Category Archives: Study Abroad & Travel

A QUEST to NYC: Exploring Careers and Gaining New Perspectives

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I was lucky enough to join QUEST’s trip to New York City from November 13th to 14th. On Thursday, we boarded a bus from Van Munching Hall and headed into the city for two days of networking, learning, and immersive site visits, hosted by QUEST alumni.

Happy Hour with Alumni
KKR Visit
BCG Visit
Google Visit

Our first stop was Meta’s New York office. Hosted by Sophia Khezri (Computer Science, Cohort 32) and Annaika Taneja (Computer Science, Cohort 39), we enjoyed gelato before sitting down for a panel and Q&A with employees across data science, app development, and product management. Students asked questions ranging from essential technical skills and day-to-day responsibilities to work culture, past experiences, and how to begin tech projects without much background. The panel also touched on Meta’s work in AI, including its superintelligence labs, and how emerging technologies affect employees’ roles.

Milkii Dagne, a computer science major in Cohort 45, said she appreciated how the panelists emphasized the value of learning beyond the classroom. “They talked about how QUEST, personal projects, extracurriculars, and pure curiosity helped them grow their soft skills and get to where they are.”

After Meta, we headed to a Happy Hour and dinner at Yard House near Times Square with QUEST alumni who live in the New York area. We met alumni working across technology, consulting, government, and politics and heard about their career paths in an informal, supportive setting. Lena Chennat, a bioengineering major in Cohort 43, shared that the dinner offered a “more personal and easy opportunity to connect with people.” She added, “The fact that they showed up, were excited to talk to us, and freely offered advice was extremely supportive. I loved how open and honest they were about their career paths.” Chennat said one of her favorite conversations was with “a math major who pivoted into climate technology,” noting how reassuring it was to hear that “professionals change their minds many times, and that it’s normal.”

After dinner, groups of QUESTees split off to enjoy the night: watching Broadway shows, exploring city lights, and visiting holiday markets.

The next morning, we started early with breakfast at the hotel before walking to our visit at KKR, a private equity firm. Alumnus Pavan Rangachar (Finance, Cohort 20) hosted us in the Hudson Yards office, where we admired sweeping skyline views before a one-on-one Q&A session. Even for QUESTees without financial backgrounds, the discussion became a highly informative “crash course” in private equity, covering topics like debt, bankruptcy, and real estate.

For Sebastian Decady, a finance major in Cohort 41, Rangachar’s relationship-building advice made the biggest impression. Sebastian referenced a quote Rangachar shared: “When times are slow, make sure to connect with people and build your network.” Decady reflected, “That’s something I didn’t do enough. Now, even when I have positions lined up, I know to keep meeting people, finding mentors, and building connections.”

Kavin Seralathan, an information systems major in Cohort 44, agreed. Having also attended the Silicon Valley trip last spring, Kavin said this trip’s mix of tech and corporate companies helped him understand professional life more broadly. “I always saw these roles as so professional,” he said, “But talking to people in them made me realize it’s all about relationships. Not fake ones, but genuine relationship-building.”

We then walked across Hudson Yards to the BCG and BCG X offices, where QUEST alumna Celine Moarkech (Data Analytics in Biotechnology, Cohort 29) hosted us. After grabbing coffee and admiring views of New Jersey and Manhattan, we joined a panel of BCG consultants who spoke about client work, upskilling, navigating setbacks, and everyday challenges on the job.

Praneeth Oruganti, a computer science and math major in Cohort 46, said the practical insights stood out the most. “We gained valuable insight into navigating issues in corporate jobs which are things we wouldn’t have learned until we were actually in them. Now we know how to handle difficult conversations with clients or teammates, especially when we have opposing motivations.”

Seralathan added that the visit broadened his view of who can succeed in consulting. “Anyone from any background can get into consulting. We met so many engineers who transitioned into it. Even our host started as a pre-med. It made me feel like I, or anyone, could do it.”

After a tour of the office, we walked the High Line to our final stop.

