LINH DO ’22

Current student, majoring in international business administration with a minor in global communications

AUP is... what you make it! There is no shortage of opportunities and resources. For one thing, we live in Paris, which is such a hub. But the school also has its own culture – not French or American, but a mix of all the different people who come through. It feels like traveling to another world.

I transferred to AUP in January 2020, having spent two years at a community college in the US. The different approaches at the two institutions have been tremendously beneficial to how I approach learning; community college helped me with the technical aspects of my studies, but AUP teaches you how to learn for yourself. There’s not so much handholding, which I really appreciate. I also love how quirky AUP can be. The professors can be pretty out there! But they always have the goal of making sure you properly understand the material, instead of relying on rote learning.

I was interested in business because it’s a broad degree. I’m doing a directed study right now with Professor Robert Earhart and Professor Albert Cath. We are writing an anthology book on a concept called hypermanagement. It came out of a graduatelevel class I took in my senior year. I have a lot of respect for my professors, because they took the time to address my needs. I asked some of them to write letters of recommendation for a scholarship, and they helped me out so much. The faculty want students to do well, and that’s something I appreciate a lot.

A library information session during orientation on campus

At AUP, I feel very involved in the community. It’s a small university, so even if you don’t know someone, you know someone who knows that person. There’s a cultural fluency among AUP students, which is pretty special. None of the clubs or projects feel inaccessible or gatekept. I’m part of Vegan Club and the ReSisters mentorship program. ReSisters is a club that encourages community members to share their experiences with intersectional feminism and resist normative discourses. There are great incentives to get involved, like the packed event schedule, and the whole thing runs very smoothly. I’m mentoring first- and second-year students who are part of the club. It’s fun! They thought a lot about how to connect mentors and mentees and provided great training.

With Covid-19, it’s been difficult to meet in person. But I’ve found myself getting more involved during the pandemic. No one is saying that living through Covid is enjoyable, but being in Paris has been a unique experience. I found myself saying yes to more things so I could meet new people. I was part of a photography session for Peacock Magazine, and I got involved in discussions with the Psychology club. I definitely took on more projects.

I also participated in the Global Professional Skills (GPS) Program. I thoroughly enjoyed the design workshops that help you plan your pathway. The reflective activities, in particular, gave me a holistic view of my time at AUP. I think GPS is a great opportunity for everyone; there’s so much in it, and you can have a lot of fun with it. I love that it’s run by a great group of staff members, like Darcee Caron, Isabella Archer, Kyle McGuan and Kevin Fore. They become your go-to people – like mentors. It’s nice to have someone consistently showing up and being in your corner. I think that’s important for a college student to experience.