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It’s a vibrant life filled with culture that welcomes people day in and day out in Ireland. This is the home of famous authors like the legendary Oscar Wilde and the storyteller behind the Internet hit “Normal People,” Sally Rooney. It’s the pinnacle of acting and music talent, like last year’s Oscar winner Cillian Murphy and the classic rock band, U2. A literary hub, pubs at every corner, the land of St. Patrick’s Day, the owners of the longest coastal route in the world, and the birthplace of everyone’s favorite stout beer, Guinness.
Cottey College offers something too few other US universities do: an international experience. Located in the US city of Nevada, Missouri, the college runs a program where for the first week of spring break, they have the opportunity to travel abroad with their expenses paid by Cottey, save for meals, insurance, and incidentals. Last year, Cottey took a group of young women to visit Dublin, Ireland.
The reason Cottey’s opened up the doors to overseas travel for students? It’s because there’s no better way to build global awareness than to see the world, and immerse yourself in cultures completely unknown to you. You’ll become familiar with the nuances of a city and its identity through the exploration of its art, history, science, and culture. You’ll hop onto a plane and jet-set to a land of new possibilities and return to Missouri, a wiser and more educated version of yourself before.
“Experiencing other countries exposes you to different cultures, people, and ideas, helping you broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the world. Travelling allows you to step outside your own experiences and develop greater empathy for those with different backgrounds,” says student Kyndal Soukup, who went on the Dublin trip.
Cottey College’s graduates are thriving in their careers all around the world. Source: Cottey College
Cottey College is uniquely positioned as an independent liberal arts and sciences college, founded in 1884 for women only. With a residential student capacity of 350 students represented by 20 countries, it’s been revolutionizing the educational landscape since day one when Virginia Alice Cottey believed that women deserved the same standard of education that men had access to. Empowering women to become global citizens, and the leaders of the next generation — that’s just everyday life at Cottey College.
Hence, Cottey encourages its students to explore horizons far beyond the classroom. It starts with the Student Activities Committee (SAC), which brings bands, novelty entertainers, movie showings, and more to the campus. There are plenty of clubs and organizations to develop your interests, from service activities to religious organizations and social activism.
Some opportunities, like the International Experience, take you as far as 4,107 miles from Nevada to Dublin, Ireland. In the past years, students have visited cities like Barcelona and Paris, and countries like England, Austria, and Italy.
“While I was excited to share this experience with my friends, I also wanted to challenge myself by embracing independence and building my confidence,” Soukup says. “Navigating a new city, making decisions on my own, and adapting to unfamiliar environments pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way.”
Students at Cottey College amass knowledge not only in their Nevada surroundings but around the world too. Source: Cottey College
While in Dublin, students immersed themself in day-to-day life. Athletes in the track and cross-country team trained as the sun rose on River Liffey, blessed by the view of Dublin’s city lights fading into the blue of the morning sky. They dined on a full Irish breakfast, and rode the double-decker to Croke Park, home to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Museum for a module in hurling. There, they got to peek into the team locker room and the warm-up room and stand at the top of an 82,000-seat stadium.
For Soukup, she loved most being able to experience a new landscape alongside her friends. She gained a deep appreciation of Dublin’s self-expressive people, having noticed various forms of political expression walking through the city. She learned how European cities, especially Dublin, approached sustainability, from the widespread use of recycling and compost bins to sustainable packaging in shops and cafes.
“Travelling abroad is an incredible opportunity on its own, but sharing it with people I love made it truly unforgettable,” Soukup says. Some of her favorite memories include “early morning runs through the beautiful streets to Sandymount Beach and Dún Laoghaire with my cross-country teammates, as well as our late-night trips to a convenience store for Squashies candy — a treat that’s hard to find in the US!”
In 2025, the next group of students are gearing up for an International Experience in the birthplace of democracy; the pioneer of science and philosophy — Athens, Greece. If you’re eager to dive into academic excellence and a global experience, then check out how you travel on the next International Experience at Cottey College today.
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