Bianca Gladen

What made you consider pursuing an undergraduate degree in France? 

My entire life I have lived in Southern California. I grew up with all the same people I attended elementary school with, who then went to the same Jr.High, High School and Community College as I did. I felt like I was living in a little bubble here in California and I wanted to explore and see other countries, cultures and people. I thought that studying abroad would be the perfect opportunity to do so. I had just finished my Associates degree, so I started researching programs abroad where I could complete my Bachelors degree. I had been to France before on a summer vacation and I loved it, so I thought, why not France! My French was level A2 (beginner level), so I looked into programs that were being taught in English.

I couldn’t afford a private university in France, so I specifically looked into public universities since they are funded by the government and are a lot cheaper than private universities: I then came across the perfect university! IAE Lille University of Management.  They were offering an English-taught Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and the university was located in the north of France on the border of Belgium.

Tell us more about your time in Lille 

It was the cutest little town with many other universities, so the student life was very lively and great for foreign exchange students. I truly loved my entire study abroad experience in France. I made new friends from all over the world in my BBA program, the students were so friendly and always invited us out to university events. It was one of the greatest life adventures. It was such a freeing experience, I grew so much as an individual and gained a level of independence I didn’t have before. I also met my husband and got married while I was in France, and he has now moved back to California with me. 
 

What advice would you give students considering earning a degree abroad? 

Advice I would give to the future students looking into studying abroad is not to let fear stop you from going abroad. I was able to get by in France with very minimal French, so you don’t need to be fluent (although the more you know, the better!) I highly recommend joining study abroad groups on Facebook specifically for students studying in France, that’s where I found a lot of helpful resources and advice for student living, roommates, insurance, phone plans, student resources, hangouts for foreigners, visa information, etc.  Another word of advice would be to research the transportation system where you will be living around, bus, metro, trains etc. The phone app “Moovit” was a lifesaver when I was living in France. It will tell you step by step how to get from point A to point B for all transit systems in France, and it even includes transportation delays, alerts, strike information (a lot of those in France!), and transit closures. 
 

What have you done since earning your degree in 2020? 
 

After I finished my studies abroad in France, I moved back to California. I now work for the County of Orange as an Office Technician for Adult Protective Services. Without my BBA, I wouldn’t have been able to apply for the position I currently work in. Graduating from a university in France diversifies your resume and sets you apart from other applicants. It shows employers you are adaptable to foreign environments and can handle a challenge.  
 
I hope by reading through my study abroad experience it gives you the incentive and courage to study abroad. The adventure, memories and stories to tell will be with you for a lifetime.