Get Michelle to Paris - Study Abroad Program

Hi! Thanks for landing on this page in support of my educational endeavors!

So here is the big ask: $5,000. I need $5,000 to cover nearly half of my total expenses for the study abroad program. I have been accepted to the 3-month Fall program at Sciences Po, the Paris Institute of Political Studies. I will have the great privilege of studying Urban Planning with an emphasis in Social Policy from August to December 2023. Yay!

Alright, now the funding deets!

The fundraised amount will cover fees including 3 months of rent in Paris (trust, I will be finding the CHEAPEST option), my short-term student visa, city transportation costs, international phone service, and the largest expense - the flight to and from! I will cover the other half of the expenses including meal costs, three months of LA rent, basic necessities, and emergency funds. To cover these costs, I will be juggling two jobs and submitting competitive scholarship applications throughout the summer. For absolute transparency, take a peek at my expense sheet.

Why your support would make all the difference!

I wouldn’t usually ask for financial help from community, but studying abroad has always been an out-of-reach reality. A more feasible study abroad/global volunteerism avenue I’ve previously considered post-undergraduate studies was the PeaceCorps Program. I rejected this option and sought a more anti-US imperial learning and culture exchange opportunity that aligns with my world beliefs. The first time I inquired about a study abroad program as an undergraduate, the Study Abroad Officer ran through all program costs. I mentioned I most likely would not apply to the program. She responded with “Just ask your parents.” Thee audacity! This moment has stayed with me and reminds me of my struggle to improve my financial situation through higher education. As I make a pivot from the non-profit sector (*cries in Americorps VISTA*) into the professional field of urban planning, I am starting from the bottom with little to no technical or hard skills in this sector. As a full-time UCLA graduate student studying Urban Planning and working part-time with the City Planning Department as a Student Professional Worker ($18.11/hr) and with other existing grad school expenses, I need my community’s help to achieve this dream. This opportunity to study the design and development of a renowned city will sharpen my skills to become an urban planner with a global, comparative perspective. I’m hustling to achieve this long-awaited goal of immersive international education and hope you can be part of it! For a more in-depth explanation as to why I applied to this program, check out my statement of purpose here.

Thank you so much for reading, and most importantly, for your donation!

With much love and so much appreciation,

Michelle c: