Princeton University

James Williams '13

Concentration: Politics
Program: IES Granada, Spain

I am now a much more confident Spanish speaker, I now have a much different view of the world, and I was able to spend a semester being exposed to different approaches of learning. Granada the city and its people were what defined my study abroad experience. No other city in Spain is as beautiful or culturally rich as is Granada. I traveled all over Spain and can vow for that statement firsthand (although Toledo and Barcelona tie for a close second). If you want to see Spain in its classically most romantic form, go to Granada.

Ida Posner '12

Concentration: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: University of Cape Town, South Africa

I really enjoyed being in classes with students from all across the continent of Africa. It was especially interesting in my engineering classes as I was the only study abroad student. Cape Town is a fascinating place to be in not only because it is a beautiful city but because of the racial, political, and socioeconomic issues happening. The effects of apartheid are still seen throughout the city, and it was really interesting to meet people who had lived through that era. So much is constantly changing in South Africa, making it an exciting place to be. It also means that the issues we were studying in classes had real-life applications and examples that we could see right there in Cape Town.

David Perel '12

Concentration: Politics
Program: Sciences Po, Paris, France

I had the best time of my life and learned more about myself, about my identity as an American and about my goals in life than I ever thought I would. . . . It was a challenging academic environment that is accepting of foreigners with poor language skills. . . . Go for the full year. You'll open up second semester more than you think you would. Be prepared for a challenging year in many ways, but also be ready to live in a place where if you’re spending an evening at home watching TV, you’re really wasting your time.

Stephanie Chen '12

Concentration: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Cornell in Rome, Italy

The greatest strength of the program is that the classes are all taught on-site, making it a very interactive, unique experience. All of the information was therefore more memorable and relevant. Additionally, the program's location in the heart of historic Rome places many of the city's most notable sites--from the Pantheon to the Coliseum--within walking distance. The program is fairly small and focused, meaning that classes are intimate and relevant to a student interested in art, architecture, or planning.

Micah Joselow '12

Concentration: Woodrow Wilson School
Program: University of Havana, Cuba

The course I took on Cuban Cultural Policy is my favorite class at Princeton so far. The resident director immersed us in Cuban culture from the get go to make for an unforgettable semester. Being in a Cuban classroom was also a fantastic experience, and my JP adviser helped me to navigate the Cuban research process very well. Cuba is an incredible country, and things change quickly. Be prepared for anything and you will have an amazing semester.

Caroline Hodge '12

Concentration: Religion
Program: University of Oxford, England

I decided I wanted my semester at Oxford to be about things I couldn't (or wouldn't) do at Princeton. Because undergraduates at Oxford specialize so immediately in one subject, they are expected to engage with their discipline at a much higher level than is feasible in a liberal arts setting. Working in three distinct disciplines--history, theology, and literature--allowed me to appreciate the differences that exist within those disciplines and to engage in them fully. The academic work is very challenging, but immensely rewarding. Oxford is also a great city. I would recommend this program emphatically!

Trace Feng '12

Concentration: Sociology
Program: Academic Programs Abroad, Paris, France

I think you'll likely get three things out of this program, academically speaking. First, you'll improve your French reading, listening, and writing abilities. Second, you'll improve your French reading, listening . . . Frankly, that is the biggest skill you'll take away from the program, and I believe it's a valuable one. Depending on your department, you'll get a very good taste of the French way of doing academics. The writing assignments follow an interesting intellectual tradition and will require you to do some unique thinking tasks. Personally, the experience taught me to how to embrace differences despite the inevitable aversion you may feel at the outset and how to be myself while respecting others.

Cheyenne Tait '12

Concentration: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Program: James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

Interacting with biology students from different backgrounds made me question myself as a scientist--in a good way. Both personally and academically, I feel more open-minded, ready and eager to learn more new things. I also feel more confident in myself. Academically, the vague instructions on the (usually) open-ended assignments also pushed me to be independent, to research on my own, and to dig for as much or as little as I wanted to. Managing my own finances for a semester was also rather a shock, a foreshadowing of what I will be facing after Princeton! (I think I did okay though).

Daniel Gonzalez '11

Concentration: East Asian Studies
Program: Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies

Being in  Kyoto was an immensely important aspect of the study abroad experience. As the old capital, it has an abundance of temples and historical sites tucked away among the modern urban sprawl. Exploring and studying Japan in an area so steeped in ancient, “traditional” scenery was highly stimulating and a sort of experience simply unattainable in the U.S. I recognize that as a result of my experiences in Kyoto, I have changed dramatically as an individual student and have gained a more realistic perspective on the state of events in Japan that will undeniably help further my studies as an EAS concentrator.
 

Raquel George '11

Concentration: Comparative Literature
Program: Eastern College Consortium (ECCO)/ Universita di Bologna, Italy

I really enjoyed my courses. UniBo courses are all big lectures, which is way different from Princeton, but the material was great and my language improved rapidly. I learned a lot of Italian from my roommates and know my language would not have improved so rapidly without them. Joining a gym and living life like an ordinary Italian helped me to really understand and be part of the culture. I also feel more independent, happier, and more confident after my experiences traveling and taking care of myself. It may sound like a cliché, but going abroad was the best decision I made in my life. Seriously.

