Adjusting to life abroad and how I knew Hult was right for me

For the majority of Hult students, coming to campus means immersing yourself in a new city, and often a new country and culture. For our Bachelor of Business Administration students, heading to Hult also means rising to the new challenge of undergraduate-level courses.  No question about it, its exciting but its a big adjustment. Fortunately, the friends youll meet and resilience youll develop in these early days will serve you well, even long after your studies. We spoke to current students in the U.K. and U.S. to find out what the transition was like and what advice they have for the incoming Class of 2019. Adjusting to student life at Hult in the U.K. Murtaza Husainy Nationality: Indian Campus: London Graduating Class: 2020 Languages spoken:  English, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati Clubs societies:  Model United Nations, International Law Society, Society of Banking,  Hult Applied Philosophy Club,  Global Ambassador How did you know that Hult was right for you? One of the most important things that made my decision about Hult was the fact that it is a small business school. I knew that meant I’ll have more interaction with professors and also good networking opportunities with students around me. What did you miss most about your home city or country after moving? The one thing I missed about Dubai after coming to London was the weather. Coming from a city where the lowest temperature in winter is just 18 degrees Celsius, this was something that took a long time to adjust to. Did you experience any culture shock or surprises on campus? Although I studied in an international school, one of the biggest cultural shocks I had was students addressing professors by their first name. This was quite unusual to me as I had been used to addressing teachers as either Professor or Sir/Maam. But this just made me realize the family culture we have at Hult. What’s the biggest lesson youve learned studying with classmates from all over the world? The biggest lesson I have learned is that there is a lot outside of the place you come from—you just need to find the right opportunity and explore it. Selfie with new friends on campus Any advice for the incoming Class of 2019? As important as it is to work hard to gain the most out of these years, it is also important to enjoy your days, make good friends, and just develop your personality by discovering new things! The best part of being a Hult student is that youre not a part of a university—you are a part of a family, with friends from every part of the world. Caroline Voigt Nationality: German Campus: London Graduating Class: 2018 Languages spoken:  English, German Clubs societies:  Model United Nations, Hult Management Consulting Club, Global Ambassador, Faculty Fellow How did you know that Hult was right for you? It actually never occurred to me to study abroad until quite late into the summer of 2015. After Hult contacted me, I was immediately struck by its locations in cosmopolitan cities like London, while offering relevant studies in a small, familiar campus. Additionally Hults diversity, not only in the student body but also among professors and staff, amazed me. The combination of Hult’s global network together with the diversity the school really made my decision to come to Hult quite easy. What did you miss most about your home city or country after moving? My friends and family for sure—but luckily, there’s Ryanair and WhatsApp Group Chats. Whats it like having a roommate? I met my best friend Bongi because we were assigned to be roommates during our first year. We actually still live together today, almost three years later! I was really nervous about this â€Å"make or break† moment of meeting my college roommate, but looking back I can say that being assigned a roommate was definitely the best thing that happened to me all throughout my time at Hult. With Bongi at Winter Ball What’s the best part about being a Hult student? Having friends from all around the globe, and therefore always having a lovely incentive to explore the world. Any advice for the incoming Class of 2019? Always keep an open mind. This applies to everything from trying something new on the Brick Lane Food Market to always having a positive take-away from group work: If you keep an open mind, you will wander through life much easier. â€Å"It feels really personal here—wherever you go there is someone you know, and nobody is too stuck up or shy to talk to you. Everyone is really friendly.†Ã‚   Adjusting to student life at Hult in the U.S. Tumelo Seemule Nationality:  Motswana Campus: San Francisco Graduating Class: 2021 Languages spoken: English,  Setswana, Kalanga, Zulu, Xhosa Clubs societies:  Fashion Club, Prism, African Legacy Society, and Management Club,  Global Ambassador How did you know that Hult was right for you? The campus has a very futuristic, sophisticated, and clean feel to it. Also, the diversity of the international students is vast and I wanted to be able to learn from my peers. What did you miss most about your home city or country after moving? Apart from my family, I missed my cultural food. Whats it like having a roommate? I was kind of nervous because I went to boarding school, and I had gotten my fair share of bad roommates. But my roommate at Hult is probably my best one. We instantly clicked from the start and have grown stronger since then. We obviously have had our ups and downs, but through communication, we got through it. What’s the biggest lesson youve learned studying with classmates from all over the world? I have learned that the world is bigger than you think it is. It is bigger than ones thought patterns, family, country, and continent. That means that there is so much more to learn from each other. I can proudly say that Hult is a melting pot of cultures and people driven to make a difference. With the Hult Global Ambassadors in San Francisco What’s the best part about being a Hult student? The best part is that you are part of a diverse community and people here are open-minded and supportive. Even though we are from different corners of the world, we are one united school. Any advice for the incoming Class of 2019? Do not be afraid to be yourself once you get here. College is about discovering who you are and what your aspirations are in life, so do not be afraid to try new things and explore the city as much as you can. Do not be afraid to be yourself once you get here. Do not be afraid to try new things and explore as much as you can. Emily Nguyen Nationality: Vietnamese Campus: San Francisco Graduating Class: 2019 Languages spoken: English,  Vietnamese Clubs societies:  Hult Finance Club,  Global Ambassador How did you know that Hult was right for you? I’ve always wanted to go to a mid-sized school, where I can easily interact with friends and faculty. Hult also has a unique value that differentiates itself from other schools: I found its diversity fascinating, and I wanted to take the opportunity to experience it for myself. What did you miss most about your home city or country after moving? I miss the food, the culture, my family, and friends. However, I found many more friends at school that diverted me from homesickness. Did you experience any culture shock or surprises on campus? I did, especially when it comes to punctuality. I had many projects with friends from all over the world. Some showed up on time and some didn’t. In their culture, they have different standards for timekeeping. We had a disagreement, however, we resolved it smoothly and everyone was happy with the solution. We all agreed that if someone is late by more than 10 minutes, that person will receive extra responsibility and also take the group out for dinner! Turns out, nobody was late after we set that rule. Ready for Accepted Students Weekend in San Francisco Any advice for the incoming Class of 2019? Enjoy the city. San Francisco is a great place to start your adventure. You will find many interesting experiences from the city’s culture. My advice is to save up money and travel whenever you can in the city and around the city as well, places like Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, and the south of California. Also, choose your courses wisely. Constantly talk to your Academic Adviser to find inspiration and find out what you actually like to study. Then you will do well at school and also your career. You can travel the world and every place you visit, youll have at least one friend from there. If you’ve already been accepted to Hults Bachelor of Business Administration program, remember that the  deadline to confirm your place is May 1, 2019.  Secure your seat today. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog The global race: why now’s the time to secure your seat at Hult. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .