Studying abroad unlocks so many opportunities, from engaging with new cultures and traveling to new places to meeting people from all over the world, it truly expands your understanding of the world around you.
When I boarded my flight to Paris, it was the first time I had ever left the United States, a fact that felt a bit paradoxical for a student studying International Affairs (IA). I knew studying abroad was going to be part of my four-year experience as I recognized the importance of engaging with different cultures, ideas, and perspectives, especially in the field of IA. I was eager to step outside the classroom and into the world I had spent so much time studying. I was excited to take political science and IA classes at Sciences Po and to gain a deeper understanding of European politics from the place where so much of it unfolds.
As part of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, I was selected as one of 20 Gilman scholars to attend a three-day study tour in Brussels, Belgium, to learn more about the European Union, its institutions, and the importance of US-EU relations.
This trip brought the classroom to real life. Some highlights included a visit to the European External Action Service (EEAS) to hear more about EU foreign policy, a visit to the European Parliament to hear from MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, who discussed security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and a visit to the U.S. Mission to the European Union.
Walking the halls of the EU and speaking directly with officials at the forefront of EU policy, I understood then that experiences like these simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.
Renee Bergeon
Spring 2026
GW Paris - Sciences Po (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major