Choosing to go abroad is a huge decision to make. It involves countless hours spent pondering where to study abroad, which semester to go, how your credits will transfer, and so much more. Today, this question is made even more difficult by the countless study abroad programs available throughout the world. How are you supposed to know which one is right for you? In this blog post, I’m going to share how I decided to study abroad in Paris this semester with CEA, and why I am so glad I did!
Although I knew that I wanted to study in Paris at this time, the spring semester of my junior year, there were still several different programs to choose from, and I was lost. My home college, the University of South Carolina at Columbia, provided me with helpful information when choosing to go abroad, but the decision of which program fell to me. After a lot of careful consideration, I chose CEA because of the class flexibility, program structure, and location.
As a student first, with majors in Psychology and Global Studies and minors in French and Advertising/PR, it was extremely difficult to find a program with this variety of classes. I knew that I needed all five of my classes this semester to count toward major and minor requirements, so this was the biggest factor I considered when choosing a program. My current program, “Communication, Politics & Global Issues,” is the perfect combination! I am taking classes that count towards both of my majors and my French minor, all of which are interesting and related to life in France.
I also really liked the program structure and location of CEA’s Paris center. I was looking for a program that would allow me to return back to the United States by early May in order to attend my younger sister’s high school graduation, and while most study abroad programs go until late May or early June, the dates of my communications program worked out perfectly. Furthermore, I liked how CEA was centrally located in Paris, and I would be able to live inside the city as well, which has always been a dream of mine!
Now that I am here in Paris and halfway through my semester abroad, I am truly so happy to be with CEA. I love my classes, have made lifelong friendships, and feel at home in the city. I wouldn’t trade my study abroad experience for the world!