Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Woohoo France, freetime to do whatever as long as we go to class! Past Review

By (Business Administration, University of North Georgia) - abroad from 06/30/2014 to 08/03/2014 with

Study Abroad and Internship Programs in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
More experiences and new friends. It was worth while

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Main director was overseeing just ours so he wasn't available 100% of the time. Assistant directors easy to get in touch with.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Rooms size was ok but the bathroom was very small, especially the shower. The cleaning service either came too often or not enough. There's also no A/C so I highly recommend purchasing a fan when you arrive.

* Food:

Food provided was not great, the cafeteria hardly ever had good food, the Thursday night cold cuts were not substantial, Tuesday night pizza was good though. Availability of food around us was very good

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Stepping out of the dorms you're in the culture. Taking all modes of transportation flings you into the culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Easily accessed with the directors help. Local healthcare was pretty good but our insurance did not cover the copay. My skin reacted strangely upon arrival but went away in a few days. No necessary vaccines.

* Safety:

It's pretty safe but there are pickpockets everywhere. Two people have had their phones stolen. Keep all items in your bag when walking around and ESPECIALLY on the public transport.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Seeing as the provided food wasn't very great and not very often, most of my money went towards food which can be pretty expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Start saving before you even think about going on a study abroad. A good minimum is $3000. The exchange WILL bite you butt and there are so many amazing things to do and it's good to know that you won't break the bank.

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

There were 2 French classes taught in the program. Other teachers like to try and speak French and encourage students to speak it.

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? One level below AP in my school that meant French 5. I've taken French from 6th grade through 12th.
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? Get free programs online and teach yourself, get a pen-pal and practice, take classes for that language. Rosetta stone etc.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Being in France
  • Having time to do whatever I wanted
* What could be improved?
  • Better provided food
  • Being in the center of Paris or being closer to it
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That i'd spent so much money on food.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Music Appreciation
Course Department: Music
Instructor: Kenneth Kirk
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Challenging quizzes. Effective and relevant field trips. Teach was too knowledgeable and expected us to be as well. Assessed by outlining the text first, then quizzes and reviews of concerts.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues i'm aware of