Study Abroad Testimonials

Ann Marie Bediako B.A. French and Psychology, 2024 Paris-MICEFA	After this trip, I am confident about my ability to succeed globally, even if there is a language barrier. Everyone is a foreigner when they leave their home country. Once you accept that it is okay to be different, your difference makes you special and unique. Ann Marie’s advice: If a long-term program scares you, start small–the French Department offers 3-week and 6-week programs in France!
Lior Ben-Zvi B.A. Middle Eastern Studies and French, 2020 Paris-MICEFA Living in Canada, working in Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding NGO	By meeting local Parisian students, all of my studies being in French, and taking myself on adventures in new places, I gained so much confidence and self-esteem. Lior’s advice: Be open and flexible, lean into the unexpected. You never know what new experiences may arise and where that may lead you.
Munirah Bishop B.A. French and Cinema Studies, 2016 Summer Program in Paris TAPIF (Grenoble region) Graduate scholar at EHESS, Paris.	Studying abroad changed the trajectory of my life. I didn’t really have any idea what I wanted to do post-Rutgers. I fell into my French major and had always wanted to travel outside of the country. The Summer Abroad program allowed me to get a taste of what lay ahead of me if I was willing to take the leap. Living and studying in France has made me able to adapt to almost any environment. I learned how to appreciate the things that are good about the US but also to be open to seeing that there are sometimes better ways to do things! Munirah’s advice: Living abroad is 100% worth it and could very well change your life. There will be moments that challenge you and naturally some culture shock. You may think you’ve made a huge mistake when you find yourself struggling all alone in a foreign country, but even if your experience is not perfect, stepping outside your comfort zone will allow for a huge amount of growth in a short amount of time.
Erik Bobo B.A, IT and Informatics with a French minor, 2019 Paris-MICEFA Senior Business Systems Analyst, PETCO	My time abroad has always served as a point of interest to recruiters from around the world. Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Erik’s advice: Budget wisely. Consider how your spending habits and potential expenses will factor into the length of your program. Financial stress can really squander the wonderful opportunities available to you.
Leslie Del Salto B.S Nursing with a French minor, 2023 Paris-MICEFA Nurse, JFK Medical Center	Study abroad will always be with me. I learned a new language and now I’m able to interact with so many different communities because of it. In Paris I learned that fear is the only thing that inhibits our ability to learn and grow. Leslie’s advice: Be open to make mistakes and always have a plan B if things do go as planned.
Deshik Iyengar B.A. French, Linguistics, Philosophy, 2025 Paris-MICEFA	Living in France has given me a new perspective on some of my academic disciplines like linguistics and philosophy. I approach my studies in the US in a different manner, combining French and American styles of thought in my essays and research. Living in France and immersing myself in a culture I had only studied on paper pushed me to become more social and meet new people whom I’m proud to call my friends. I got to try new foods, attend interesting classes, and speak with a whole host of wonderful people. Deshik’s advice: Enjoy the present, live in the moment. While living in Paris, no day was a dull day. I could always find something interesting to do and experience. Coming back to the US, I decided to keep up that mentality and actively look for exciting things around me.
Claudia Lee B.A. French and Comparative Literature, 2020; M.S. IFM, Paris, 2023 Winter in Aix-en-Provence, Paris-MICEFA, TAPIF (Grasse) Traceability project manager, Crystalchain, Paris	As I sat in my French 101 class at Rutgers, learning how to conjugate avoir and être, I never imagined that today, I would have graduated with a Master’s from l’Institut Français de la Mode and would be living and working in Paris! My time away from home was vibrant, biting, and packed with lessons. Claudia’s advice: Just DO IT! You’ll never regret it. You will learn so much about who you are, where you come from, and what you value.
