France
Among the countries of the world, few possess as storied and as romantic a history as France. Indeed, even today, it is considered to be the center of all things civilized in the Western world. From its food to its contributions in the arts, France is one of those rare destinations whose reality completely lives up to its reputation. And as a location for full-time collegiate study, there is arguably no better place in the world, for the combination of educational institutions, arts and culture, and national history are second to none.
Among the great universities of the world, there are maybe half a dozen that are instantly recognizable by name only. They include Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge, and The Sorbonne. This most famous college in France is actually part of the Université de Paris, which "first appeared in the second half of the 12th century, but was in 1970 reorganized as 13 autonomous universities (University of Paris I-XIII). The university is often referred to as the Sorbonne or La Sorbonne after the collegiate institution (Collége de Sorbonne) founded about 1257 by Robert de Sorbon, but the university as such is older and was never completely centered on the Sorbonne. Of the 13 current successor universities, the first four have a presence in Sorbonne, and three include Sorbonne in their names" (www.en.wikipedia.org).
Some of the most famous and influential people in the history of the world have attended La Sorbonne, including Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Luc Godard, Victor Hugo, and Pope Alexander V. Professors have included St. Thomas Acquinas, Marie Curie, and Jacques Derrida, among many others. The combination of the university itself and the eternal allure of Paris have made La Sorbonne one of the finest educational institutions in the history of the world. And even today, a good number of foreign students attend, setting themselves up for success in whatever field they choose to pursue after graduation.
France as a whole, however, is about much more than simply Paris. From the vineyards of Bordeaux to the blue coast (or, in French, la côte azure) of the Riviera, the richness and variety of culture and attractions is limited only by your own willingness to explore. France also has one of the most varied and beautiful natural geographies in all of Europe, and whether you choose to focus on the mountains of the east, the rugges cliffs of the north, or the vineyards all over the country, you will be awed and amazed by the sheer beauty of the place.
Wherever you go, history and modernity coexist. This is a country, after all, that has been around for a very long time indeed. "The borders of modern France are roughly the same as those of ancient Gaul, which was inhabited by Celtic Gauls. Gaul was conquered by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC, and the Gauls eventually adopted Roman speech (Latin, which evolved into the French language) and Roman culture" (www.en.wikipedia.org). Over the course of the centuries, France has been home to some of the most important developments in the history of mankind, including the French Revolution, the rise of Napoleon, and the rise of the Fifth Republic under President Charles de Gaulle.
Students, however, tend to find themselves benefiting from the food and lifestyle for which France is so famous. The cafés have provided the venue for some of the greatest minds in history to ponder their thoughts and change the ways in which the world operates. The food, from croissants to haute cuisine, is still considered to be the finest in the world. And the culturally-engrained appreciation for the arts and literature have led to a country that nurtures students more than most other places in the world.
All told, then, France is the perfect place to attend college. It will enrich your life, broaden your horizons, fill you with a new appreciation for history and culture, and prepare you to make a positive impact in our modern world. All this and more is available to you in France. All you need to do is make the choice to study there. It's one decision you'll never regret.
