Student Experiences

Kim Anderson
Quebec City, Canada
July/August 2003

I participated in the Quebec City seminar at the end of July and early August of 2003. The seminar focused on Canadian films. We observed how they differ from films in the United States in their themes, social issues and languages.

The coursework our professor gave us ranged from reading articles on films and writing papers, to learning how to take good notes. I really felt like I learned how to write at the college level beforehand, so I was more prepared for classes I would take later. The seminar let me meet a college professor and other incoming freshmen, which really made starting college less scary. And it turned out that I had the same professor who taught my seminar in a class I took later on in college.

I would definitely recommend the freshman seminar abroad for any incoming freshman. It was a great opportunity for meeting professors and other students and it helped me make a smooth transition to college life.

My favorite part of the trip was the city. Quebec City is beautiful and I would really like to go back sometime. Right now I have plans to go on another study abroad trip. The seminar really cemented my plans for future travel.

Elizabeth Foerster
Monterrey, Mexico
Spring Break 2004

I spent my spring break in Monterrey, Mexico, last year. The seminar was about Mexico's economy and Mexico-U.S. relations and how Mexico is becoming more developed as a nation.

During the trip, we kept journals and wrote a paper. We also took field trips with the rest of the group. One trip was a visit to a new newspaper called “Reforma,” which is becoming really important in Mexico. Aside from the assignments, I think I learned a lot about living with people I didn't know, which is a big part of college. In our free time, we got to explore Monterrey and go shopping and see museums and clubs.

The trip was definitely worthwhile and it gave me a better cultural understanding of Mexico and how it interacts with the United States. At first, it might seem a little scary to go abroad, but this seminar made it really easy and fun to travel and it's definitely something everyone should do. It makes traveling a lot easier to tackle once you've tried it. I'm getting really excited for my upcoming study abroad trip to Thailand to study political and economic development in Southeast Asia.

Alan Tyler
Quebec City
Summer 2004

I studied sociolinguistics in Quebec City with a focus on different classes in Canadian society. We did a lot of reading, wrote papers and attended seminars. The professors we had were great; they made it a lot of fun.

The program prepares you socially and academically for college. I think any incoming freshman should take a Freshman Abroad Seminar because you get to meet other students before you come to MSU. I didn't know many people coming in, so the friends I made were the best part of the trip because we still keep in touch.

This summer I'm going on two more Study Abroad programs; one in Rome and one in Switzerland. I'm really excited, I can't wait.

[ Back to main ]