Sam Lee B.A. Linguistics and French, 2014 Paris-MICEFA TAPIF (Aix-en-Provence region), Winter in Aix-en-Provence (T.A.) UCLA Medical Resident	I was fortunate to spend time abroad both as a student and instructor, thanks to the large network that Rutgers French is a part of. During my time abroad, I was privileged to reflect on my personal and professional aspirations outside the bounds of a singular viewpoint. Alternate models of thinking and living de-centered mine, and my time was defined by a sense of freedom and possibility that fulfillment can look like many, many things. Sam’s advice: Time abroad is valuable in itself and does not have to align perfectly with educational aspirations to be valid. Although it was worthwhile seeing what literary and linguistic studies felt like in a different context, I wish that I’d spent more time engaging with the city and less time stressing about whether my credits would transfer!
Blake Lew-Merwin B.A. Journalism & Media Studies and French, 2020 Sciences Po, Paris Audio Producer at theSkimm	Hearing and speaking French nearly every day improved all of my language skills and I left the program feeling extremely confident in my French. As I’ve worked as an audio producer on a news program, spending time in France and learning about Francophone culture helped me understand the French lens on a story. I created a web of friends from across the US and across Europe who I can lean on professionally and amicably. Blake’s advice: There may be days that you are homesick and feel alone, but those few days do not measure up to the amount of fun and lifelong memories you will make when studying abroad.
Kaylee Nam B.A. French, 2021; M.A. Education Paris-MICEFA Elementary ESL Teacher	Having an open mind in a foreign country helped me recognize and appreciate the differences between my own culture and France. Adaptability has continued to help me as I face unfamiliar environments and new challenges in life. Kaylee’s advice: Start the application process early–maintain good contact with your academic advisors to ensure that all paperwork, credits, etc. are in good shape before, during, and after your journey abroad. Also, look into internships/job opportunities overseas that are aligned with your career goals and interests. Becoming an au pair for a French family helped me develop teaching skills, including patience, leadership, and creativity.
Amy Smith B.A. History/Political Science, French, 2024 Paris-MICEFA	A semester in France gave me confidence in my ability to embark on new adventures and withstand them. I also gained a new perspective on how big the world truly is. That realization was overwhelming at first. Now, a big, boundless world seems like the most exciting thing. Independence, sociability, and spontaneity are the most valuable lessons I gained from living abroad. Amy’s advice: Start your visa application sooner than you think you need to–American and French bureaucracies are both very slow.
Patrick Travens B.A. History and French, 2017 Summer Program in Paris Paris-MICEFA TAPIF (Bordeaux region) Doctoral Candidate in History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison	Study abroad programs allowed me to complete a French major in little more than two years and compete effectively for fully funded graduate school programs in the US. I was also able to make personal connections during my time in France that have helped to break out of an American-centric way of seeing the world. Having a chance to fully appreciate the diversity of French society has changed my perspective about Western Europe and its relationship to the US and the Global South. Patrick’s advice: Do not hesitate to leave the center of Paris and Latin Quarter to explore the whole city and Île-de- France. Seek out local restaurants, bookshops, etc. to try and better understand Paris from the perspective of local residents–and save money by avoiding tourist traps. Seriously consider all the campuses of the University of Paris system instead of choosing by convenience of location. Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis is an excellent campus and Saint-Denis is a great city to explore.
Sam Vladimirsky B.A. History and French, 2019; M.A. History of Art, University College London, 2020 Summer Program in Paris Paris-MICEFA Documentary & commercial director; Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Whimsy	The program made a greater impact on my life than I could ever have foreseen. For one thing, it laid the foundation for a life/career pivot. I came to Rutgers with the ambition of becoming a high school history teacher. Studying photography and filmmaking in Paris set me on a course to working in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA, which led to studying art history in grad school at University College London, which in turn fostered a career making films and commercials featuring artists. The program also afforded me my first opportunity to live independently in a major metropolis. I now fully embrace the adventure and chaos of urban life. It also taught me to let go of my fears of solitude. Growth happens in the uncomfortable. Sam’s advice: Travel. Travel. Travel. Document everything!!! Take photos, log your thoughts/feelings. At the same time, put that damn phone away.