Living & Studying in Croatia: Online info session with Angela Madjer from Chicago

By RIT Croatia and Angela Madjer

From class lectures, to the beginning of my adult life in Croatia

Moving to a different country is quite a big step for anyone – whether moving for personal or professional reasons. It might be especially challenging when you’re a student. RIT Croatia is a global campus of an American university, Rochester Institute of Technology, which has been the choice of many international students as well as young members of the Croatian Diaspora community. These students of ours decided to fly from far distances to study and live in Croatia just like a former student of ours, Angela who decided to stay and this is her story.

Adulting in Croatia? Yes, please!

It takes quite some time to get used to life without class lectures and having your year be scheduled through semesters and seasonal breaks, but you get used to it. It is always a bit strange and quite stressful thinking about what comes after finishing university. But I for one can say, the great accomplishment of all is receiving your diploma and beginning your adult life.  

Should I stay or should I go?

The biggest, most difficult question arose when I finished college and people started asking me, “Angela, where do you believe you’ll begin your professional journey, head back to the U.S or continue to grow in Croatia?”.  

Questions similar to this one really got me thinking, what are the benefits and negative aspects of both situations. Yet, I can confidently say, that after almost a year of living as an adult in Croatia, I am happy with my decision to stay.

My professional path in Croatia!

I currently work at a digital marketing company in Zagreb, Croatia. My week looks like an average work week and always come to work with a smile on my face and enjoy the great people I work with. Always enjoying working out my creativity, I found that digital marketing and working on a variety of social media campaigns was a great fit for me. Having completed my internships throughout college in the United States, I have had the opportunity to taste the American work atmosphere. I personally thought that working in a different cultural environment, it may take time to adapt to. Yet because of my kind co-workers and many other factors, I adapted quite quickly.

My personal time and the lifelong friendship I made! 

Aside from working, I have a lot of time to fill my schedule with more personal matters such as spending time with family and friends and enjoying the beautiful city I live in. Whether it’s grabbing a cup of coffee or eating a delicious Croatian dish, these are all things that I can find time for, sit back and relax. When it comes to friendships made at RIT Croatia, I have had the great pleasure of meeting such great people that I have made so many experiences with. Now that we’ve finished college and don’t see each other as often as we used to, we make sure that when we can, we get together and take trips creating new memories.

RIT Croatia networking and working with inspiring alumni!

Yet, for all of this to be possible, I have had the constant support from my RIT Croatia family. Even today, I have received advice from RIT Croatia staff for any professional aid that I may need. The greatest thing of all is the great alumni network and the friendships that were made throughout my 4 years at RIT Croatia. When it comes to working with alumni and having such a strong network, since graduating I have worked as well as collaborated with quite a number of RIT Croatia alumni! This video above was created by Marko Andrijašević and myself, two RIT Croatia alumni! 

Deciding to enroll in RIT Croatia in 2014 and beginning my adult life in 2018, was a smart decision. With the help of RIT Croatia, we will soon hold an online session about coming to study in Croatia. I would gladly share my journey with anyone who is interested in enjoying their four years of undergraduate to the fullest! The online info session will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 and if you wish to participate please contact [email protected]. 

RIT Croatia (formerly known as ACMT) is a global campus of a prominent US university Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT Croatia has been delivering top American degree programs in Croatia since 1997. With its two campuses, in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, this is the only US college in the country and it is the only institution for higher education granting two diplomas to its students – an American diploma, awarded by RIT, and a Croatian diploma, awarded by RIT Croatia. RIT Croatia has prepared over 2,000 young people for their (global) careers. Today, they work in over 40 countries in the world – from the EU countries to Australia and the US. International students come from all over the world but most of them come from the US. Some come from the main campus in Rochester, but a lot of Americans come from Croatian Diaspora communities in cities such as San Jose, San Pedro, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York, Toronto, Mississauga, Cleveland, and many more. For more information, contact [email protected]