THE IB ADVANTAGE

How Carmelina’s Experience Prepared Her for Success at CCA

As an alumni who graduated from the International School Basel in 2022, Carmelina Fulford has already accomplished so much. She earned a scholarship to attend university and chose to pursue her passion for Art & Design at the California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco. Although she applied to other prestigious universities such as the Academy of Arts University (AAU) and Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD), CCA offered her the most attractive scholarship package.

During our online chat, she shared her journey from earning a scholarship to attend university to being in the Dean’s list for her outstanding academic performance. Carmelina has made the most of her opportunities at CCA, and she encourages others to do the same.

Being an international student, Carmelina has fit in well at CCA and has made many friends even before starting school. She has learned a lot from her teachers and feels that the IB prepared her well for university. In fact, she was pleasantly surprised to find that she was more knowledgeable about citations and being a critical thinker than some of her peers.

Carmelina is currently enrolled in foundation courses at CCA, which has exposed her to different disciplines in Art & Design, and has helped her improve her drawing skills. She even discovered a new passion in woodwork and created a Mayan weapon to reconnect with her heritage. Carmelina is proud of her creation, and it was a reflection of her mental health journey.

When she’s not studying, Carmelina enjoys exploring San Francisco and working part-time in clothing and cosmetic retail. She loves living in the dorms, which are modern and stylish, and enjoys the melting pot of cultures and cuisines in California. She admits that the McDonald’s in the USA is not the same as Switzerland, but she loves trying out new foods and experiences.

Carmelina has some advice for our ISB students, “While it’s important to focus on your studies, don’t forget to make memories with friends and explore new places”.

Carmelina misses her friends and the environment at ISB, but she’s glad she made the decision to study in San Francisco. There’s always something to do in the city, and the transportation is pretty good, so there’s no excuse not to get out and explore!

Carmelina is thriving in San Francisco and is grateful for the opportunities and experiences that university has given her. She encourages all students to make the most of their time at university by balancing their studies with fun and adventure!