Search | Menu Madison College Student Goes Global
Salzburg, Austria sits about 4,500 flight miles from where Madison College student Gwen Hirtz lives, but it’s a place her ancestors called home.
That, and the fact that she spoke German, was enough to entice Gwen to pick the European country for her Madison College study abroad experience.
“Being at a technical college, I didn’t think studying abroad was possible,” Gwen says, as she remembers completing the required application process in less than a month. Madison College students can go global in a semester, on a short trip, and even virtually to Africa, Central and South America, and Europe.
It was the first time Gwen had traveled outside the United States, but the transition to a small Salzburg College was a good fit.
“The first week we did a lot of hiking, going to the different restaurants, and getting to know the city, so I wasn’t stressed when I needed to get food and school supplies,” Gwen says.
Immersed in small classrooms with students from across the United States, Gwen studied German language, European art, and Austrian politics and government. With three-day weekends, she also explored on her own.
“It was my first time outside of the U.S., so everything was new to me,” Gwen says. "I’m a mountain girl, so seeing the mountains was very exciting.”
Studying abroad can build confidence and independence, from learning a new language and culture to making new friends and figuring out day-to-day logistics. To keep track of her study abroad adventures, Gwen kept a journal.
“Just about everything about my Salzburg study abroad experience changed my life -- from learning the language to meeting people who I never would have met from all over the world. I could not pinpoint one thing that made more of an impact because it was all life-changing,” Gwen says.
While studying abroad can be expensive, Gwen says Madison College offers scholarships so everyone can aspire to go global. Students can also use their financial aid package for international study.
Gwen, who graduated in December 2023 as a science liberal arts transfer student, plans to study forestry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall. She says her Austria study abroad experience has prepared for her next adventure, and encourages others to go global.
“My No. 1 advice is if you want to do it and it’s been on your mind, just do it,” Gwen says.
Find out more about Madison College International Study Programs. Madison College is expanding its study abroad program to Kenya, located in East Africa, in May 2024, with a recent $35,000 IDEAS Grant that encourages historically underrepresented students to participate and explore study abroad opportunities.
