Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great Friends, Great Food... Less Great School Past Review

By (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor) - abroad from 01/03/2019 to 05/18/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained so much in cultural understanding and in friendship

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.

The education system was incredibly difficult and hard to adjust to. The work was never too difficult but the methodolgy of it was.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration staff was so kind and always there to talk to

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host mom was the nicest person ever and the food was wonderful

* Food:

It's France. And I had homecooked meals. Of course it was amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very immersed with both the language and schooling forcing you to be a part of the everyday culture

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to go to the doctor as I had infections and fevers and it was really confusing and difficult to understand how I'd be able to get my insurance to cover it.

* Safety:

They always told me when protests were happening

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

I made wonderful friends who I still keep in touch with and the cultural experiences I had are something I could never get another way.

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)

It was very difficult as everything in Paris is expensive and the Euro is worth more than the Dollar

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make lunches at home. Many of my friends went out for lunch and I wanted to be a part of that but I couldn't afford it so I would make a lunch myself and just bring it to the cafe with them.

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

Only the foreign language was allowed

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? French 370
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? Have a host family. My friends in the student housing didn't use French nearly as much as I did on a daily basis

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The other Americans
  • The food
  • My host mom
* What could be improved?
  • The education
  • The classes
  • The professors
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How the France education system works and that I needed to go in for help from day one not after I received my first grade because each class only has a few graded assignments.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.