From the US to Scotland: a perfect fit

MSc Marketing student Sarah Young talks about her decision to study abroad, leaving America for Scotland, and the benefits of her Strathclyde experience.

I am from Colorado, USA and before doing my MSc in Marketing here at Strathclyde I had just finished my bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at Colorado State University.

However, I was not ready to join the work force and, having really enjoyed my years in education, I decided I wanted to continue with that. As for going to Strathclyde, I knew I wanted to go overseas for school – I knew a few people who had done it and it seemed like the perfect fit for me.

The idea of going to school in a different country was very exciting but also very intimidating. Quite frankly, I didn’t even know where to start. I heard about a non-profit agency called Across the Pond from a co-worker of mine who went to school in London for his Masters and he directed me to the wonderful people there.

Ali at Across the Pond and her other colleagues helped me take a step-by-step approach to the daunting tasks of applying for schools in the programmes I was interested in and to helping me apply for my student visa, They made the process much easier and more manageable.

I cannot believe that the MSc Marketing programme has gone by so fast. The amount I have learned about the subject and myself has been an amazing experience. The staff here at the school have been incredible to learn from. This programme and the faculty have really made me to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to think critically which has taught me a lot. Also the number of opportunities I have had to be able to interact with organisations outside the university has been great.

Marketing Works, for example, happens during the second part of course and allows students to work in groups with a company in the area on a marketing problem and allows students to research the client’s market and develop a strategy for the client. This has given me such a great opportunity to really apply the knowledge I have learned so far in the course (and it looks pretty great on a resume as well).

Through the Marketing Works programme I have been able to engage with a variety of industries and apply the knowledge gained from the course work so far to the project. I will also be getting some industry engagement when I start to work on my dissertation. The business school provides a lot of opportunities for students to listen to great public speakers about their line of work which allows students to see what kind of opportunities are out there. I personally got to see alumnus Mark Hunter, President and CEO of Molson Coors, talk about his journey after graduation and what he is doing now in his current role. I also went to a wonderful public speaker event organised by students from the MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology (EIT) programme that helped me get a glimpse of what it would be like if I ever thought of starting my own business.

The MSc Marketing has provided me with opportunities to work with people all around the world which has allowed me to appreciate the strengths that we all have and can bring to the table.

Moving to Glasgow was the first opportunity I had to live in a city and I have loved every minute of it. Glasgow always has something going on and everything is within walking distance or a subway ride away. I have taken the opportunity of the student tours that student organisations at Strathclyde and outside organisations put on so I can travel outside the city to see the Highlands and Loch Lomond National Park and that has been amazing. The friends I have made while I have been here are going to be my friends for life and I am happy to say that Glasgow feels just like a second home to me now.

Right after graduation I am planning on taking advantage of the opportunity I have to travel around Europe and then I will head back home to the USA to start the task of applying for jobs, preferably in the marketing field.

For anyone thinking of studying at Strathclyde, I’d have to say the year goes by fast - make sure you have a good balance of work and play. Not only are you getting a great education here at Strathclyde, but you have a great opportunity to live in a new place and see new things so make time to explore!

For more information on the MSc Marketing, click here.

About Sarah Young

Sarah Young is a student of MSc Marketing at Strathclyde Business School. She is from Colorado, USA and also has a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Colorado State University.