Following lunch at Chelsea Market, we visited the Google campus, hosted by Ben Lin (Computer Science, Cohort 33). The visit included a panel featuring employees from global partnerships, applied research, program management, and software engineering. Afterward, Googlers led us on a tour of the building, including its game room and high-rise balcony, before we joined small-group discussions with employees.

Dagne shared that she enjoyed learning how AI fits into Google employees’ day-to-day roles. “They view it almost like an assistant,” she said. “Across the industry, there’s more and more of a push to use AI to augment jobs.”

Oruganti added that meeting the employees felt surprisingly approachable. “Talking to alumni and Googlers seemed daunting at first, but when we met them and put a face to the name, we got real insight into their lives. We realized they’re not very different from us. They just also have good jobs.”

The end of the Google visit marked the end of our trip. Reflecting on the experience, mechanical engineering major Naomi Miatudila (Cohort 42) said, “My favorite part about the trip was meeting other QUESTees and getting to talk to the Quality Guild outside of class. It was also cool to see companies I had never considered, and now I can see myself in.” She added that while the trip leaned heavily toward software-focused companies, she hopes to see more engineering-based visits in the future.

Finally, Madyann Saidi, a mechanical engineering major in Cohort 45, summed up a central theme he heard throughout the trip: “If you want to work in tech, it’s not just about hard skills. I talked to a PM who used to be in computer science and that helped her build trust with her team. But what mattered most was being a good teammate, being likable, and having people who want to work with you and for you. That’s what we need to develop.” The trip was an incredible opportunity for QUEST students. Thank you to QUEST staff members Jess Roffe, Emily Marks, and all the alumni who planned this amazing trip!  

QUEST Plans Return to Brazil: Reflecting on Past Journeys, Inspiring New Ones

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QUEST is excited to be returning to Brazil for our 2026 winter study abroad trip for the first time since 2011! Almost 15 years later, I took a journey back in time with QUEST alumnus Vikram Bhandari (UMD ’13, Cohort 18), who attended the 2011 trip.

When Bhandari, founder of the Campus Maps app, reflected on his time at the University of Maryland, he described it as a period of exploration. While initially hesitant at the idea of going abroad alone, Bhandari said that the spirit of carpe diem took over and led him to the QUEST trip to Brazil in 2011—a two-week trip that he now counts among the highlights of his time at college. 

Bhandari at Maracana stadium on the 2011 Brazil Trip

“We got this incredible access,” he said. “Factories, major companies, executives—things you’d never normally see as a student.” The students visited numerous companies—from accounting firms to manufacturing plants. Among those visits was a Johnson & Johnson plant, where students observed toothbrushes being produced from giant rolls of paper, and a battery factory where workers shoveled raw lithium on the floor by hand into machines. “It completely changed the way I thought about production,” Bhandari said. “In class, you imagine everything as perfectly automated. But seeing how much human intervention goes into everyday products—quality checks at every step, not just at the end—reshaped how I think about building things, even in my own company.” 

Other stops included meetings with executives at Goldman Sachs, Accenture, Deloitte, and multinational companies. Bhandari remembers being amazed by how much customer needs drove strategy. “It wasn’t just about listening,” he said. “It was about going beyond — anticipating what people would want before they asked for it. That connected directly back to what we learned in QUEST about the voice of the customer.” 

But the trip wasn’t just about business. In Rio, students explored historic churches, tried street food—which had some regrettable effects for Bhandari—and even visited the Maracanã soccer stadium while it was still under construction. Nights out in the city, including a memorable visit to the Sky Bar overlooking São Paulo’s skyline, deepened his cultural immersion. “It really felt like we were on top of the world,” Bhandari said. 

The experience broadened his perspective on the world. “College is a sheltered environment, even with all its opportunities,” he reflected. “Brazil showed me another way of living, a different world. Talking to people on the street in broken Portuguese and them talking to me in English—it was beautiful. That kind of exposure is what makes your education complete.” 

For today’s students considering the upcoming winter Brazil trip, his advice is simple: Go! “The trip changed how I see the world. It made a lasting impact on my life.” 

QUEST Faculty Member David Ashley and Program Manager Emily Marks will lead this year’s trip. Marks shared, “QUEST has a ton of exciting plans for our program in Brazil this January. We will be going on some incredible site visits to learn about the manufacturing, agricultural, energy, and banking industries in the country. High-level executives and industry professionals will host us at places ranging from a renewable energy company to an airplane manufacturer to a coffee farm, giving us valuable insight into these diverse industries. We will also be doing plenty of fun cultural activities, including site seeing around São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, visiting the city’s gorgeous beaches, taking the cable car up to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain, and sampling delicious Brazilian food.”

Check out the full trip itinerary here, and be sure to apply by September 30th! Reach out to Emily Marks at ekmarks@umd.edu if you have any questions.

QUESTing Around the Globe

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College is full of exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and the chance to explore another country during study abroad is certainly one of the most unique and thrilling. It’s a great chance to understand a new culture from both an educational and experiential perspective. QUEST currently has 10 students studying abroad across the globe from Europe to Australia. I spoke with two QUESTees to hear about everything from their study abroad journey so far.

Daniel Lamb is a computer engineering major from Cohort 40 who is currently studying in Madrid, Spain. He was inspired to study in Madrid because he wanted to explore a new country, meet international students, and try as many new things as possible! His favorite experience so far has been his solo travel to Valencia where he was able to participate in a festival called Las Falleras. He got to dance, eat, and build human towers with locals around a massive bonfire. His favorite class abroad has been his Spanish class, which is taught fully in Spanish by a professor who loves to poke fun and have a good time with his students. Lamb advises future QUEST students looking to study abroad to try as many new things as they can and not to worry about feeling out of place as that feeling is part of the gateway to new experiences.

Lamb (Cohort 40) parasailing in Spain

Maya Pollack is a computer science major from Cohort 40 studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. Pollack grew up loving to travel and knew she wanted to take advantage of studying abroad in college. Over the last two months in Australia, she has felt “genuinely immersed in the culture of this beautiful country,” and it has enhanced her “academic journey with invaluable insights and personal growth.” Her favorite class so far has been an environmental science lab where they go on weekly outdoor field trips related to the content they learn in class. Her favorite experience was when she visited Cairns, Queensland and went skydiving! Pollack wants future QUESTees to take the opportunity to study abroad if they can. She finds that “traveling and seeing the world is such an important part of life, pushing you to become more worldly and open-minded.” She advises coming in with the mindset of “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable” to maximize the exciting elements of studying abroad. 

Pollack (Cohort 40) skydiving in Cairns, New Zealand

QUEST Jets Overseas During Winter Abroad Course in Japan and Korea

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Over winter break, 29 students across the QUEST program immersed themselves in the cultures and industries of two East Asian countries through the study abroad winter elective.

This year, the program took them to tour the cities of Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea with an overall theme of looking at innovation and automation and how they have been incorporated into the culture and society of the two cities. Over the ten days, the class allowed students to dive into the cultures of these cities, as well as hear from representatives of numerous companies. 

Watching a matcha tea ceremony

The class visited larger well-known corporations, like Nissan and Samsung, as well as some start-up companies across multiple industries. 

The class at their site visit to SBS

I was able to talk to Shareen Ahmad, an Operations Management and Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management major from Cohort 41, who went on the trip. Her favorite site visit was to Astroscale, a space debris removal company. She found it inspiring to see their work towards sustainability. “It had a lot of legal, financial, and social considerations, and I loved their passion for taking on such a challenge,” she shared. Students even got to simulate the process of how Astroscale works to remove space debris.

Not only were the QUEST students learning about how business and industries worked, but they also got to see firsthand the social and cultural impacts. Students were surprised to see the difference in culture compared to the US. As Ahmad put it, “There was a big focus on social harmony and collectivism.” 

