Photo by Koh Terai/The Gazelle

The decision to take a second semester abroad in one of the Global Network University’s many sites can be a complicated decision. Similarly, choosing to stay back in Abu Dhabi for that semester is equally intricate. Community, classes and career pathways are just a few of the factors that must be considered in order to make an informed choice. While the majority of students in the past have decided to take two semesters away from Abu Dhabi, a trend has been emerging of students choosing to stay in Abu Dhabi instead.

I've had the opportunity to sit down with a few students and discuss their decisions.

Juniors Eduardo Campillo and Sofia Gomez-Doyle opted to spend their spring semesters of sophomore year in Paris and Accra respectively. While they both enjoyed and benefited from their time away, both noted the unique aspects of NYUAD as the main factor behind the decision to stay in Abu Dhabi.

For Campillo, the student-to-faculty ratio and the desire to participate in rigorous academic and research training made the opportunities present at NYUAD incomparable with those abroad.

“These are the people that are working in the field that I want to be working in, so they are the people I need to learn from,” said Campillo.

Gomez-Doyle echoed similar sentiments, saying that staying in Abu Dhabi has enabled her to “cultivate relationships in a deeper way,” particularly with her professors, owing to the small and diverse community at NYUAD.

However, both Campillo and Gomez-Doyle were quick to add that they did not choose to stay in Abu Dhabi for the rest of their time because their study away semesters were unfruitful.

“It’s a very fruitful experience that I agree everyone should go through at least once,” commented Campillo, adding that managing life individually from paying bills to organizing buses had given him experiences not present in Abu Dhabi.

Aside from the unique academic considerations, continuity in the existing or new programs such as community service or Student Interest Groups was also a vital factor for people to stay in Abu Dhabi.

“Last semester, we had seven workshops [for staff], this semester we’re doing 22,” said Garreth Chan, a junior heavily involved with social responsibility initiatives at NYUAD.

Similarly, Gomez-Doyle cited her involvement in and leadership of the Girls Education Network as a driving factor.

There are also factors outside of the NYUAD community that have led students to forgo a second semester abroad. Senior Elizabeth Couri noted how spending more time in Abu Dhabi had allowed her to tap into social circles and communities, which for many students can be hard to reach.

“Staying here allowed me to finally join a Christian community in Abu Dhabi and to serve in it, [to] get to know families and [to] allow them into my life as they allowed me in theirs,” said senior Couri.

However, amid all the rationales behind the decision to stay, everyone who was interviewed was quick to point out the unique experiences and unparalleled personal growth that was possible only by leaving for semesters abroad.

As a closing note, Chan highlighted the need for each student to consider for themselves their pathways and whether going abroad or staying in Abu Dhabi would be the best means to their ends.

As the university continues to develop, students will have to find their own balance between the undeniable advantages of semesters abroad and the contemplation of their own future plans and the roles they play in the community. Amid the discussions of optimizing utility of semesters away, perhaps one often unrealized thought is that for most students, coming to Abu Dhabi is already going abroad.