The beginning of a new semester is often met with a flurry of questions and an array of conflicting emotions- anxiety, excitement, and probably more than a little regret… This is the moment when you ask yourself: Where did all that time go? and wonder how a month could pass by so fast. Having spent the last four weeks finishing up graduate school applications and preparing for the English Honors Exam in February, I must say… this winter break hasn’t felt like much of a break at all. On the bright side, it will be my last as an official QC student- Hooray for graduation in the spring! (and hopefully acceptance into an English PhD program with a generous stipend- I will keep my fingers crossed).

But staying on the topic of winter break for a moment… I remember that one of the most enjoyable experiences I had as a sophomore was when I enrolled in a drama program hosted in London by Hunter College. I traveled overseas with CUNY students and faculty, and together we watched eight stage performances, which were simply amazing. (I even got autographs from several famous actors and actresses). Our lessons were held on the upper floor of a pub so we got to sit in cozy armchairs while we acted out scenes from the plays we had to read for class. The best part was that there was ample time to explore the city- I visited the Tower of London and a ton of museums because almost all of them have free admission. Overall, it was one of the most memorable experiences I have had as an undergraduate so I would definitely recommend studying abroad over winter break. But for those of you who are still wavering, here are list of pros and cons (specifically about choosing a CUNY sponsored study abroad program):

Pros:

• Since you will be with other CUNY students, it is easier to connect and make new friends
• Studying abroad over winter break is relatively inexpensive (depending on where you want to go)
• Also, for those of you who are inexperienced travelers, a short winter program can help you gain needed experience before you decide to take on something longer (i.e. a semester or-year long program)
• Because it is a CUNY sponsored program, you will not have to fill out much paperwork
• It looks great on a resume ^_^

Cons:

• Since you are usually with CUNY students and faculty, it will be more difficult to meet locals
• The curriculum for these programs tend to be rigid
• Depending on where you want to go and the area you hope to concentrate in, CUNY may or may not offer the specified program (For instance, if you want to do foreign relations in Belgium, a program may not exist)

I hope this helps anyone who is thinking about study abroad. Definitely do it while  you can! and feel free to post any comments or questions you may have.

Anyway, good luck to everyone! Make this semester one to remember.