Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The most difficult part of taking classes in the French universities, apart from the language barrier, is adjusting to the French style of writing. Columbia's program provided me lots of help with the structure of my papers and their tutors were very effective at conveying the material from my classes, but I never felt like I was being babied or led by the hand. One of my goals was to be as independent as possible in Paris and I was pleased that the program allowed me to work on my own and live on my own. Columbia's program includes a mandatory language practicum, which was easily the best course in French I've ever taken and the most helpful to my language skills, as well as a mandatory course in French writing. Both are tailored to the level of the students and both have very knowledgeable professors. Columbia offers interesting classes taught by French professors exclusively for American students, as well as joint seminars with French students. Most of my classes were in French universities, where I was allowed to choose any course at any level from any of four universities (Paris I, Paris IV [La Sorbonne], Paris VII, and Sciences Po).

On-site administration of your program

The administration at Reid Hall is superb. I was not only helped by them; I became close friends with several of them. They know the French university system inside and out and are dedicated to making sure that no student falls through the cracks. They can be a little too hands-on for some people, especially since some people come to France to travel and experience the city more than to study (this is a legitimate expectation and the administration is normally amenable to it if a student does his or her work and makes their intentions clear to the tutors). The initial part of the program is always hectic and it is difficult for a staff of four to account for the individual well-beings of 50, so it is usually best to seek out the administrators yourself and ask them questions in person, which they always have time for, rather than hoping that they will come to you.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

During the Fall semester, I lived in a relatively chic apartment on the edge of the city and in the spring I lived with a French host family. At the end of the day I was very pleased with how everything turned out. My first apartment had a kitchen and a view of the Eiffel Tower and there were three bakeries on my block. The family I lived with (a woman and her son) were extremely nice to me, encouraged me on my French, and gave me all the independence I wanted. However, I know that other people were not as lucky, which I think was a product of the opaque housing selection process. Columbia provides a service to student in the program that finds them apartments and homestays before their arrival. This is a very good thing, because the last thing I would have wanted to do when I got to France was negotiate a lease during the busiest season. However, when I did the program, students had to express their preferences on a one-page form submitted months in advance, well before I knew what my budget would be, etc. Housing was then assigned without students having a final choice in the matter, so I could not say at the end, for instance, that my desire for a kitchen was not worth the cost. I also received little information about the furnishings of the apartment and no information at all until right before my departure. I had to pay upfront for the semester before seeing the room. These things may have changed; my year was, I think, an exception because Columbia had just changed the company they contracted to find housing for students. In the Spring, I had more choice and was given a choice between two families. I hope that was a sign of the way things are done now.

Living in Paris and eating poorly is a sin I did not commit. The way I handled meals was by giving myself a weekly budget, eating lunch at bakeries most days (most bakeries will give you a baguette sandwich, a coke, and a pastry for 5-6 euros), and using whatever was left to occasionally splurge on meals at the more famous Parisian restaurants. In the Spring, I was lucky enough to live across the street from the famous literary cafes, La Rotonde and Le Select, et al. At just about any cafe it is possible to have a coffee or a light lunch for a reasonable price. It can be very easy to spend too much on food in Paris, especially if one insists on American portions, but with discipline one can eat very well for not much money. It really helps if you can cook; French peasant food didn't get to be as diverse as it is for no reason. Julia Child was a valuable ally to my budget.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I met some of my closest friends at this program. The most memorable extra-curricular events we had were the trips the program provided, specifically the day in Giverny, the tour of the Pommery Champagne caves in Reims, and the one-week homestay vacation in Nantes (although I'm not certain that this part of the program still exists). I got to see lots of the country, tour famous places, and go to museums. The city itself also provides many cultural events, like the Nuit Blanche, innumerable concerts, a diverse theater scene that is much cheaper than in New York, and festivals celebrating everything from world literature to bread.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues and I don't know enough about anyone else's to comment. Paris is a relatively safe city, although there are plenty of pickpockets. A friend of mine had her phone stolen from her, but as long as one is careful and conscious of the fact that any big city has its dangers, Paris is one of the better big cities in Europe to live. I did have one experience with the health system when a friend came to visit and had an allergic reaction to my family's cat. The two of us went to the pharmacy on my street and in less than a minute and for less than five euros we walked out with a very strong allergy medication that would have needed a prescription in America.

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

By the end of this program I was fluent in French and I have been commended by professors on the quality of my language skills since I got back.

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