By Billie Nagy

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study abroad? Annie Ortiz, a Tempe Prep graduate, answers a few intriguing questions about what it’s like to study in Argentina. “I decided to study abroad for two semesters (or eight months) so that I can really get a feel for how people live in a different part of the world,” the Pepperdine University student explains. “I chose Argentina because I wanted to go to a Spanish-speaking country and get really good at Spanish because it is so relevant in Arizona and the Southwest. I’m learning Spanish and taking a lot of general education classes.

“Pepperdine University is a liberal arts school like TPA, so there is a certain number of history, English, fine arts, and science classes that we need to take to graduate. I’m also just learning how to live in a different country: the customs, the culture, everything.”

When denoting how she applied and got accepted to her university’s study abroad program, Annie describes how “Pepperdine has multiple study abroad programs, so I applied at the beginning of my freshman year. They have multiple campuses in different countries. Some schools even have students attend a local university.” We wish Annie all the best with her adventures! Buen Viaje!

Getting into an Ivy League school is no easy task, and once you’re there, the hard work really begins. Caleb Peckham, a former Tempe Prep student, now an undergraduate at Princeton, describes his university as being “definitely a very difficult school, but also very rewarding.”

When asked how TPA readies one for college life, Caleb explains, “TPA forces students to work hard in order to succeed, and that habit translates well into college life.”

All Ivy League schools are certainly very demanding, and most students are typically not prepared for the academic challenge. Therefore, make sure you prepare yourself in every way you can for the strenuous, yet rewarding, journey ahead.