Overall, many students loved being able to interact with the local cultures, seeing cafes, shopping districts, food markets, and lots of entertainment! With the destination of the winter course changing each year, there is always more for future QUESTees to experience abroad. For more photos from the trip, click here.

Studying Abroad in Style in Spain

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College is the time to try new things, whether that’s learning to cook or traveling to a new country. This month, I talked to two QUEST students who both chose to study abroad in the lovely city of Madrid, Spain for the semester! Both Bioengineering majors in Cohort 38 studying at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Fiona Sheridan and Hannah Lee had nothing but amazing things to say about their experiences so far.

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An International QUEST

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This January, I was fortunate enough to go on the QUEST Winter Abroad Trip to Vietnam and Singapore. Signing up for the trip, I really didn’t know what to expect, and I have to say, this opportunity far exceeded my expectations. On my transcript, what looks like a 3-credit course was an opportunity where I was able to learn, grow, and have fun.

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QUESTees Around the Globe: Study Abroad Reopens

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College is the land of countless new opportunities, and one of the most exciting is the opportunity to study abroad. With the ability to choose a program anywhere in the world, studying abroad offers a time to learn about your passion while meeting new people and exploring new cultures. This month, I talked to three QUEST students who are currently taking their studies global about their exciting experiences.

While studying abroad is an exciting point of any student’s years of college, it can be difficult to find a program that’s the right fit for you. Ethan Martinez, a computer science major in Cohort 36, is currently part of the UMD Exchange program to University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. He found the program using the Study Abroad Course Database, which helped him plan out what courses would give him credit. He also consulted friends who had also studied abroad there. Martinez wasn’t only focused on the academics; as an outdoor and history enthusiast, he was excited to see the Scottish Highlands and explore historical sights such as medieval castles. Alexa Schwab, a business management major in Cohort 36, is currently studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain as part of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona program. She found that utilizing UMD’s study abroad advisors helped her match up with a program that fit her goals. Schwab loved that Barcelona was a beach city, had many English speakers, and was easy to travel through the rest of Europe. When it comes to finding a study abroad program, utilizing university resources is vital for straightening out the logistics but picking a place that aligns with your personal travel interests should also be considered.

QUESTee Alexa Schwab with the Mona Lisa in Paris, France

Studying abroad is largely about expanding your horizons and learning about new cultures both personally and academically. Martinez has found his best times so far to be traveling in both Scotland and through Europe with his flatmates. Some of the highlights were visiting the Edinburgh castle where he learned about Scottish royalty, St. Margaret’s church which is over 1,000 years old, and Copenhagen where he saw the Rosenborg Slot. When not traveling, he enjoys hiking Arthur’s Seat and visiting Scottish pubs to meet other students and locals. Schwab has taken advantage of Spain’s location to visit several countries including France and Switzerland while also taking time to see many of Spain’s beautiful cities. One of her best memories was taking a chocolate making class in Switzerland. Rishi Parikh, an aerospace engineering major in Cohort 35, is studying at University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) in Madrid, Spain as part of the Clark in Madrid program. Parikh has spent his time in Madrid making new friends from all around Europe including Italy, Scotland, and Germany and trying different activities while abroad. Academically, he finds self motivation to be the key to success.

Copenhagen, Denmark taken by QUESTee Ethan Martinez

When it came to advice for future QUEST students looking to study abroad, the interviewees had plenty of helpful tips. Parikh advises stepping out of your comfort zone to make friends that are not just from English-speaking countries and even going random with roommates to meet people from all over. He is a strong supporter of keeping an open mind and taking the time to explore. Martinez agrees, explaining that meeting students outside of the US gives a fresh perspective. He also advises future study abroad students to make time for having fun as this experience won’t come again. Although studying abroad can sometimes seem like an intimidating and daunting process, with the use of plenty of resources, it can be one of the best times of our college career. It’s a wonderful time to actually discover yourself and see the world from a totally different view. Enjoy the rest of your semesters abroad!

