Wise, it is common for English students to take a “gap year” to spend time traveling before beginning university education. However, Wise chose to forgo the path several of her friends chose.
“I wanted to do something really different. … I wasn’t sure about taking a gap year, but I thought going abroad for uni could be a compromise ““ uni in a foreign country.”
After researching schools, Wise decided UCLA was the type of university she wanted to attend.
“The American college system seemed more flexible than England’s, and I was really attracted to that. If you don’t know what you want to do in England, it’s really hard to change (majors), but over here, there’s more room for exploring,” she said.
Wise said that British schools follow strict course guidelines for specified career paths ““ something she is still deciding. While she enjoys global studies, she is open-minded to the type of work she will be able to do with her degree.
“Since working with UCLA’s One Heart Source (in Tanzania), and even before that, I felt like I want to do something with development.”
“I definitely want to travel … You never know what the future will hold.”