One of the things I enjoyed during my master's exchange program at Stellenbosch University was the cultural diversity which each selected recipient of the award brought to the table.
I met people from Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Togo and several other African countries, including South Africa which was the host country.
Mind you, it was an African-based exchange program funded by PAFROID and the European Commission.
That exchange program opened the door for other funding opportunities.
Apart from the state-of-the-art research facility, renowned faculty, quality research being conducted in that university, where you want to do your master's or PhD. Another reason why you want to study there is the dynamic student population, which you will get to enjoy.
The excitement of meeting, interacting, networking and collaborating with students from different cultural backgrounds, should be clearly emphasized in your writing.
Such interactions help you to hone your interpersonal and team-building skills.
One of the yearly National holidays in South Africa is the Heritage Day. The day is set aside to remember, recognize and celebrate cultural differences and uniqueness.
On that day, you are allowed to wear your traditional attire, to remember your cultural roots and celebrate the beauty of your culture.
So, when next you are thinking of another reason why you want to do your master's or PhD at Purdue University, Michigan State University, or University of Texas at Austin, remember to mention the dynamic student population.
You will go for cultural evenings, get to taste food prepared by students from other countries.
You will possibly put to rest the long debate of whether Ghana jollof rice is better than Nigerian jollof rice 😅.
That is if like me, you are going for a region-based exchange.
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