Brooks Barron '11

Concentration: Woodrow Wilson School
Program: Hertford College, Oxford University, England

I was intellectually challenged in many ways and was forced to move out of my comfort zone to adjust to a different academic system. The faculty I worked with were all wonderfully attentive, interested, helpful, and friendly, and very knowledgeable. The tutorial system is an incredible way to facilitate faculty involvement with students, and the four-week seminar was very hands-on as well. I also became involved in many discussions with other students that were outside the classroom but were relevant to current affairs or to my academic work. Oxford is an amazing place to have long, complicated, controversial, and stimulating discussions about just about anything—it’s a big part of the culture, and I’m glad I got a glimpse of it.
 

Abigail Bowman '11

Concentration: Near Eastern Studies
Program: Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey

My Turkish fellow students were diligent and asked good questions—Bogazici University is a top-caliber public university in Turkey, and it shows through its undergrads. Of the ten courses I took, only two were taught in English, so they were certainly very challenging for me as I was stretching the limits of my Turkish every day and trying to keep up with a classroom of native speakers. I can’t put into words how important this year was for my Turkish language skills and my knowledge of the country’s politics and culture. I also had a great time navigating the challenges of living in a huge city…and I learned how to feed myself!

Dean Shaban '11

Concentration: Psychology
Program: University of Melbourne, Australia

The professors at University of Melbourne were very committed to a high level of education and were most knowledgeable on the topics which they taught. I took subjects that I can’t take at Princeton, which allowed me to learn things I ordinarily wouldn’t get the chance to learn. The subjects were both challenging and interesting. It was great getting a perspective on a variety of topics from the Australian point of view, which differs in places from the American stance. I both absorbed and got absorbed into the Australian culture via my housing conditions and the university setting. I set out wanting to learn what it was like to live in another country and I definitely got that experience (so much that I decided to stay for an extra semester). The people of Melbourne, Australia are very accommodating, and they make you feel immediately welcome.

Grace Hoerner '11

Concentration: Woodrow Wilson Program
Program: University of Cape Town, South Africa

Some of the most useful academic experiences were the discussions with students from all different countries in tutorials (precepts). The atmosphere at UCT is wonderful--everywhere you walk you see groups of students sitting around talking. The student body is a very diverse bunch in terms of background, race, style, etc, which was an important part of the experience for me. I loved slowly discovering the intricacies of Cape Town as a city and South Africa as a society. Everything from figuring out how the mini-bus system works to beginning to understand how racial views are changing in South Africa led to enormous personal growth and would be completely impossible to grasp without having lived there for five months. I know many people say they can’t study abroad because they don’t want to miss a semester at Princeton. While I understand that impulse, what I gained from my semester abroad far exceeded what I could have gained from one additional semester at Princeton.

Ethan Ludmir '11

Concentration: Molecular Biology
Program: Program in Biomedicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Fantastic curriculum and great professors. The courses were challenging and combined very clinical studies with more academic/molecular ones. Scores of lecturers presented their fields/areas of practice and were very engaged with the students. Being abroad also gave me a chance to grow up. Princeton tends to shield us from the real world, and living alone in a foreign country allowed me to explore, grow, and mature. Living in Sweden, one definitely has to be prepared for the darkness and the cold. Sweden is a very different place. Although the culture shock was difficult at times, I became a stronger, more independent person as a result. Beyond the tremendous academic and clinical knowledge I gained, this experience defined me as an adult.

Margaret Cady '11

Concentration: English
Program: Goldsmiths, University of London, London, England

I look at Shakespeare’s work in a completely new way after taking  “Shakespeare’s London” at Goldsmiths College in London, a course that took full advantage of our location. We saw productions of all the plays we studied, which added a great deal to class discussions. I was able to become comfortable in a wonderful city and really feel like a local. It was exciting to learn the subtleties of British culture from my peers, professors, and friends I met in the city. I could not imagine a better environment in which to write my Junior Paper. My classes were interesting and highlighted the fact that I was in a new city that afforded us such rich opportunities. It was a great experience.
 

Ari Heistein '11

Concentration: Near Eastern Studies
Program: American University in Cairo, Egypt

A large reason I went abroad was to immerse myself in the culture, which I really do feel that I accomplished. The teachers were very engaging even in matters beyond Arabic studies, such as issues facing Egyptian society. I learned a great deal of Arabic and thoroughly enjoyed myself in the process. The "ahwa" (a coffee house full of locals) is one of the many places to meet people. In fact, the more local you go, the friendlier people are because you are something of an anomaly there. My experience with my Egyptian friends was the highlight of my time in Egypt. They helped me view Egypt from within, explaining things that most people who are not local could never figure out on their own. Cairo is a great city and you have more than enough time to experience it. It was truly the highlight of my Princeton experience.

• Read what the The Student Guide to Princeton has to say about studying abroad.

• Check out Peter Tzeng '11's blog. Peter is a WWS concentrator who studied abroad at the American University of Cairo  during spring semester 2010.