An amazing time with a helpful, immersive program! Past Review
By Vincent DeLaurentis (Georgetown University) - abroad from 01/07/2016 to 05/21/2016 with
CUPA: Paris - Study Abroad in Paris
Improved language, great friends, and an amazing experience.
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. |
Great resources for students. Methodology course, Foreign Language classes, help navigating university bureaucracy, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Incredible! So helpful and kind! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host families are expensive and many students had problems with food or rude host families |
| * Food: |
My host family served great food five nights a week. Other students were not so lucky. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Great cultural programs, including two trips within France. Soirees with French students, picnics with French games, cultural seminars, etc. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had the flu three times and I felt that CUPA gave me a ton of support. They called a house doctor, went out and bought my medicine, and made sure I had everything I needed. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | $70-80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Pack lunch to the university! |
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 |
Required to use at all times in CUPA. |
| 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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Topics for Oral Proficiency (one past Advanced 2) |
| 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? | Talk w students between classes |
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? | Your French is not as bad as you think it is! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
