Engaging architecture/urbanism program in two fascinating cities Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/06/2016 to 05/05/2017 with
Columbia University, GSAPP: Traveling - The Shape of Two Cities: New York/Paris Certificate
Many new theoretical and technical tools that I could not have gained from my home institution. Yes, it was very worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Very rigorous and intense, resources sometimes lacking. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great professors, but administration abroad was generally lacking. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Not provided through program. |
| * Food: |
Not provided through program. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very integrated in terms of the local architecture/planning culture, but very little local social & cultural integration generally. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Enrolled through general Columbia University student medical insurance. |
| * Safety: |
No safety problems |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The program gave me a great deal of tools with which to move forward with in my career. |
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) |
1.5 |
| 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? | Living in New York and Paris is inevitably expensive, as are studio materials. |
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 |
French professors were excellent and encouraging but it was a minimal component of the program. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | None |
| 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? | Explore Paris and try to speak a lot. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? |
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? | The program is a strong conceptual introduction to the professional fields. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
ARCH 4000 A - DESIGN STUDIO |
| Course Department: | New/York Paris Program |
| Instructor: | Thomas De Monchaux |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Challenging and engaging. Assessed through a series of five intensive studio design projects. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Have not tried yet. |
