Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,
My name is Rachel Azrilyant and I am a 3rd year Life Sciences student. I am writing this letter in support of my desire to study abroad at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona for the winter 2024 semester. My wish is to complement my current academic studies with new academic experiences and cultural immersion. Studying and living in Barcelona will allow me to broaden my horizons both academically and personally and to gain new and unique perspectives on my education and its place in the world. With its rich culture and history, I cannot think of a better location than Barcelona to accomplish these goals.

As a first generation Canadian, I have always wanted to explore other nations. My parents were born and raised in the Ukraine, and spent their childhood traveling Europe exploring new cultures. The stories I grew up hearing fueled my passion for exploring other nations. Studying in Barcelona would allow me to immerse myself in many different approaches other cultures and people have to life and studies. I do not believe there is one approach to learning and throughout my academic career I have placed great value in complementing traditional studies with exposure to the world outside the classroom. I cannot think of a better way to continue my academic journey than to challenge myself with new points of view. Studying abroad will give me the opportunity to connect with others and develop new learning strategies, enriching myself and others within the Queens community upon my return.

After spending many hours researching different schools, I believe that the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona would be an ideal fit. The school is located in the heart of Barcelona and offers a wide range of unique courses that interest me. These include; Urban intervention, Graffiti and Public Sculpture, Intercultural Communications, Spanish Contemporary Art, Entrepreneurship, New Venture Communication, and Mediterranean Politics. I am currently pursuing my undergraduate Life Science degree and these courses, unique to Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, would allow me to step outside of my current field of study. I have specific interest in Mediterranean Politics, Intercultural Communications, and Spanish Contemporary Art. Fields of study that I cannot currently pursue at Queen’s. Taking these courses in a geographical area that specifically concerns the concepts discussed is something that I cannot do in Canada. I am also passionate about entrepreneurship and believe studying this course in a global business hub like Barcelona would provide me with a firsthand understanding of international markets and entrepreneurship. Barcelona is rich in both architectural, classic and contemporary art and the area has been home to many leading artists for centuries. Taking a course like Urban intervention, graffiti, and public sculpture while physically seeing the art is an experience that few schools can offer. The many field trips these courses provide would also be an incredible opportunity, unique to this school.

Additionally, in high school I started to learn Spanish as a hobby and continued by taking Spanish courses in grade 10. I believe immersing myself in a Spanish speaking environment would help me to learn from multicultural perspectives. This, again, is something I could not do at Queen’s.

My academic goal is to attend dental school. The experience of studying abroad in combination with the distinctive courses at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona would assist me in developing a well rounded dental school application that will differentiate me from other applicants. Most dental schools in Canada require 2 elective courses to be completed outside of the science faculty. Some examples listed from the University of Toronto include; art, business, and Mediterranean studies. The elective courses I plan on taking will satisfy this requirement. I believe the experiences, skills, and perspectives learned on exchange would be of great advantage in pursuing my postgraduate path.

I understand that studying abroad in Barcelona comes with many logistical aspects that I will coordinate such as course selection, enrollment, accommodations, visas, and finances. I am a very independent, responsible, and organized student that will thrive living in a different country. In Spring of 2022, I lived and worked in Tel Aviv, Israel at a medical technology company. From this experience, I gained confidence in my ability to adjust to different cultural situations, work around language barriers, public transportation, organize excursions, and immersing myself in a foreign nation's people and history.

I am confident in my abilities to balance my studies by diligently organizing my schedule, prioritizing coursework, and making the most of every cultural/educational opportunity. For the reasons stated above, I believe that Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and I are a great combination and why I would like to take 5 elective courses there in winter 2024. I thank you for your consideration and eagerly await your reply!

Sincerely,
Rachel Azrilyant