This article explores pre-departure resources and student preparations for study abroad in France. It does so through a mixed-method investigation of university and program provider resources as well as social media content. Both university and program provider resources confirm a common adherence to established topics according to international education best practices. Much of the content centers on students' identities and lifestyles as they exist in the U.S. rather than the host country cultures. The social media content revealed possibly better engagement practices but identified concerning trends of homogenization, monetization, and some inaccuracies in study abroad information. From multiple surveys assessing how staff in France, those in the U.S., and students perceive student preparation and resources, the research further identified that U.S. staff and students' perception of preparedness was higher than that by staff in France. Staff in the U.S. and those in France overestimated students' use of Instagram and TikTok for study abroad information.