Coming to EXPLO at Yale this summer is a familial rite-of-passage for 11th grader Armance. She's using her EXPLO experience to test the waters for her future course of study. 

My brother went to EXPLO at Yale last summer and my younger sister will go next summer. It’s a family tradition to come to here before your 11th year. It’s like a gift from our parents. It's a great gift and a great experience.

It’s very common in France to come here. EXPLO at Yale is actually quite well-known in the French community. In the French program I’m in, you need to choose between economic studies or scientific studies within one year, and I wasn’t sure which one to choose. They’re very different sectors, so I’m using EXPLO to help me try and make my choice. I actually love economics and business because, in combination with all the other social sciences, it builds the country. It’s analyzing history and thinking about reality as well.

This isn’t my first time in the U.S., but it is my first time ever being in a place like this on such a beautiful campus. With the kind of people that come here and the staff, it’s hard to feel uncomfortable at EXPLO.