Talk to me about: Anything! As someone who has now completed a Maymester in Paris and a full semester abroad in Florence, I feel extremely versed in studying abroad at USC and how to best take advantage of the opportunities offered to you. While I would be happy to answer any and all questions regarding study abroad (or even general advice for USC), I can also speak to a few unique aspects of the study abroad experience.

First is living with a host family! Whether this is mandatory for your program or an option among many, I would be happy to explain both of my experiences (I have done it twice!) and give advice. While it can feel incredibly scary, it is something I am so proud of and grateful I did, and I would definitely do it again if given the opportunity. I can also speak to choosing which program is best for you! Given I have completed two different types of study abroad programs in two different cities, I learned how to best weigh the pros and cons of different programs and find the best fit for me. Similarly, I can walk you through the differences of living in a more metropolitan, bustling city like Paris to the more quiet, town-like city of Florence. Lastly, I traveled a lot throughout Italy and Europe. I can definitely speak on how to do this cost effectively and make the most of the time in your study abroad city & Europe!

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about studying abroad. It has hands down been the most special and formative part of my college experience, and I would choose it again every time.

Advice: My biggest piece of advice would be to take advantage of every moment you have in your home city. While an entire semester seems like it will be more than enough time to do all the things you want to do, time will FLY faster than you can even imagine, especially if you are traveling on some of the weekends. So try to be as present as possible and take advantage of spare moments or weekends to explore new areas of your city! Additionally, try to immerse yourself as much as you can in the culture and the language. While you may prefer to eat dinner at 6pm or drink a cappuccino after 12pm, Italians do not! However, when you adapt to your home country’s lifestyle, you learn so much more about their culture and ultimately have more new experiences, which is hopefully one of the reasons you choose to study abroad in the first place.

In summary, be intentional with your time, say yes to everything, and push yourself out of your comfort zone. You are going to have some of the best experiences of your life!

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