QUEST Takes on Design and Innovation in Spain

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The QUEST to Spain trip returned this winter, allowing students the opportunity to explore the culture in Barcelona, Madrid, and Toledo! Students, both from within and outside of the QUEST Honors Program, spent 12 days in Spain to explore topics in innovation and design. 

Students at Park Guell in Barcelona

After having a great experience on last year’s QUEST to Japan trip, Lexi Paidas (Cohort 31) felt excited to have another opportunity to go abroad with QUEST. She enjoyed not only attending business visits in Spain, but also taking opportunities to explore the culture and architecture of the cities. “We spent a lot of time learning about timeless design. There was beautiful architecture that’s been around for years.”

Students at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

One of her favorite parts of the trip was a day trip to Montserrat. “We saw a beautiful Basilica when we were about 1,000 meters up. It was a weird weather day, so when we stepped off the bus, we could barely see anything from the fog. The basilica coming out of the fog was beautiful.” 

Lexi enjoyed learning about the timeless design that went into building basilicas like this one. She said, “A lot of time and effort goes into minute details to make it last a long time, and there are no shortcuts. You create with the idea that what you’re creating is everlasting.”

Another highlight of the trip was the day trip to Toledo, where students learned about how the history of the city impacted its culture. “It used to be their capital city, so they had a lot of turnover,” Lexi said. “There’s still a lot of prominent sections with different religions today. It was interesting how you could see the influence of different religions in different areas.” Lexi added that Toledo is where Spain makes a lot of their marzipan!

The students who travelled to Spain are excited to apply everything they learned about design and innovation to their courses and beyond! Where will QUEST go next?

Making the Most of Winter Break

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This month, we have been welcoming back all of our QUESTees for a new, and some student’s final, spring semester! Although QUEST students were gone for five weeks and did not get to participate in innovative QUEST classes, they seemed to be doing some pretty cool and exciting activities on their own!

Celine Moarkech of Cohort 29, and QUESTPress’ Editor and Chief, spent part of her winter break in the country of Colombia! “I absolutely loved Colombia! In the craziest of ways, this trip was super QUEST-y. I did an AirBnB experience with an architect in Medellin to learn about the city planning and design post-Escobar, and I learned that so much thought went into it. From thinking about every potential user of city transportation to identifying the most efficient ways (ski lifts are regular forms of transport) to keeping everything sustainable, the city is not only developing amazingly for now but also for the future!”

Celine in Medellin, Colombia

Neil Duggal of Cohort 31 went abroad with the Smith School of Business and interactively studied the financial effects of Brexit in England and Belgium. “I really enjoyed visiting the historical aspects of each city. I absolutely loved learning about the military leaders and going to museums. The food was amazing – I could always go for some classic fish ‘n chips. Also, I went to Paris on my own and really enjoyed exploring the town of Versailles. If you go, definitely hit up the bakeries and eat every type of croissant imaginable.”

Neil in Paris, France

Charles Grody, Jack Sturtevant, and Tuvia Rapaport, all from Cohort 29, went to Queen’s University in Toronto to pitch Hydraze, their startup eco-friendly public toilet flushing system, in the Queen’s Entrepreneurial Challenge. Jack Sturtevant said, “We were one of fifteen teams to compete in the challenge, and only one of four non-Canadian start-ups. We made it to the final, which consisted of only six teams. This was a really cool opportunity for Hydraze because we got to pitch our idea in front of people like the Chief Marketer at Groupon, the CTO of Microsoft, Canada, etc. Charles Grody added, “This was actually all of our first time in Canada. It snowed a lot, so when we weren’t focusing on Hydraze, we were having snowball fights!”

These QUEST students really had some cool experiences this winter break! Sadly, its time to regroup and get back to class… Only four more weeks until spring break, but who’s counting…

From left to right, Tuvia Rapaport, Charles Grody, Jack Sturtevant in Toronto, Canada