I wanted to take this blog post to talk more widely about my experience with the Global Bachelor’s Program. For those who do not know, the GBP is a study abroad research program, where students choose to go abroad for either three semesters, or do two semesters and a summer internship abroad. In our senior year, students will give a research presentation based on their time abroad. Through studying abroad in Northern Ireland, Morocco, and France, I have learned so much about the world, different cultures, history and life. I have experienced places and things that without this program, I perhaps never would have seen.
Because of GW’s range of study abroad programs, students are able to fine tune their GBP experience to their individual interests. For me, after studying with my cohort in Belfast, I prioritized French language studies by heading to Morocco and France. In both semesters, I had homestays with families. In addition to constant language immersion, with these families I gained a family away from home for my time in each place. Language immersion has helped me advance in French to the point that I am considering applying to graduate programs in France after my undergraduate degree. In my experience, this kind of language learning helps people who otherwise struggle with the traditional language study in classrooms.
My time abroad enabled me to travel all across Europe in a once in a life time experience. Before
the GBP, I had never traveled abroad, but by the completion of my third semester, I had been to 25 different countries. In each place, I learned so much about different histories and cultures. Although I visited some of Europe’s greatest tourist destinations like Paris and Venice, I also ventured off the beaten path to amazing places like Lithuania, Macedonia, and Albania. Perhaps my most remarkable trip was to Georgia and Armenia, where I soaked in the region’s truly unique and spectacular culture. The Caucasus Mountains and the local art and cuisines were awe inspiring, Georgia just captured my imagination in such a remarkable way, and it has further fueled my hunger to travel and explore more in the future.
I can honestly suggest that everybody at GW should consider and apply to the GBP. Yes, the amount of time abroad can seem daunting, but I am confident that everybody who embarks on this experience will grow in amazing ways and will take lessons and knowledge that will last a lifetime. Most importantly, through different GW scholarships and the fact that study abroad usually saves students money from their bill, this is a program that anybody can participate in.
Blaze Grabowski
Spring 2024 - GW Paris - Universite Paris-Dauphine (GW Study Program)
Fall 2023 - IES - Rabat
Fall 2022 - Global Bachelor's Program, Belfast Cohort Semester
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major
The Global Bachelor's Program