Lifechanging and culturally immerse experience June 20, 2024
By Alicia T (Marketing, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/28/2023 to 05/12/2024 with
Academic Programs Abroad (APA): Paris Gap Year
My French has improved a lot since being abroad and living in a residence was incredible to meet local people!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Depending on the course load, it can be academically rigoureux but APA did have a lot of aid to help. I took more challenging classes so the work load was comparable to a US university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Since APA is a very small program, just 3-4 workers it seemed like they were very overwhelmed with their 30 students to take care. I would prefer a program that had more accessibility and resources, for example, the possibility to study at better French universities and more internship opportunities |
Finances
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* 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) |
Paris is an expensive city but very accommodating for students (ex. All museums are free and student cafeteria throughout the city) which made it great for student meal deals. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
For the fall semester, my program was very serious about encouraging us to use French but for the spring semester it seemed like everyone was speaking English, even a staff member speaking in English with us which I didn’t think was encouraging me for my immersion. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Paris can be very overwhelming at the start but finding your place and your friends will really help. |
