The beauty of Paris: The iconic city of clichés, but also new adventures Past Review
By A student (Georgetown University) - abroad from 01/10/2016 to 05/21/2016 with
CUPA: Paris - Study Abroad in Paris
I improved my language skills, but also grew as a person and became more self-reliant and confident. Definitely 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. |
Resources were wonderful. Academics were not very rigorous, once you get past the ability to comprehend your professors (language barrier), but were still interesting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host Family--good placement by the program. I am not a fan of living in host families in general, even though my family was very nice. But the program did a good job of matching me to my family by using a comprehensive survey. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Direct matriculation and program center operations in French forced me out of my comfort zone and required me to use French. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Be smart, it is a city and bad things happen (I personally know multiple people who were pickpocketed and mugged), so the best you can do is try to be aware of your surroundings, to the best of your ability. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Great program, the staff was fantastic and very supportive, and my French improved a lot. The people who go to this program are independent and motivated, which I really enjoyed. |
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) |
Paris is VERY expensive, especially if you like to go out. Save money beforehand. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do picnics and potlucks--good ways to hang out with friends, but not spend on a restaurant. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 472--Myths in French Literature |
| 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? | Make French friends! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | It will be hard to be judged as a foreigner all the time! Get used to it, and work past it. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
