“Acceptance Abroad: My Experience Across the Globe”

Adapting to new situations and environments can be difficult at times for even the most resilient of people. However, most people still agree that change can be an amazing thing! I have personally faced the beast of change in many ways over the past five months.

Five months ago I was a community college student living in the greater Los Angeles area.

Now, I am a Media, Culture and Communications major here at NYU and am finishing up my first semester in Paris, France.

Before I decided to venture across the world for my first semester at a completely new university, I scoured the internet for any information I could find about the program, so here I am trying to pass the baton forward.

Here are some of the pros and cons of my transfer experience abroad that might help someone during their own information search.

PROS

A positive aspect of the NYU Paris program is its smaller size and more community-centered atmosphere. Transfer students generally have the reputation of struggling to meet people and form relationships, so a smaller community made my transition a bit easier.

If you prefer smaller class sizes and more personal interactions with students and professors, this environment is right up your alley. Coming from a community college, this is what I was used to and made me feel more comfortable and adapt more easily.

You are guaranteed to recognize some familiar faces after just a couple weeks here, and it can make a large city like Paris feel instantly more like home.

Another benefit to the program was tackling the foreign language class requirement in an immersive environment. Language is, in my opinion, a huge part of the culture and experience.

The French locals seem more receptive when you at least try to speak the language, even if you ultimately resort to Google Translate as a backup. As a Spanish speaker, I did have my moments of saying “si” instead of “oui”, but I suppressed my embarrassment, ignored my face flushing a shade of red I didn’t know was possible, and kept trying to communicate.

The language barrier can be frustrating, but if you think of it more as a learning experience it definitely pushes you to be more open-minded.

A quite obvious benefit of the program is the availability of museums, art exhibits and cultural experiences wherever you go. Its thousands of years of complex history make Paris the city it is today, and being able to learn about it all first-hand is a priceless experience. I could talk about all the city has to offer, but Paris’ reputation certainly precedes it.

CONS

Although you may be tempted to view the study abroad experience through rose-tinted glasses, let me tell you it isn’t always frolicking through the Luxembourg gardens and traveling to nearby countries every weekend.

Two of the courses I was enrolled in are core requirements for my major, and students are still expected to complete class readings, assignments and presentations just the same as you would be at any other NYU campus.

I would be weary of taking core classes abroad and encourage you to think about what you feel comfortable with on a personal level as well as how you manage stress and independence in a foreign country.

Keep in mind that the attendance policy isn’t as lenient as you may assume. Missing your flight back from a weekend travel trip or being too tired from sightseeing the day before don’t go over well with professors and the administration.

We were also given a way shorter break for the holidays, as we only had one four-day weekend (for All Saint’s Day), but still had to “make-up” the class the following week on a Friday. Burn-out can be a real issue towards the end of the semester, so make sure you keep self-care and mental health in mind.

As in any major city, safety is always something you should be thinking about. I do feel way more tense and alert at times here, especially since my French isn’t amazing and I’m a young female abroad, but using the buddy system and avoiding any dangerous situations is helpful.

Something else to consider before studying abroad is whether you want to find an internship or work. While I like to stay busy, I wasn’t able to find work or have time to find an internship, especially as a first semester transfer student. This resulted in  a bit more down-time than I am used to, which at times has left me with feelings of unproductivity driving up my anxiety. To combat this, I would recommend getting involved in the NYU Paris community by joining clubs and participating in the school sponsored activities.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As this semester comes to an end, I am extremely grateful that I was able to take part in this experience and would definitely recommend it to any other students looking for a way to become more independent and experience all that the city has to offer.

The obstacles and setbacks I have faced only helped me become more independent and contributed to my growth as a student and a person. Now, I’m ready for the next step in my journey: adapting to New York City.