Study Abroad at Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences-Po) Toulouse Past Review
By Sam1 (French Language and Literature., Tufts University) for
Boston University: Paris - Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
Definitely! I had an amazing time, got to travel to all sorts of fun places, and my French improved by leaps and bounds.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences-Po) Toulouse |
| The term and year this program took place: | Full-Year 2008 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program is very, very small - I was the only student participating in their French exchange - so there isn't a lot of administration, only one woman in charge of things who was very nice and relatively helpful, but it was not quite enough. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a French dorm across the street from my school (by UT1), in a single with a small fridge and private bathroom. An internet connection was provided, but it was spotty and unreliable. The neighborhood was excellent, though, as it was conveniently placed near supermarkets, bars, and public transportation (and my school). <br /><br /> |
| * Food: |
The university's dining hall had average food, but it was a full meal at a really cheap price. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program itself didn't organize anything - it was close to a direct exchange - but the Toulouse Sciences-Po would organize things for international students and had parties here and there throughout the year. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Toulouse, though the same rules apply as they would for any urban environment that you have to be careful. The French university offered a medical insurance plans to students as well, though I never had to make use of it. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I recommend getting a French bank account for writing/cashing checks. You also need one to sign up for the Velo Toulouse program, which is a great, cheap way to use bikes throughout the city without buying one. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was living, studying, etc with solely foreign/French students and met very few Americans, so my French skills improved substantially. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is practically a direct exchange. The Mansfield administration as well as the administration at IEP Toulouse will be very helpful and baby you through some moments, but you will be largely on your own. |
