Paris: I have nothing positive to say. Past Review
By Haley B (Economics., Tufts University) for
Columbia University: Paris - Reid Hall
The only thing I enjoyed about this semester was the opportunity to travel around Europe. My program was a total failure (unorganized, too much work, uninteresting), and Paris, as it turned out, just wasn't for me.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Paris I, Paris IV |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
All French university classes are huge 3-hour lectures once a week with a small recitation once a week. It's hard to sit in a lecture for 3 straight hours... especially when it's in French. You are graded the same as French students, although you will never get lower than a B- (it is also highly unlikely you will get higher than a B+). Teachers are indifferent and, for the most part, boring. Recitation leaders find joy in torturing students and giving impossible tests... averages are usually about 50%, don't be surprised (they're curved by the program though). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
So so so extremely unorganized. There were 2 ladies who ran the whole thing, because the program director got promoted last year and they never hired a new one! So these poor women had to do everything themselves, and they went above and beyond. However, they could not handle 55 students' housing, personal and academic needs on their own. They were very motherly, but gave poor advice about what classes to take, and don't speak much English so when I was sick it was very difficult to explain my situation to them in French. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a dorm, which was the best decision I made. 80% of the program lives with host families, but everyone seemed to be neutral at best towards their families. Most people had negative experiences. The program does a very poor job of finding suitable host families. My dorm was fine, but they put me with all Americans even though I would have preferred to be with more international students. I had to buy my own cooking supplies, but they provided sheets/blankets and I had my own bathroom (which they cleaned-- they also washed my sheets). |
| * Food: |
All depends on how much money you want to spend. Eating out in Paris is ridiculously expensive, so I cooked a lot on my own, which was fine. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program itself organizes almost nothing, and the stuff they do organize have limited spots so it's very hard to get a chance to do. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
When I was sick, a doctor was able to make a house-call (in English!) and insurance paid me back. It was a smooth experience. Safety-wise, as a girl I never felt comfortable in Paris. The Latin culture is very prevalent and girls should just expect to be harassed all the time. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I was on no type of meal plan, so between food, metro, and small personal expenses (shampoo, cell phone minutes, etc) I spent about $200/week. That was a lot less than many of the other students on my program. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget yourself. Paris is REALLY really expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 32 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
You will speak French. And lots of it. All the time. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Seriously, I was very unhappy with this program. I don't know anyone on the program who had a good time. My abroad experience was only worth it because I did lots of traveling. Try a different one. |
