courtesy of Thompson
- Growing up in multiple states and countries showed Nicole Thompson the benefits of travel.
- She chose St Andrew's University in Scotland because in four years she'd finish with a master's.
- Thompson spent about $95,000 on her education, which is less than what her siblings in the US spent.
This is an as-told-to essay based on an interview with Nicole Thompson, a 24-year-old living in San Francisco. She attended the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, from 2017 to 2021. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.