Studying Abroad in France

To quote my dad, the junior year abroad is as American as apple pie. As college students enter their sophomore year, those enticing fliers and posters featuring students in gondolas in Italy, on camelback in Egypt, or standing beneath the Eiffel Tower suddenly seem ubiquitous. The question for those seriously considering study abroad isn't only where to go, but what the actual experience of studying in a foreign institution entails. Perhaps my recent experience studying abroad in a French university can help shed some light. 

Setting aside typical motivations to study abroad in France, such as the prospect of adventure and the desire to experience a different culture and language, it's (duh!) also important to consider the educational aspect. Depending on which study abroad program you choose to participate in, students are faced with different options for furthering their education in France. The Education Abroad Program affiliated with the University of California provides a well-structured central organization for students to turn to with a wide range of questions and needs while embarking on their life abroad. The program also gives students a head start on studying abroad in France with its Intensive Language Program, basically a month-long French language and culture bootcamp to prepare for the semester or year ahead.