See a few of the opportunities available offered at F&M. Students share their experiences or future plans to study off campus.
Roger Avila-Vidal
Roger Avila-Vidal '22 - Washington DC - Summer Break
Not all programs are in foreign countries. In this program Roger will "have a full time internship at an organization in D.C., earn credits in a specific concentration such as U.S. Government or Foreign Affairs, and complete a portfolio of the internship and seminar experiences."
Gabi Girton
Gabi Girton '22 - Turks & Caicos - Junior Year
Gabi plans for travel her junior year to Turks & Caicos to study marine ecology and biodiversity.
Giuseppe Inglima
Giuseppe Inglima '20 - Puerto Natales, Chile - Senior Fall
"I did an environmental science field research-based program in Patagonia. I mainly lived in Puerto Natales, Chile but we traveled all over the Patagonian region in both Chile & Argentina. My study abroad experience was much more remote than most other programs, and it was very typical for me to either be backpacking through a national park or living in a tent for a week while conducting research. I got to see a variety of ecosystems from glaciers and mountains to beaches, temperate rainforests, and desert-like steppes. I also got to live on a boat for a week where we sailed around the tip of South America and visited Cape Horn, the southernomost point in the world before Antarctica. I loved being able to travel so much with my program and visit places that many people have only dreamt of visiting."
Nithya Kumar
Nithya Kumar '20 - Buenos Aires & Mendoza, Argentina - Summer Break
"Students will improve their Spanish in the context of Argentine culture while also learning about the history of reproductive health and rights in the Southern Cone. It was a great study abroad opportunity to learn more Spanish and women's health in Argentina."
Gabby Goodwin
Gabby Goodwin '20 - Salamanca, Spain - Summer Break
"I studied abroad in Salamanca because, unlike Madrid and Barcelona, where it is a bit more touristy, everyone in Salamanca only speaks Spanish. It was the type of immersion I needed to increase the proficiency of my Spanish-speaking skills."
Sarah Buckingham
Sarah Buckingham '21 - Madrid, Spain - Junior Year
"The program was through the University of Minnesota and in coordination with Fundacion Ortega Maranon, an international school in Madrid. I was able to take classes in both Spanish and English at school and do an internship in Madrid at the same time. I lived with a host family and loved getting to know my host mom, Maria. She cooked dinner for me every night and loved to go out for tapas with me. I was able to learn about Spanish culture and gain independence during this experience."
Hugo Job
Hugo Job '22 - Paris, France - Senior Fall
"I attended an internship-based study abroad program in Paris, where I spent five months living in and immersing myself in the Parisian lifestyle. I worked as an intern for the United States Embassy in Paris, where I was tasked with drafting reports and doing research for senior staff members. I was able to take the opportunity to improve my French and to be completely responsible for myself, which has helped me immensely upon my return back home."
Emma Steffan
Emma Steffan '22 - Bath England - Summer after Junior Year
"Because of COVID I was unable to travel abroad during a full semester but following my junior year I had an opportunity to study in Bath, England for six weeks. While there I took two classes, one of which focused on the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the connections and legacies that England still grapples with today. Outside of the classroom, our program was able to travel around England and explore some of the famous sites as well as those connected with our classes! The pandemic forced so many people to change or push back plans so I am very happy to have been able to experience abroad even for a shortened period of time."
Photo Caption: "This photo is from a trip to Bristol (a quick train ride from Bath) on a free Sunday when we had to explore the areas around us!"
Shira Gould
Shira Gould '20 - Dublin, Ireland - Junior Year
"I studied Psychology and Religion at Trinity College Dublin. It was a really great program because it offered so many opportunities to explore Ireland, but it was also flexible enough that I got to travel outside of Ireland too. Trinity College is also incredibly different from F&M because it is a huge school, so I got to explore a different academic style. While I much prefer the way F&M does things, Trinity is among some of the highest-ranked institutions in the world. It was cool to learn in such an old school."
