EF Academy Blog
Stories from our international boarding schools
MenuVisit EF Academy

Advice from alumni: Julia Pamies

Advice from alumni: Julia Pamies

Julia Pamies joined EF Academy New York for her last year of high school and graduated with a High School Diploma in 2013. Her experience away from her home country in Spain convinced her to continue studying in the US. She went on to study Cinema Production at Point Park University and graduated in May 2017. Find out what Julia is up to now:

 

Full name: Julia Pamies

Age: 21

Home country: Spain

Languages: Catalan, Spanish, French and English

EF Academy campus: New York

Program: Grade 12 High School Diploma

Grad year: 2013

Favorite club: Theater Club  

Favorite class/subject: History – not only was the teacher great, but it was the first time that I was studying U.S. history so there were a lot of things I didn’t know or didn’t know in detail

University: Majoring in Cinema Production (with a minor in Photography) at Point Park University in Pittsburgh

 

What was your first impression of EF Academy?

Very scary, but in a good way. I remember that a lot of people already knew each other because most of them had met the year before when I wasn’t there, but I also remember that everyone was very friendly.

What influenced your decision to study abroad?

Since I was 14, I always wanted to study abroad, of course for the experience and also because I wanted to get a different perspective. I wanted to see what was outside of my home country. That was my first goal. I didn’t know if I would stay for university, but that year at EF Academy influenced me a lot and I decided to stay in the U.S. because I liked the international ambiance and working with people from different countries.

Did you do any activities that related to what you study at university?

Back home, I wanted to study theater. At EF Academy, I realized that my English level wasn’t good enough at the beginning for me to express myself. Thanks to the Theater Club and making friends, I decided that I would study cinema and photography instead of theater. Cinema production doesn’t have anything to do with acting, but you work in the same atmosphere as the actors.

How did you choose your current university?

Looking for universities was hard because I wasn’t really informed and I didn’t really know the whole U.S. system. I was basically browsing through the College Board website which was helpful. I wanted to stay in New York, but was shocked when I saw the prices. So I decided to stay in a smaller U.S. city, and Point Park was a good match for that and they also have a good cinema program.

Did you do any internships that have benefitted your studies or your career plan?

I did one internship as a film editor assistant at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, and I did a second internship at the Fred Rogers Company, which is affiliated with PBS Kids and cartoons. I worked as a film editor assistant there as well. The internship at Carnegie was for one year during my sophomore year at university, and the internships at Fred Rogers I did when I was a junior at university.

What advice do you have for students about finding an internship?

Many students don’t take internships until their junior or senior year, but I would recommend getting an internship as soon as you get to college, even if it’s part-time. Now that I’m looking for jobs and getting interviews, I noticed that employers care a lot about your experience and what you can bring. I also suggest connecting with teachers because they are very helpful when it comes to internships. It’s also important to just go for it! Students that are older than you or seniors who have already done internships in certain places can help you get the internships they had. That’s also a good option. 

What are you doing now?

Looking for jobs – I just moved to New York and have one online class left for university. I’m about to start an internship and it’s going to be in a photography studio. I moved now because I didn’t want to graduate and then move right away, so I still have one semester left at university. After May 15th, I’ll be able to officially start the internship.

What advice do you have for current students?

The hardest part for me at EF Academy was university applications. I advise that students do their research and also talk to the advisors. I was late for many deadlines and I didn’t know that I had to start applying early. I would really emphasize starting early and using your resources and the whole senior year for your applications.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

Graduating from a U.S. college. It can be hard to be away from home, but I’m proud I decided to study abroad because it was worth it.

What is your dream for your future?

My dream would be working in an environmental company, doing something related to media. That would be my dream job; and on the side, I would also like to freelance as a photographer, but not necessarily in the US.