Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Discovery Paris, Fall 2014 Past Review

By (Organizational Sciences, George Washington University) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/19/2014 with

IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Besides learning a lot about the french culture, I learned to be independent and courageous when it came to living in another country. You will have good days and you will have bad days but it's all part of the Study Abroad experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was super sweet, helpful, and insightful. I felt like i could approach them with any problems and questions.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a studio apartment which included my own bathroom and mini kitchen. I absolutely LOVED IT!

* Food:

I cooked my own food which was easy with my own kitchen.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

IES hosted various presentations on how to integrate into the French culture and understand better what is happening in current events.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was an emergency number for us to call if we needed any type of healthcare assistance. The administration always had someone with the emergency phone and they were readily available when we needed assistance.

* Safety:

The neighborhood where both my apartment and the IES school was very safe. I felt like I could walk around during the day and night and feel safe.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try and cook your own food as much as possible. Eating out can be very expensive.

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

All the courses were in French so we were expected to speak the language in class.

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
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • Trips
  • Sociology Classes
  • Friendly Administration
* What could be improved?
  • Information on the courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that someone had told me that it was okay to have some days where I was homesick and lonely. Study Abroad isn't picture perfect.... but that's what makes it an even better experience

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 Urbanite
A 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.