Eleni Kytoudi '22
Eleni Kytoudi '22 - Edinburgh, UK - Senior Fall
"During the fall of 2021, I studied Economics and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. It was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life. UoE is a world-renowned institution that provided me with countless opportunities to evolve, not only academically but through extracurricular activities as well. I saw how a large, European university approaches education—particularly Economics, which was significantly more technical than what I was used to at F&M. The Economics classes I took challenged me to evolve academically in unfamiliar but exciting ways—after all, UoE's Economics program is globally recognized for its quality and vigor. Overall, the class schedule was self-paced and placed great emphasis on the finals, something that allowed me to extensively explore the UK along with Ireland during the semester. I gained the most memorable experiences, met extraordinary people, and evolved in ways I thought I had outgrown as a 4th-year student. I would recommend it to anyone without reservations."
Melissa Browne
Melissa Browne '21 - Freidburg, Germany - Junior Year
"My program was all about sustainability. I took classes about renewable energy, green cities, sustainability, and my favorite class was definitely ecology of the Swiss alps because we actually went to the Swiss alps for three days! I also loved being independent and being able to travel around Europe. I definitely recommend going abroad."
Emily Pollock
Emily Pollock '20 - Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany - Junior Year
"Though this program was based in the quaint and charming city of Freiburg, it focused on presenting students with an overview of the European Union (EU)'s history, procedures, and current issues. We took program-sponsored trips to many of the capital cities of EU member states and were able to talk with experts from many of the EU institutions and think tanks that consult the organization. It was awesome to have a first-hand look at how such a unique and complex institution operates.
One thing I absolutely loved about studying off campus was the independence and confidence that I gained. Traveling by yourself to a foreign continent is incredibly intimidating, but after 4 months of travel via train, plane, and automobile in new places, the confidence and independence I cultivated from my experience is something I'll always be grateful for!"
Ella Markowitz
Ella Markowitz '20 - Rome, Italy - Junior Year
"It is an intensive program for classical students. We spent almost every day outside of the classroom and going to see ancient sites."
Abby Straub
Abby Straub '21 - Vienna, Austria - Junior Year
"I would not trade the experience for anything in the entire world. I didn't want to go abroad initially because I had people on campus that I was afraid of leaving behind but it was hands down the coolest, most eye opening experience of my life. Not to be dramatic but you are able to learn about so many things hands on, meet new people from all over, and really gain a great amount of independence that you can't get anywhere else. Everyone should go."
Anna Rakich
Anna Rakich '20 - Budapest, Hungary - Junior Year
"My program was on the smaller side, about 25 people, and tailored to people studying political science and/or business. We attended Corvinus University of Economics in the heart of Budapest, where we took international classes with other students our age from all over the world. I also had an internship at a political think tank there, and am now applying for a Fulbright with the same company!
Off campus study is incredible because it is truly a time of self-discovery, and I know I came back to the US feeling so much more confident in myself and my goals for the future."
Alex Pinsk
Alex Pinsk '20 - Athens, Greece - Junior Year
"It was a cultural, language, and academic immersion experience including coursework in Immigration and Nationalism, Modern and Ancient Greek, and Aegean Art & Archaeology. I was able to travel with the Program and with other friends studying abroad and observe a variety of different cultures and places.
The program definitely helped me gain more independence and discover how to navigate new places, languages, public transportation, etc. I was also on a program with only one other student from F&M—the rest of the students were from different Colleges/Universities across the country which encouraged me to branch out and meet so many new, wonderful people.
The most wonderful part of study abroad is that the people are so excited and willing to try new things and explore—there is such great energy and a positive attitude consistently. Studying abroad made me so appreciative of not only the opportunity to get off campus and explore but also, upon returning to campus, of the amazing experiences at F&M and provided by the College."
Frannie Levy
Frannie Levy '21 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Summer Break
"I interned for eight-weeks at a non-profit newsite NoCamels.com. I loved immersing myself in a new city and having a real life and routine there, such as commuting to work on public transit, exploring local restaurants, and bonding with neighbors and store owners."
Molly Sproul
Molly Sproul '21 - Israel - Sophomore Year
"Although I did this program independent/before my time at F&M, Hillel promotes this experience. In Onward Israel, you are paired with a company to work for in the summer in the city that your program is in. You can go on a program with people who have similar interests or with people who live/study near you (i.e. Philadelphia). I got to intern for IBM in their newer cybersecurity center in Beersheba, Israel for 2 months. On the weekends, we were given the freedom to explore Israel and the different cultures. One weekend, my friends and I went down to Eilat (the most southern tip of Israel) where we did a sunrise hike and rented a boat to take out on the water."
Lia Tavarez
Lia Tavarez '20 - Jordan - Junior Year
"While in Jordan, I did an intensive Arabic language program with the program CET. As part of the program, other students and I signed a language pledge, which meant that we could only speak Arabic! While initially intimidating, this pledge is what pushed my Arabic to the next level because I had to navigate my entire abroad experience using the Arabic language. In addition to the pledge, I took a Jordanian society course and a History of Conflict in the Middle East course and the two were taught in Arabic.
I absolutely loved my experience because my program was extremely supportive and provided us with the necessary resources to succeed. Studying in Jordan broaden my understanding of the Middle Eastern peoples and cultures and allowed me to contextualize everything that I had learned during my study of the region and language at F&M! I met some of my life long friends while abroad and learned to be more independent. Looking back at my experience now I wouldn't have chosen to go anywhere else!"
Jocelyne Santos
Jocelyne Santos '20 - China, India & Spain - Junior Year & Summer Break
"I did F&M in China where my group traveled to different cities in China and India with an F&M anthropology professor. I would highly recommend this program. I was surrounded by good people and learned a lot about both cultures. Prior to this trip I was a little skeptical as to why someone would want to travel to these countries for fun, but I am glad I did it because it showed me how rich and different it is to the U.S.
When I was in Spain, I was located in Madrid and took classes mainly in art history. I was able to visit all the major art museums and travel across northern Spain. I learned about the different cultures in the provinces and was able to learn how Spain's history has influenced the way Spaniards view themselves in the present."
Harmony Zhao
Harmony Zhao '20 - Shanghai, China - Junior Year
"I studied abroad with the IFSA-Butler 21st Century City program in Shanghai. The Shanghai program was split between four routes: a business program, an intensive Chinese program, a public health program, and my own program. While some students decided to stay with local families through home-stays, the majority of students lived in off-campus apartments at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. I am extremely grateful for my experience in Shanghai because I was able to strengthen my Chinese language skills and my knowledge of Chinese culture."
Sara Silber
Sara Silber '22 - Australia - Junior Year
"I will be studying environmental topics of sustainability and environmental action with excursions in the natural landscape"
Kit Meiler
Kit Meiler '21 - Dunedin, New Zealand - Junior Year
"My experience was absolutely incredible both due to my academic experience studying English Literature and Government (political science) from another perspective, and the learning experience outside of the classroom. I was fortunate to study in Dunedin, New Zealand. Throughout my whole life I always wanted to travel to this part of the world, but never had the opportunity.
New Zealand is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. It has the most eclectic landscape with snow-capped mountains, glaciers, beaches, rainforests, and rolling hills. I live in Bryn Mawr PA, only an hour and a half from F&M, so while I was able to grow a lot in my first two years of college, this was my opportunity to really get out of my comfort zone. I ended up buying a car with a few friends, (which I know sounds a bit crazy and my parents definitely were not too happy about the idea at first) but this by far was the best investment I ever made while studying abroad. We luckily were able to sell it for twice as much as we paid, which made it even more worthwhile. Most importantly, we were able to travel every weekend and take long road trips to be able to explore the entire country, as there is limited public transportation. I learned a lot not just about international car insurance, but also learned the ups and downs of traveling in a place so far from home.
I was able to go skiing, hike in the rainforests and four of the "Great Walks" that are protected by the DOC, swim, surf and explore so many hidden spots. New Zealand also has some of the most genuine people in the world, and I still am in contact with lots of friends I made along the way. I definitely became more independent abroad, and learned so much from my classes and all the exploring I was lucky enough to do. If New Zealand was closer, I would live there in a heartbeat."