This study investigates the self-reported motivations, expectations, challenges, and successes of 147 students participating in semester or year long U.S programs in Europe through a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative survey analysis. While international education remains pivotal in shaping global perspectives, the student experience has evolved post-COVID, with the rise of short-form content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram increasingly influencing and documenting these journeys. The research explores students' pre-program and on-site reflections, as well as the intersection of their experiences with social media engagement. Findings reveal that experiential learning, including personal travel, is a key motivator and setting for student learning, with social media serving as a tool, resource, and source of influence and pressure in expectation-setting, preparation, and cultural exploration. The analysis also examines areas of alignment and disconnection between practitioner and student perspectives on the study abroad experience, offering recommendations for practice based on these insights.