This essay is based on a conversation with Liza Jean Miezejeski, content creator and founder of Skola, a startup that helps students relocate to attend universities in Europe. It has been edited for length and clarity.
When I was in high school and starting to plan for my future, all I felt was fear — the fear of graduating college with debt.
It was 2015, and I was a sophomore in college. One day, while driving through a town in Connecticut with my mom, we heard on the radio that Americans were moving to Germany in search of free education.
I thought that was perfect. “You should do this,” my mother agreed.
So we started looking at universities in Europe. Anglo American University in Prague was my first choice because of its low tuition and good curriculum. They didn't require a high school diploma to apply, so I was able to apply early and get in.
I only knew one other student from my high school who moved abroad to study; the rest of my classmates went to college in Boston, New York, or other parts of New England.
I was excited, but didn't fully understand what I was getting into until I arrived in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
At first I thought everyone hated me.
I don't think I ever knew what culture shock was until I moved to Prague. In my hometown, it's normal to say “hello” to everyone you pass.
However, when I did the same thing in Prague, Czechs looked at me strangely. It took me a while to realise it was a cultural difference, but I eventually got used to it.
Studying abroad taught me to be more open-minded.
Mierzejewski said studying abroad gave her the opportunity to make friends from different backgrounds.
Before I moved to Europe, I didn't realize how American-centric my perspective on the world was. In Europe, the students I studied with were from all over the world. I learned about their cultures, lifestyles, and languages.
It may sound corny, but the learning didn't end there. As an international student, riding public transportation, drinking coffee, and doing anything for the first time was a learning experience. It was exciting, and as a result, everything I did became interesting.
The main reason I moved to Europe was the lower tuition fees, but the opportunity to travel and see the world was also a big plus.
I gradually realized that I didn't want to leave Europe.
Miežeski and friends enjoying a picnic in a Prague park. Lisa Jan Miežeski
Initially, I planned to complete my three-year undergraduate degree in Prague and then return to the U.S. I never considered the possibility of leaving the U.S. permanently.
After I studied abroad in Malaysia for a semester in 2019, a friend asked me if I was planning on moving back to the United States.
“No,” I answered quickly, realizing that I'd made that decision unconsciously. My entire adult life and everything I knew had been in Europe. I thought that if I returned to the U.S., I would experience culture shock and have to “relearn” to become an adult.
After graduating with my BA in Humanities, Society, and Culture in 2021, I didn't return to my home state of Connecticut. But even though I felt at home in Prague, I decided to move to Brussels to complete my Master's in Digital Media, Communication, and Society at the Free University of Brussels.
After graduating in 2022, she stayed in Brussels to work as a communications and marketing consultant. In January, she founded Skola, a startup that supports U.S. students planning to attend European universities. She also started a TikTok account where she creates content about moving abroad and international studies.
Right now, there is nothing that is bringing me back to the US other than my family, who I visit once a year, and hopefully I will be able to get my family to emigrate to the US.
Affordable living costs aren't just down to low tuition fees
Rent in Brussels and Prague was also affordable for Mierzejeski. Lisa Jan Mierzejeski
I broke my pelvis on a ski trip and ended up in the emergency room, but thanks to the public health insurance I have in the Czech Republic, I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket.
You don't need a car in Brussels. As a student, I bought a yearly public transport pass for 12 euros ($13) for unlimited use.
He didn't have to take out student loans. When he started his bachelor's degree in Prague, tuition was about $6,500 a year, but it has since risen. By comparison, in-state tuition is estimated at $17,010 a year, excluding other fees, according to the University of Connecticut's website.
My master's program was also affordable, about $4,700 for a one-year program. According to the UCONN website, tuition for a master's program at the university is about $19,512 per year for an in-state, full-time student, excluding other fees.
I have no plans to return to the US
My boyfriend is Belgian and his family is from here, we have a dog and my life is good here.
There are only two and a half years left to apply for citizenship, but to receive citizenship, applicants must have legally resided in Belgium for at least five years.
I would like to celebrate getting my citizenship by living somewhere else in Europe for a year and doing a bit of travelling.
However, I intend to return to Brussels for a longer stay, as I feel more at home here now.
Do you have a story to share about choosing to attend college outside the US? Contact reporter Erin at [email protected].
