Studying in Bogota

As some of you may remember, I made a post not too long ago about my brother, Dad and I moving to Colombia this fall.

I'm considering looking into studying at one of the universities down there. I would like to start off by studying Spanish until I know the langauge well enough to attend classes taught in Spanish. Right now, I'm a student at the University of British Colombia in Vancouver. I'm just finished my first year there in the arts program. My major was going to be economics. To be honest, I don't really like living in Canada and want to get out of the country for a few years to experience something else. I think working (with my fathers company) and studying somewhere else would be a great experience.

Initially, I was a bit concerned about leaving UBC because it's ranked as the 32nd best school in the world. After thinking a bit more, I don't think this matters as much as I really thought. I'm mostly going to school for my own benefit. I still plan to major in economics. An undergrad in economics is a fairly general degree so I honestly don't think that it coming from a Latin American university will be a huge disadvantage. I also don't plan on living in Canada for much more of my life.

My father owns a drilling and exploration company and is a director for two different public companies with property in Colombia. My job security for the next while is very good. I don't even need to goto school, I just want to because it's something that I really enjoy. I don't think most mining companies would really care where my degree came from either; they are concerned with experience above all. My resume for what I do is pretty impressive already since I've been working part time in the industry since I was 13.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy for leaving school in Canada and transfering to a university in Colombia? If I stay in Canada, I will remain as a part time student. I study in the fall for one semester then spend the rest of the year working. In Colombia, I assume I would do something similar.

Thanks

By ducaticole on Jul 31, 2007, 20:07 in Friendly Talkzone.

rmykita says on Jul 31, 2007, 21:45:

Hey pal,

If you do not like where you live, move. It is always advisable to do so, because you inevitably will grow from the move, without aging as much as you will being in a place you dislike! Vancouver is nice, lots of opportunity, but UBC is certainly not a world-class school, at least, no one will be shamed for deciding against it. Colombia will give you opportunities galore, for being bilingual, young, and serious. The universities here are as good, or better in some significant ways. The quality of research is high, although the professionals are less world-class. The internship opportunities, for you in particular, are excellent. However, your classmates will have very limited life experience. Do not expect interesting conversations...Do expect exposure to Colombian opportunities, however. Everything is wide open to young people like us, right at this moment. The universities have good relationships with the private sector/govt, also. Spanish, a serious challenge, and seeing a country in a transition point, as we are here, is significantly more valuable than an average college degree...Colombia is a creative educational option - becuase you can reinvent yourself over and again, given your bilingualism, good attitude, and relative financial health! The sky is the limit for us, here. I would move. I did, from the University of California...studied at Antioquia and Nacional in Bogota...worked with most of the others in the past, or currently. Message me for more brief thoughts...

R
ryan_mykita at hotmail.com

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miamimike says on Jul 31, 2007, 22:15:

Go for it! Like they say "No place like where you are going next and where you just came from" LOL

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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adrimm says on Jul 31, 2007, 22:45:

As long as getting a job in Canada (outside of the family biz) isn't in the cards, then go for it.

I say this becuase proffessionals from outside of Canada have a heckuva time 1) getting their credentials validated and 2) getting employers to accept them/foreign work experience. It has improved but it's not peaches'n'cream. Ahh, But if you are thinking of grad school back home at some point, I think that Academia tends to be more accepting of foreign credentials.

I'd go for it but try to stay within the top ranks of Colombian schools just to ensure a bit more mobility with your degree afterwards. UniAndes, Javeriana, Nacho - sounds like Ryan can give you some good input there.

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adrimm says on Jul 31, 2007, 22:45:

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Man Tequila says on Aug 1, 2007, 20:22:

UBC is ranked 36th by Shanghai Jiao Tong University basd on these criteria.
http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2007/ARWU2007Methodology.htm

This makes very little difference to the actual quality of education you would get there, In many fields, Toronto, McGill, Western, McMaster and Queens might be better.

This should scarcely be the deciding factor in your decision.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Piapo says on Aug 2, 2007, 03:57:

I don't think you shouldn't miss the chance to move to Colombia. I'm a Colombian in Europe and I think the best a person can do is to travel and experiencing new cultures. There are good universities in Colombia too. In Bogota, Los Andes University has a very good reputation locally and abroad. They have also many exchange programs to many places around the globe, so If you get bored in Colombia you can take breaks wherever you want! I don't think education in Canada is the most important thing you find in a CV but international experience. I'm sure of that!

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ducaticole says on Aug 3, 2007, 08:24:

One more thing, I'm just curious, are there any universities worth attending in Cartagena?

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Cerealkiller says on Aug 3, 2007, 14:51:

Ducaticole, Universidad de Los Andes is the best university for economics in Colombia. I was double majoring in Economics and Political Science (before I moved to the UK to finish up) and the level of analysis and argumentation in both schools is extremely high. Contrary to what mykita said, I found a lot of people with world class experiences. Students and Faculty are for the most part very well travelled, well spoken and highly educated people who have attended the best schools both in the country and abroad. You should look into it. From what I've read, chances are you would blend in just fine.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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warito says on Aug 3, 2007, 15:04:

First, if you want to learn spanish, cartagena is not the place. Instead, Bogotanos speak the best spanish in the world (at least we like to think that), anyway everybody has its own accent. Universities are pretty good, but your degree would not be valid in canada, most of degrees. Los Andes U. is the most expensive (5k U$ a semester), super high class people and it is supposed to be the one with better international relations. El Rosario, Externado, Javeriana are high middle class very good also (3k U$ a semester) and good relations abroad. La Universidad Nacional, is the best public university, it's really good, but is public and the biggest problem is the inestability for reasons like fundamentalist comunist students and some unaddapted people that regularly makes the university collapse - I would not recommend it to a gringo son of a gold businessman. The opportunitties are in bogota, the money is in bogota, almost everything is in bogota. and everything is not further than an hour by airplane.

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