Queen\u2019s University Belfast<\/a> (where Jamie studies), St. Mary\u2019s University College, Belfast Metropolitan College, and Ulster University. With annual support exceeding \u20ac2 million from United States partner institutions, each participant receives a comprehensive scholarship that covers tuition and fees, on-campus housing, dining, books, transatlantic flights, and a \u00a31,000 bursary to support living and travel expenses for the year.<\/p>\nJamie is the second student to study at the Mount as part of the Study USA program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Study USA program is an extraordinary opportunity\u2014both for students from Northern Ireland who come to the Mount and for our own students who gain the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland,\u201d said Dr. Gabrielle Occhiogrosso, Vice Provost and Dean of the Undergraduate College. \u201cThese exchanges broaden worldviews, strengthen cultural understanding, and allow students to see themselves and their academic paths in new ways. When I visited Belfast last year, it was clear how deeply committed the British Council and our partner institutions are to creating experiences that transform students\u2019 lives. We are proud to continue building on that partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, nearly four months into this academic year at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, Jamie is navigating life in New York City and has become an active member of the Mount community. His story offers a window into the power of international education\u2014and the unique spirit that defines the Study USA program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a remarkable opportunity so far,\u201d Jamie reflected. \u201cStudy USA is designed to help students grow, to give us new experiences and independence. For me, it felt like the perfect next step in my educational and personal journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before coming to the Bronx, Jamie already made a big leap: moving from rural Donegal to the bustling university environment in Belfast to study computer science at Queen\u2019s. The shift had been significant, but he embraced it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt a sense of accomplishment getting used to Belfast after growing up in the countryside,\u201d Jamie explained. \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t want that growth to stop. I thought a year abroad would push me even further.\u201d<\/p>\n
What he never expected was to end up in New York City.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, Study USA is usually portrayed as a rural campus experience, and coming from a small town, that felt familiar,\u201d Jamie chuckled. \u201cI didn\u2019t picture myself in New York at all. But after my matching interview, I was placed at the Mount\u2014and I\u2019m so thankful. Living here has completely changed my mind about city life. I love how busy and alive it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though he had visited the United States before\u2014with trips to both Florida and Boston to see family\u2014nothing compared to the scale, energy, and sheer possibility of New York.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UMSV6-Web.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cYou grow up hearing about New York and seeing it in films,\u201d said Jamie. \u201cTo actually live here for a year is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamie\u2019s first impressions of the Mount surprised him. After expecting the intensity of city living at every turn, he found something different.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved how much greenery there is on campus. Riverdale feels quieter and more peaceful than I had imagined. And Founders Hall looks a lot like the main building at Queen\u2019s University Belfast, so I felt right at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was that blend of familiarity and novelty that helped ease Jamie\u2019s transition to life in NYC\u2014even as he navigated the considerable differences between higher education in Ireland and the states. At Queen\u2019s, lecture halls could hold more than 100 students, making it harder to build relationships with faculty or classmates. At the Mount, he found a completely different learning environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe class sizes here are much more tight-knit,\u201d Jamie said. \u201cIt\u2019s easier to get to know your professors, and, quite frankly, it\u2019s easier to learn this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also appreciated how vibrant the campus community felt\u2014something he hadn\u2019t experienced at the same scale in Belfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt home, most students head home on the weekends and you don\u2019t see a lot of university-branded clothing. Here, so many people wear UMSV gear. There\u2019s a strong sense of pride and spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that in mind, Jamie wasted no time getting involved. This Fall, he joined the Business of Sports Club and the Waves of Christ, and he volunteered on a Midnight Run through his First-Year Experience course. Each opportunity helped him build new connections, explore new interests, and experience American campus culture firsthand.<\/p>\n
And his academic schedule is equally as rigorous. In addition to his coding class, he\u2019s taking statistics, public speaking, principles of management, and Italian\u2014a mix that would be impossible under his computer science curriculum at Queen\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love that I can study such a wide range of subjects here,\u201d Jamie said. \u201cIt\u2019s helped me think about my future in different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he\u2019s not in class or attending club meetings, Jamie can often be found in the UMSV fitness center or venturing into Manhattan to explore museums, visit Central Park, see a film, or simply soak up the atmosphere of the City. And, of course, he makes time to stay connected with loved ones at home through video calls.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UMSV5-Web.jpg\")
Some of Jamie\u2019s most memorable moments so far have happened beyond campus. One highlight was a weekend trip to Las Vegas with other Study USA students\u2014an adventure that included renting a car and driving to Zion National Park in Utah.<\/p>\n
Closer to campus, he counts Reunion and Homecoming Weekend among his favorite memories\u2014one of many aspects of American college life that was completely new to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have anything like that in Ireland,\u201d Jamie shared. \u201cSeeing the community come together for an entire weekend of spirit and events was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, perhaps the most meaningful part of Jamie\u2019s year abroad has been the shift in mindset it has sparked.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudying abroad has reshaped my goals. Seeing a new business landscape and hearing from professors and guest speakers has made me rethink what\u2019s possible for my career. It\u2019s inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Living in NYC has also helped him see his own culture with fresh eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeirdly, I\u2019ve learned more about us Irish here in New York than back at home,\u201d Jamie said. \u201cThings I thought were normal are actually unique to us. I love talking to friends and professors about home\u2014things like explaining Gaelic football and teaching Irish phrases like \u2018What\u2019s the craic?\u2019 or \u2018Sl\u00e1inte.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, he hopes to take the best parts of his year at the Mount back home with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to bring the same level of activity I\u2019ve gotten used to in the states back home with me,\u201d reflected Jamie. \u201cHere, I\u2019m always looking for something to do\u2014going into the City, going to a sports game, going to a concert. I want to keep that mentality wherever I end up.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also been inspired by what he describes as the \u2018American mindset of self-improvement.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the attitude here of working hard and becoming your best self. It\u2019s not as strong back home\u2014sometimes you can feel judged for trying something different. I want to keep that mindset with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear that, so far, Jamie\u2019s time at the Mount has been far more than just the start of a year abroad\u2014it\u2019s been a time of growth, reflection, and possibility. From finding a second home at the Mount to gaining a deeper understanding of both Irish and American culture, he\u2019s been embracing every opportunity this experience has to offer.<\/p>\n
And as he continues his journey in New York, one thing is clear: the lessons, friendships, and memories he\u2019s collecting will stay with him long after he returns to Ireland.<\/p>\n
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers a nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the University equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment, and leadership in the 21st century.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
12\/5\/2025
Jamie Barron, Study USA Exchange Student at UMSV, Finds Community and New Opportunity When…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":62387,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[128,9,24,63,129,131,130],"class_list":["post-62386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-the-bronx","tag-bronx","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-the-bronx","tag-the-bronx-headlines","tag-the-bronx-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UMSV4-Web.jpg\")
When James (Jamie) Barron left his home in Donegal, Ireland this past August, he knew he was stepping into a year that would challenge him, stretch him outside his comfort zone, and broaden his perspectives. What he didn\u2019t know\u2014and what he couldn\u2019t have imagined\u2014was just how transformative that year would become.<\/p>\n