It’s funny how a decision that is made on a slight whim can set you on a path of adventure, accomplishments and a life in a completely different country.

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It was a spur of the moment decision that led Amalie Victoria Jørgensen to apply to the 2017/2018 school year at the American College of Norway - and she has yet to regret that decision. It was a dream of traveling, while also being pragmatic about the need for an education that led her to want to study abroad. Because of her experience studying in the U.S she has become familiar with the American education system - and speaks highly of the opportunities and flexibility that is offered to students. However, it was in 2017, that the support and guidance provided by the staff at ACN were an essential part of her finding her way to the University of North Dakota.

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Looking back, she remembers her time at The American College of Norway fondly, and the feeling of community she developed here. “It’s a smaller school, so you really get to know everybody - staff, faculty and students.” In addition, she highlights how she valued the opportunity for one-on-one chats with faculty and academic advisors - which helped smooth her transition into the US educational system. 

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When Amalie first transferred to UND, it was with the intent to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. However, after two years on this path, it became clear that this was not the right major for her. The beauty of the American education system is that you have a lot more flexibility, and through a network that Amalie credits to her time at ACN, she was able to change her major to Fisheries and Wildlife biology

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After this change, Amalie truly found her passion. She explains that she is not an exam person, and thus the hands-on work that is prevalent in the Fisheries and Wildlife department made for a more rewarding and enjoyable educational experience. Throughout her degree she was awarded several different internships, which allowed her plenty of practical experience with field work and collaboration with a number of different people and agencies. These experiences opened her eyes to the joy of research, and led her to pursue a masters degree. 

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Originally she planned to leave the US to do her masters, but her undergrad advisor at UND reached out to invite her to participate in an exciting project. And as Amalie says, “How can you turn down an opportunity like that?”

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Amalie happily accepted the offer, and graduated with her masters degree in Biology in the summer of 2024. Moreover, the opportunities kept coming! While pursuing her masters - Amalie got to know a professor in the biology department at UND, and this professor decided to offer her a PhD position. 

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As a PhD student, Amalie is designing her own research project - where she gets to choose her focus species and research questions. As a consequence - in the fall of 2024 - Amalie will start her research on Giraffes, Zebras and Wildebeest with field work bringing her to South Africa.. Her project will be funded in part by NORAM (The Norway-America Association), and Amalie will work as a teaching assistant in combination with her PhD-work.

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When questioned about if she received more unique opportunities while studying in the US, in comparison to what she would have received if she had completed her education in Norway, she is confident in her answer: “Absolutely! I think a lot of the internships and the hands-on work that I’ve been doing are things that I wouldn’t have gotten to do in Norway.” 

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Long term, Amalie hopes to work internationally - and she believes that her study abroad experience will be essential to achieving this goal, stating; “It has been very rewarding.”

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It is not only in the classroom that Amalie is flourishing - she has also enjoyed the varied opportunities for social activities and clubs on the UND campus. Throughout her undergraduate degree she was a member of The Wildlife Society, and in the second year of her Masters degree she took on the mantle as president of Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA).

Amalie praises the availability of social arenas for students on campus - highlighting the importance of community and camaraderie in a daily life that can be quite stressful as a student.

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Being part of a  club also led to some cool opportunities, for example when they organized and hosted a one-day symposium where around 100 participants from surrounding states gathered to discuss issues of biology and presented  work from within the field. Amalie explains that it was hard work - but such an interesting opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes of a large event. She laughs about it now, saying; “It’s kind of crazy thinking about everything I get to experience!”.

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At this point in her academic career, Amalie feels there has been no shortage of opportunities. She has participated in research projects, published articles and been given the opportunity to present her work at conferences all over the US.

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“You kind of feel like you’ve ‘made it’ when you get to present your work, and you have these strangers from all over the world  watching you - asking you questions - interested in what you’re doing and how you got to your conclusions.”

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When asked if she has any advice for anyone who is planning to study in the US, she states;

“Ask questions!”. She explains that it's important to remember things are different in the US, and that you should avoid making assumptions or expect things to be the same as they are at home. With reference to this, Amalie also highlights the importance of utilizing your network - not only to ask questions, but by widening your horizons through experiences. As a student, she has made it her mission to always work hard and grasp any opportunity she is offered. “I don’t think I would have gotten the masters offer or the PhD offer if I hadn’t taken every opportunity that came my way - I’ve shown that I am willing to do the work.”

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The US education system is quite multi-faceted, and you will often find that the system is designed to create a breadth of knowledge throughout a degree. This has worked out perfectly for Amalie, as she states; “I’ve had so many cool experiences, and  that's all thanks to UND and ACN for getting me to where I am today!”

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We at the American College of Norway are proud to have her as alumni - and can’t wait to see all the cool things she’ll do next!

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Written by Tonje Kristiansen