A great experience January 11, 2025
By A student (neuroscience, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/02/2024 to 12/19/2024 with
American University of Paris: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned how to manage the stress of being by myself in an unfamiliar environment. It was absolutely worth while. While I didn't learn much in the classroom, I learned so much history and culture from being out in Paris and traveling in Europe
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
much easier than Wellesley, expect about 4 hours of work a week. It's easier to get good grades with less effort, just show up to class. |
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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? |
I lived in my own studio from AUP housing and it worked great |
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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: |
It's just like any big city--just be smart |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Kinda complicated. I'd do AUP if I went in the spring semester--there were more USC first years than juniors studying abroad and enrolled in AUP combined. I definitely got bored after a while from class and I wish I could have interacted closer with French people my age. I may have chosen a different program in Paris if I were to do it again and still go in the fall |
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) |
You can definitely go cheap if you want. I stayed cheaper on food so I could use my money on experiences |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to live in the less touristy areas--I lived in the 13ieme arr. It makes food even at the grocery stores cheaper. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | If you go in the fall there will be a lot of USC first years because of their program with AUP. It's not super academically engaging but it does give you a ton of time to explore |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
