MORE ABOUT MAGDALENA
Graduation Date: June 2009
Hometown: Warsaw, Poland
Previous post-grad school: Catholic University
Awards & Achievements:
- Master's degree in history of fine arts
- Post-graduate studies in journalism and communication at Cardinal St. Wyszynski University, Warsaw, Poland
- Two years in pedagogy studies at the Catholic University in Lublin, Poland
- Published several articles about art and related events in art magazines in Poland
Magdalena Korybska
Area of Study:Psychology
I chose my major because... I found that contact with children brings me the most joy. They have unlimited and unfathomable minds. I would like to work as a children’s counselor in the future; that is why I would like to know them from the psychological perspective.
I decided to attend DePaul because... I honor Catholic universities for their meticulous approach to science. I graduated from two of them in Poland and I am glad that besides obtaining knowledge they also prepared me for entering a secular world. Additionally, DePaul University was recommended to me by one of its alumni. All of the alumni achievements after graduating from DePaul are admirable. I started my experience with DePaul from the English Language Academy (ELA), and I enjoyed it a lot. I think that as time progresses, we learn the different possibilities that knowledge gives us and can instinctively choose the best school for ourselves.
I decided to transfer to DePaul because... I wanted to experience studying in regular classes at an American university. My dream is to learn English and feel comfortable with this language. I know that it is not that easy, and I look at those who overcame the language barrier with great respect. The difference between the educational system in my home country and the U.S. is very big, and I see how much better it is for students when you do not have to treat your professors like unapproachable authorities.
My favorite professor at DePaul is... I haven’t had a chance to meet many of them yet. I enjoy a lot my psychology classes. Both of my professors are wonderful.
When I have free time, I like to... explore the city. Because of my interest in art, I look for art galleries. I found a great one in western Illinois, full of seventeeth and nineteenth century European treasures which are so precious that you would only encounter them once or twice a year in Polish galleries.
My favorite thing to do off campus is... laying in the grass in the Ravinia in the summertime. It’s absolutely beautiful — the greatest place I have come across here. You may just lay there, you may talk, drink, and in addition to that, you may look at the beautiful acoustic background. Every time I am there, I recall Manet’s “Breakfast in the Garden.”
One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was... that this university is so open and friendly to international students. I did not know there is such a high level of teaching the English language at the ELA department. I am glad I started my study from there.
Here, the diversity of students, faculty and staff... is diverse. Cultural differences are very important in creating our point of view, shaping us and influencing us.
The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago is... you can live in a cultural center and a beautiful city at the same time. One of my professors once said, “It is very good that Chicago is so extremely cold in the winter. Otherwise, everyone would like to move here.”
DePaul is the ideal place to pursue a degree as an international student because... I never considered transferring to any other university in Chicago since I decided to study at DePaul. During my orientation, somebody told me that DePaul was founded for immigrants who were rejected from other schools. This reassured me even more, because having a possibility to identify with something is worth more then anything else.
The one thing I'd like to tell international students considering attending DePaul is... I would like to encourage international students in making that choice. As an international student myself, I know that the time they will spend here will be very productive. At the ELA department they will not only learn the English language, but they will also learn American history and the country's outlook. Study at DePaul is quite demanding; however it is also favorable, and I think that things that are difficult to achieve are more rewarding in the end. Nevertheless, there are lots of people who want to assist us and the learning environment is very helpful. Making the decision to enter DePaul is like taking a chance that life is giving you right now.
The best thing about DePaul is... that my campus is located in the best part of the city. The lake and the Loop are close to here. We also have comfortable access to city transportation. However, most importantly, the Lincoln Park neighborhood is very clean, quiet and picturesque.
The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul... be brave and try to do it on your own because the worst thing afterward is wondering if what you haven’t tried was actually the right thing for you.
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