Fall Semester with APA Paris January 12, 2026
By Jillian D (Political Science and Government, Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/03/2025 to 12/19/2025 with
Academic Programs Abroad (APA): Multi-Country: France, Morocco, Senegal
I am so much more independent and learned how to spend time by myself and be confident about it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The whole APA Paris team was amazing. Sophie was my advisor and she was genuinely so helpful and funny too. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made the best friends. I think we will be friends for life. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in Paris, besides when we took the night bus. Pro-tip, never take the night bus, just Uber. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved APA! The staff was amazing and I got so lucky with the cohort of students and made lifelong friends. |
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It was not hard to budget, but just make sure you have a plan. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $250. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The first month you will want to spend so much money but just try to stay strong and stick to your budget so you're not on such a tight limit by the end (like I was, I learned the hard way). |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced French culture (equivalent to 5 semesters) |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make new friends and practice with them! Especially if you make native French friends at university, they usually know english and are more than willing to help you with French, and you could even help them with english in return. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew how language immersive it would be, and also the university I went to, Paris 8, was incredibly hard to navigate as an english student learning French. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
