Studying as a Canadian at USC

Throughout 2014,  EducationUSA will highlight the experiences of Canadian students at a variety of campuses across the United States. Follow our blog series to hear firsthand from alumni of U.S. colleges and universities. We begin our series with Canadian Robert Veerman, an Ottawa native, who graduated from of the University of Southern California in 2012.

My name is Robert Veerman and I studied at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California from 2009 to 2012. I graduated with a Bachelors of Art in International Relations: Global Business.

When I first began applying to universities, applying to institutions in the United States seemed almost impossible. I had to worry about logistical difficulties such as fluctuating exchange rates, tuition, moving, the cost of housing, and different laws. I thought, "Why go to the United States when I can stay in Canada?" However, once I settled in at USC, those logistical issues faded into the background.

In college, I had the opportunity to create and organize an investment group across multiple universities in Canada and the United States including USC, New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, Queen's University and University of Western Ontario. Even though we all lived in different cities, we could still communicate online and would meet each month through web conferencing.

Robert (left) during his 2012 graduation ceremony at USC

The connection we established in our investment group represents the culmination of my experience as a Canadian student in the United States. Students from both countries are very much alike and have shared interests. 

I would encourage Canadian students to just "go for it!" and apply across borders. Do not be discouraged to get an international education, especially if you can better pursue your interests outside of Canada! Establishing relationships outside of your country is invaluable. Remember that even though worker mobility is constrained between borders, capital is not!

Fight On!

- Robert Veerman