MSU junior Cooper finds new horizons through study abroad

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Traveling internationally and experiencing different cultures have always been on Allie Cooper’s bucket list.

The junior mechanical engineering student from Sumrall checked both off her list last spring when she studied abroad at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain.

Her experience is one of many study abroad options available to students in Mississippi State’s Bagley College of Engineering to learn other ways of life, network and travel across the globe.

Allie Cooper (Photo submitted)

“Some of the best learning happens beyond campus,” said Galyna Melnychuk, director of international programs for the Bagley College of Engineering. “Studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your college career, giving you the opportunity to explore the world, experience different cultures firsthand, make lifelong international friends and gain confidence by stepping outside your comfort zone.”

Engineering students can choose from semester-long or summer study abroad programs. The courses students take fulfill the overseas experience requirement for the Global Engineering Leadership minor, and many count toward their degrees.

Cooper started researching options after her freshman year. She chose Spain because of the wide range of engineering courses the university offered.

“I was especially interested in seeing how engineering is taught and practiced in other parts of the world,” she said. “Spain was appealing to me because it offered the right academic opportunities alongside a wealth of culture and history. I wanted to experience more than just studying in another country. I wanted to immerse myself in the language, the engineering program and everyday Spanish life. Madrid offered the perfect combination of all three, making it an ideal place for me to study abroad.”

Cooper spent the spring taking classes such as fluid mechanics and Spanish culture through film. She enjoyed it so much that she’s returning next spring and will take 3D engineering design with dynamic simulation and automotive engineering, among others.

Beyond the classroom, Cooper traveled to 12 countries. She rode camels in the Sahara Desert, watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night and sailed through the Greek islands.

“Each destination introduced me to new cultures, people and perspectives,” she said. “Those experiences gave me memories I will carry with me for the rest of my life and reminded me just how much there is to explore beyond what we know.”

Mechanical engineering student Allie Cooper rides a camel in the Sahara Desert. Cooper studied abroad in Spain last spring and visited 12 countries. She enjoyed the experience so much that she is returning next spring. (Photo submitted)

The semester also helped Cooper develop more confidence, independence and a bigger appreciation for the world around her.

“I feel there is still so much more for me to experience and learn,” Cooper said. “Madrid taught me that the world is so much bigger than myself and the everyday routines we become accustomed to in America. Living abroad also pushed me to build relationships with people from all over the world and experience cultures and ways of life I may never have encountered otherwise.”

Students looking for a shorter option next summer can choose from three programs led by Bagley faculty. Forty-one students participated in last summer’s programs.

In Bagley’s longest-running summer program, Engineering Economy in Europe, students will visit eight cities in three countries, interact with international students and enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking, rock climbing and zip-lining.

Scholarships are available to help offset some of the program costs. Cooper received the Fred and Sara Jean Burke Scholarship and the Turner A. Wingo Honors College Excellence Endowment. Students with financial need may also be eligible for the Freeman-ASIA and Benjamin A. Gilman International scholarships.

Cooper took a big step out of her comfort zone and said it made a lasting impact, something she would not have experienced had she stayed home.

“Before going to Spain, I had ideas about what my future might look like, but living abroad showed me that so much more is possible than I had previously imagined,” she said. “I no longer feel limited to pursuing a career in one place or following a traditional path. I want to build a career that challenges me professionally while also allowing me to continue exploring the world, learning from others and experiencing different cultures.”

Her advice to any student considering applying is simple.

“Do it. Embrace the discomfort of stepping outside your comfort zone, because the growth and experiences waiting on the other side can be life-changing in the best way possible,” Cooper said. “It can be intimidating to leave behind everything familiar and step into something completely unknown, but that is often where the most meaningful growth happens. Don’t let fear be the reason you miss out on an opportunity that could change the way you see yourself and the world around you.”

For more information, visit www.bagley.msstate.edu/programs/study-abroad or contact Melnychuk at gm2@bagley.msstate.edu.