Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Learn how to Paint in the South of France Past Review

By (VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS., Carnegie Mellon University) - abroad from 01/26/2013 to 05/19/2013 with

Institute for American Universities (IAU): The Marchutz School of Fine Arts, Aix-en-Provence, France

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to see color and my oil painting ability increased dramatically. It was definitely worthwhile and I would go back if I had the chance!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $150 each week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't buy lunch out every day and only go shopping when you really need to

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? 400-level
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Painting instruction
  • Well organized
  • art history instruction
* What could be improved?
  • The level of French was below what I had already taken, but I still learned a lot
  • I didn't really have the chance to use French outside of French class and outside the host family
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how small European rooms are, because there was not a lot of room in the apartment and everything was very small.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.