About as Good as I Exptected June 29, 2026
By Amala J (English, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/07/2026 to 05/13/2026 with
American University of Paris: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I didn't learn much, to be honest, but I met some lively people, and really got a better understanding of modernism and post-modernism in my classes. I also think living in a city is something everyone should experience. I do think it was worthwhile.
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. |
It wasn't that hard, and I had a lot of free-time. I know business is one of their stronger programs, and so the courses that department offers may be more challenging, but the only thing I struggled with was time-management, and even then it was because I would go do things late on weeknights. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Relatively good. Responsive when need be, but I know a lot of full-time students at AUP don't like the administration at all. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was good, I liked my studio, and I loved where I lived. It's definitely cheaper to find one yourself, though, and AUP only gave me two weeks notice to pay an 8,000 euro bill to confirm housing, which made things complictaed. |
| * Food: |
AUP doesn't offer a meal plan. The food around Paris is good, though. There is a cafe in the main building that sells food on the cheaper, but, again, you can find cheaper elsewhere. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt well integrated. I explored a lot, I met some really nice people--I was required to speak friend and use public transport on the day to day, but it's ultimately up to you to choose how well to integrate yourself. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was easily accessible, and the plan itself is relatively high coverage, but payments do need to be paid put of pocket and receipts need to be submitted for reimbursement, which isn't terrible, but it can be tricky. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe, but I'm from the city and Paris isn't all that different from New York or Washington DC. That being said, in the clubbing areas and in certain arrondissements the men are very persistent, and you do need to pay attention to your surroundings. In my neighborhood, though, I took late-night walks all the time |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I originally wanted to study at Sorbonne, but couldn't, so if I were to do it over again I would definitely try for Sorbonne again. |
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 really expensive if you don't have experience budgeting seriously. I'm relatively good with my finances and I struggled. Groceries were maybe 60 euros a week , the metro was 90 euros a month, and if I wanted to do anything that costs money, that would be an extra 20 euros minimum. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | probably around 200 usd per week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save extra money if you can before-hand, go to free events, shop at intermarche, budget money for going out at the beginning of the week and stick to it. Cheaper, and very good, food spots are all over, especially outside central Paris. You don't need to spend 25 euros on an entree, especially if it's Italian. And this app called the Fork has restaurant dine-in discounts at good restaurants. |
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 |
They heavily encouraged it, but the classes are mostly in English, so it's really up to you to speak Frence |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Delf B2 |
| 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? | Go out, go on dates, make French friends, ask people things in french, join a group, go on excursions. I used most of my French at the bar and at the club. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | I wish I had been more clearly notified how much everything would cost, and I wish they'd made it more clear that tuition doesn't include any type of meal plan. For $40,000, I would've liked more reduced meal prices. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
