Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great experience overall, despite some unique challenges. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/02/2018 to 12/17/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Wonderful entrée to European life, a sense of new perspective and possibility for my future after university (I will be living and working in Berlin)

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

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?

We had some bumps in the road when I needed to leave the host family arrangement. It would have been helpful to receive more Middlebury support in this process, as finding an apartment in Paris on short notice was a very challenging and stressful experience, especially only one month into the exchange program. When I did ultimately find lodging via a personal connection I had made in Paris, I had a 5/5 experience. The review number is mostly for the fact that I was totally on my own to find a place. Even so, I would say it all worked out in the end and I had a successful experience during my exchange.

* 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)

I was living off my Middlebury College financial aid, which is based on projected living expenses. I was ONLY able to live comfortably/easily during the second semester because I found an affordable apartment through a friend. I found the Middlebury-priced host family cost (non-negotiable amount) to be very high and having to pay this amount for lodging (as was originally planned until I left the host family system in February) would have effectively made my time in Paris much less enjoyable/much more difficult.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 250 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try and cook/eat in as much as possible, as groceries and fresh delicious food can be found for not-too-expensive in France/Paris.

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? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? In-language French course on history of poetry and painting
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

  • 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The staff
  • The independence of living in Paris
* What could be improved?
  • Support from staff in unique/atypical situations
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing I can think of.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Comparative Literature (Fall)
Course Department:
Instructor: Clelie Millner
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Object-Oriented Programming
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor: Cristina Sirangelo
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Lectures were simply the professor reading code off PowerPoint slides and over all it was hard to understand the material on a deep level. Also, the course extended into January and this is not something that I understood could/would happen in advance. I think the Middlebury Paris folks explained that if the course goes over, they are normally able to arrange completing final assignments before the student leaves Paris, but that was not possible in my case.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Algorithms and Data Structures
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor: Anne Micheli
Instruction Language: French
Comments: The professor worked with me one-on-one to help me understand the material when I struggled to follow along in class.
Credit Transfer Issues: