I want to become a permanent resident of Paris. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The class work load varied class by class, but every professor had very high expectations for the students in the best way. They understood that we were out of our comfort zone and made the classes very hands on filled with field trips and other activities that didn't involve sitting in a classroom.

On-site administration of your program

The faculty in Paris were definitely present anytime you needed them and for whatever reason. They made their number one priority the students no matter what else was going on. Much of the staff lived thirty minutes outside of the city center of Paris, but if you needed their help, they would come assist you with any major issues that you had. There was a 24/7 emergency hotline that any student could call and reach a staff member regardless of the time of day/night.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I chose to live in the dorms in Paris, and personally, that was my downfall. I thought living in the apartments would leave me with no other friends except for my one roommate, but I quickly found out that living with three other students in one room was a bit too crowded for me. All of my other friends chose to live in the apartments/studios and I was envious of them because of how much they loved the apartments.

It's Paris. You will not find any better food in the world than in Paris. Rotisserie chicken, any and all of the breakfast breads or pastries, the desserts at the end of dinner. You name it and it's good in Paris.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Even though Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, it never quite felt like I was surrounded by tourists. I was able to walk the streets and speak with the local bakers on my way to class feeling like I was a Parisian, and by the end of the semester, I became regulars at a couple of restaurants and bars. I truly consider Paris my second home.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

During one night out, a glass broke in my hand and sliced my finger open which led to a trip to the emergency room. However, I went to a pediatric hospital where, instead of treating my cut that required stitches and sending me on my way, the nurse told me that I needed to call a cab and go to the adult emergency room. Once my Uber driver dropped me off at the adult hospital, I had to wait three hours to be seen by a doctor, and by that time, all he could do was glue my finger shut.

Because I arrived two and a half months after the November terrorist attacks, Paris felt like the safest place on earth. There was very strong police presence and I never experienced a time where I felt unsafe.

There really was nothing about the program that I could complain about. Everything was absolutely amazing.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Paris is a very expensive city and we did cook almost every night, but that was partly because we also wanted to spend our money on traveling rather than going out to eat every night. We ate out for dinner about once or twice a week and then ate cheap ($5.50) lunches.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Every staff member would speak to you in French until they noticed that you had absolutely no clue what they were saying for every day conversation.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Food
• People
• Proximity to other countries

• It could be cheaper
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The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer