Spring Semester at Northern Arizona University: When a fulfilled dream combines with a valuable experience

Although trips to the USA through the VIA program are among the most expensive and the chances of going overseas are not very high, Petra Chovancová Panáčková, a student of Nutrition Therapy at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava, managed to make it happen. She spent the spring semester at Northern Arizona University, fulfilling her big "American dream".

Looking back, Petra Chovancová Panáčková considers her decision to apply through the Exchange program as the best decision she has ever made. "My only choice of destination was the United States, where it was mentioned at the information seminar that it's the most expensive option and only the best students get selected. So I was rather skeptical about my chances, especially because my English wasn't perfect. But language skills aren't everything, in my opinion, writing a strong motivation letter carries a lot of weight, too. I believe explaining how the stay will benefit your further studies or your bachelor's thesis is also important. I received help with formulating my thesis topic in nutrition from  Ms. Mgr. Škarková, and we also worked through the entire motivation letter together," explains Petra Chovancová Panáčková.

She was very surprised when she found out she had been selected. Her genuine joy was mixed with feelings of uncertainty about how she would manage on her own in America. But before her departure, she had to choose her courses and align them with her curriculum at the University of Ostrava so that they would be successfully recognized at the end of the semester.

According to Petra, the visa interview was surprisingly easier than filling out all the paperwork for it. The university grant covered her entire stay at Northern Arizona University, including health insurance, accommodation, and meals. "However, it was necessary to pay for the flight tickets, visa processing, and any travel within the USA from my savings, so it's wise to save up beforehand. Before I knew it, just a week before the official start of the spring semester at Northern Arizona University, I was waiting at the airport for my flight across the ocean. The long journey and transfers went smoothly, and I was already expected at the international pavilion on campus, which was the hub for all international students throughout the semester. Since my dorm was also located there, it was ideal," she describes her first impressions upon arriving at the Arizona University.

She shared her housing with three other female students, each from a different part of the world. "I shared a room with a student from China, another from Korea, and one from Iran — we definitely enriched each other culturally and got along well," the nutrition therapist says. The accommodation included a small kitchen, where Petra often cooked for herself to save money, although she sometimes used the university dining hall as well.

In the USA, lectures require much more student participation than in the Czech Republic, according to Petra Chovancová Panáčková: "Lectures often involved group work, presenting articles, or frequently answering questions during class. The final grade consisted of attendance, class participation, homework, and tests. So it was important and necessary to prepare for each class because of the assignments to be done at home."

Of the professional courses she took, she considers "Nutrition for Sport Performance and Wellness" to be the most interesting. In that class, they discussed nutrition for both strength and endurance sports in detail, covering micro and macronutrients thoroughly. The subject was particularly interesting to her because, at the Faculty of Medicine in Ostrava, sports nutrition is only touched on briefly. Another subject she enjoyed was "Nutrition across the Lifecycle," which focused on nutrition from pregnancy planning through to old age.

In addition to studying, Petra Chovancová Panáčková took part in many leisure activities. "Every week there were various events at the international pavilion, mainly for international students. There were countless sports activities, too. The university had its own swimming pool, gym, cinema, and offered various student clubs. Campus buses were free for students; all you had to do was show your student ID. If you're planning to go to Northern Arizona University, you should be prepared for a long winter and lots of snow that lasts almost until the end of April, because the university is located at a high elevation. So I enjoyed the snow. I was also an active member of the hiking club, through which we went on hikes in Sedona's beautiful nature and even camped near the Grand Canyon. I also attended the Native American club, where I learned more about students with indigenous roots and from reservations. There were dozens of clubs at the university, so everyone can definitely find one they like, or even start their own," adds Petra Chovancová Panáčková.

Whenever she had questions about her studies or needed help with formalities, she turned to the coordinator at Northern Arizona University, who always replied quickly to emails and helped her with everything she needed. "Overall, all the teachers were very helpful, and I felt welcome and accepted the whole time I was there. So to anyone considering applying and studying abroad, I highly recommend it. You have nothing to lose by applying — you can only gain a study experience in a country you've always dreamed of, just like I did. I'm truly grateful for this opportunity," concludes Petra Chovancová Panáčková, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ostrava.

The VIA mobility program was launched by the University of Ostrava in 2016. Thanks to this program, students can go on study stays, summer schools, or internships all over the world outside the Erasmus+ countries. The University of Ostrava collaborates with universities in the USA, South Korea, China, Mexico, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Argentina, and many other countries. Within the VIA program, students are also supported to go to a university of their own choice. This invaluable experience is supported by a contribution of up to 90 % of the estimated costs.

Updated: 17. 06. 2025