Becoming an Engineer in France

Why did you decide to study in France?

While in the U.S., I was a member of my college's Honors College. Eventually, I learned about an old classmate being nominated by the Honors College to a "full-ride" scholarship in France; hearing about it called my attention, bur since I was already an international student in the U.S., I didn't continue to dig deeper on the topic. One year later, I was nominated by the same Honors College for the same scholarship that my old classmate had been nominated to. It is then that I began to think about the possibility of becoming an international student in another country. After counting the cost between the challenges and opportunities that would come with it, me and my family decided to accept the nomination. Not too long later, I was informed that, thank God, I had been awarded the scholarship!

How has your experience in France contributed to your personal and professional goals?

On the personal side, I had always told myself that I wanted to be able to speak French and discover the European world but never found the opportunity to do so. Now, I have not just been able to visit France, but have also been able to learn the language at the same time that I expand my appreciation for different cultures and get to know more about the country and its system of education. On the professional side, one of the greatest advantages that I see is the possibility of gaining professional experience on the field at the same time that I continue to learn at school. In today's competitive world, it is necessary not just to have the theoretical knowledge, but to have the practical experience too, making of this opportunity a really good deal!

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With a group of international students during a "Activité de Bricolage", as a part of the intensive language course

Can you tell us a little anecdote or memory of your stay in France?

I remember that, just a few days after my first arrival in France, I was decided to put to test the little french that I knew at that time. Feeling slightly homesick, I decided to go to McDonald's by myself and figure out how to ask for food in french. It took me over 30 minutes just to figure out in which lane to order, and once I got to the cashier I realized I had no idea of what to say. Finally, I was able to communicate  with a little bit of English, a little bit of french, and a lot of hand gestures. The good thing is that, just a few months after, I am now able to go in full confidence to any restaurant and properly communicate in French, unless it is an exotic french dish with complicated names...

In one sentence, for you, what was unique about your experience of studying in France?

In the U.S. I would not have been able to simultaneously incorporate the academic theory of engineering with the professional practice as smoothly as I have been able to do so in France.