Life changing! July 30, 2025
By A student (Computer Science, Mount Holyoke College) - abroad from 01/05/2025 to 05/19/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris
My experience was definitely worthwhile! I made so many connections and can now confidently say that I speak French! The administration was also helpful in settling into my new environment which made it an even more seamless and enjoyable process for me. I'd 100% do this all over again
Personal Information
| 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. |
I found some of the in-house courses to be extremely intense considering the fact that not everyone was super fluent in French |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
the administration was super strict and rigid sometimes. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
For the most part, I had no issues with the housing arrangement. Note to future students: Most French families eat out a lot and cannot be relied upon for dinner |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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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 |
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| 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? | Fluent |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Sign up for volunteer programs. You get to meet completely new people and improve on your communication and listening skills. I volunteered with ACERMA and had an amazing experience |
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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| 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? | Live with a host family; it takes away a lot of stress of navigating a new environment. However, from my experience and that of other exchange student, do not fully depend on your family for meals even if you sign up for such a package since they mostly eat out |
