VDM Paris Gagner, Perdre, Aimer Past Review
By Dylan M (Advertising., The University of Texas at Austin) for
MICEFA: Paris - Study Abroad at University of Paris - Sorbonne
Paris is amazing. I made a ton of friends and experienced so many things that the US cannot offer. However Paris is really expensive and if money is an issue I might suggest going to Spain (about half the cost of living). DO NOT JUST HANG OUT WITH AMERICANS! YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Paris VIII St 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. |
Your language will improve more in one semester in Paris than years of study in America... if you have the moxie to talk to locals |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
MICEFA has helpful people willing to work with you to help with issues from housing to classes, but they are still a smallish program. Very nice and ready to help in both English and French |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had an apt in a great location shared with another American abroad student. Paris is crazy expensive so beware. It is very difficult to find housing. Be prepared to pay a lot for a little. Think diet-NYC. |
| * Food: |
Dude it's Paris. You will throw American food on the floor when you come home |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It's freaking Paris. Go see a new museum every week. Oh and there's music all summer. Oh and every street has more history than the entire US. Oh, and there are so many internationals. No, it's kinda boring, I don't like fun things. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It's an unknown city for most people once you get to ground level. You are not a stupid tourist, you're trying to live there. Use same percautions you would use in the states. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | housing and nightlife were my most expensive things. travel can be cheap if well planned |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 5 semesters of French |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
MICEFA gave us a two week crash couse to evaluate where we were lingually. It's Paris, there will always be someone else who speaks English, it's up to you to be adventurous |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you have been thinking about leaving America for a while and you are not afraid of drastic changes in your life. It is crazy to uproot yourself like this so to do so you have to be crazy too. |
