Great hisory, less great future Past Review
By A student (Pace University) - abroad from 01/05/2012 to 06/16/2012 with
MICEFA: Paris - Study Abroad at University of Paris - Sorbonne
Very worthwhile. Paris has great history and architecture/culture/museums. But the Parisians are not the greatest. They have recently voted in a Socialist President, which will only assist the lack of care given by most parisians.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | MICEFA CLASSES, UNIVERSITY OF PARIS 8- SAINT DENIS |
| 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. |
Some classes were difficult, but most were very boring and not interactive. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were as helpful as an understaffed office could be. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Found it in the Micefa Listings, got a studio in the center of Paris for $600 a month. Shared with a nice guy in the program. |
| * Food: |
Can be expensive but always delicious. Having daily pain au chocolate withdrawals. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Maybe not completely integrated, but there were many occasions where I understood how their traditions and expectations came into play. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
N/A |
| 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) |
Paris is expensive, but you only do it once, so it is best to spend a little extra and just do it right. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $180 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | VELIB!!!! €30 for the YEAR!!! beats the metro for inner paris travel, and mostly worked greatly. |
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 |
Usually started convos in French. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | FRE 305 |
| 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? | Go to a good university and make friends. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Need a visa. |
