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Petition Type: New
ID: 10978
Submitted: September 23, 2023 at 9:22:09 PM
First Name: Jaden
Last Name: Gottlieb
Pronoun: She/Her
Preferred Name: Jaden
Student Number: 20279833
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 3

Petition Categories

Petition Categories: Request to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another institution

Petition Letter

Petition Letter: To Whom it may concern,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Jaden Gottlieb and I am currently a third year student at Queen's University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree with a major in Sociology. I am excited to express my strong interest in studying abroad during the winter semester of 2024 at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. My motivation for wanting to embark on this journey is rooted in my desire to enhance my academic knowledge and immerse myself in a new vibrant culture. Studying in Barcelona would offer me a unique opportunity to expand both personally and academically, while engaging with new faculty and peers. Having the chance to study for a semester in Barcelona would serve as a stepping stone towards achieving higher academic success and maturity as a student. This would be an unparalleled experience with countless opportunities that I would not get at Queens University. With a diverse student body and a faculty that’s been educated in a different manner, it will impart valuable skills and perspectives. These lifelong lessons will propel me to be a stronger student when I return to Queens. Having the personal opportunity to live in a foreign country, being exposed to new people, cultures, languages, social behaviours, and etiquette will broaden my identity as I learn through the unfamiliar.

When considering all factors of what I want to gain from studying abroad, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona is the ideal school for me, offering a diverse selection of intriguing courses that capture my interest. It aligns perfectly with my needs and aspirations, for completing my third year of university. It would offer me a life changing, indispensable opportunity to take classes not offered at Queens. In turn, giving me a chance to experience higher academic achievement, a broader network and personal growth. Barcelona’s location, history and culture make it the ideal setting for achieving my academic and personal goals, while establishing meaningful connections with individuals from around the world.

There are many course offerings at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona that are not offered at Queen's University that align with my interests. The courses of particular interest to me are, Urban Interventions, Graffiti & Public Sculpture, Spanish Contemporary Art, Modernism: Art Nouveau Architecture Sketched and Explained, International Communication and Digital Photography. Unlike studying behind the university walls, these courses offer many field trips to enrich the courses content and hands-on experience. This will provide a unique experience to take electives outside my degree, not offered at Queens. Art, Photography, fashion and European architecture have always been a passion of mine. I took various art classes yearly throughout elementary, middle and high school. It would be the opportunity of a lifetime to take courses in the above stated fields while studying in Barcelona. These electives would enhance my degree in such a way that is not offered in Canada.

In addition to the countless academic benefits of studying five electives abroad for a semester, the personal growth and connections I will make will be life changing. After much research and consideration about which university abroad would offer me the whole experience I’m looking for, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is the perfect match. Personally, studying in Barcelona for the semester will teach me greater self-advocacy and assertiveness.

As a very independent person I have confidence in being able to navigate the logistics of moving to Spain for the semester. I have considered my courses of interest, housing, cost of living, safety, and visas. I have gone the additional step to fast track my application process and had my ISA statement form signed by Mary Marshall from Queens, after our zoom meeting this past summer. After submitting the required documents and transcripts to ISA, I received a letter of acceptance to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.I look forward to completing the additional steps in this process and getting ready for a once in a lifetime experience to study abroad. Thank you for considering me to be a candidate to study the winter semester 2024 at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.


Sincerely,

Jaden Gottlieb

Academic Plan

Academic Plan: Academic Plan:

After completing my Sociology degree at Queens I wish to further my education. I envision this to include either pursuing a Business degree with a focus on Entrepreneurship or a fashion degree at Parsons in NYC. I have aspirations to somehow incorporate my passion for art, fashion, architecture, business and social media into a future career. Taking unique electives to fulfill the elective requirements for my Sociology degree would be a gateway to my life long goals, aspirations and future education. I have dreamed about studying abroad and doing an exchange program since high school. As such, I have planned my course selections at Queens since first year so that I satisfy and meet the needed requirements.

I have completed all of my core and supporting courses. To complete my Bachelor of Arts Honours degree I need a total of 120 units, 30 being electives. Currently, I have ten elective courses and six Sociology courses outstanding. Two 400, one 300 and three 200 level courses. I will be taking five elective courses in Barcelona, allowing me to work towards earning necessary elective credits. Upon returning to Queens fourth year, which I am planning on taking spring and summer courses beginning in May 2024, I will complete all my required Sociology units listed above and five remaining electives to graduate in 2025.

The elective courses I plan on taking in Barcelona will enhance my degree by allowing me the opportunity to study various personal points of interest not directly related to my major. These particular courses are not offered at Queens and therefore would not be possible otherwise. Going on exchange would be an extremely valuable opportunity for me both academically and personally. When all factors are considered, studying abroad at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona would be a life changing opportunity to broaden my knowledge and personal growth.

Documentation

Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC