Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

ok i guess July 28, 2025

By (Mathematics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/06/2025 to 06/06/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Poitiers

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
How to live on my own, how to deal with things when support is 1000+ miles away and several hours behind. Definitely worthwhile.

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.

Courses were very challenging due to being entirely in French. The pacing itself was also incredibly quick, regardless of the language. I really can't say the classes were intellectually fulfilling at all. It reminded me of the Chinese education system where you learned things to pass a test.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They did their job adequately (for the most part)

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

As advertised

* Food:

Cooking is important

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was hard to be integrated since I could not understand (literally) what the locals were saying. I thought it would improve after 6 months but after 6 months I still didn't understand lol

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have health issues during the program

* Safety:

I'm a man so it's different but still I'd say normal

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

The classes were bullshit

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook

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? 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? Intermediate level French
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? Immersion, make local friends and try to join a friend group. Kind of impossible in France but try anyways

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
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?
  • Nice scenery
  • Being left alone
* What could be improved?
  • Classes
  • Grading system
  • Help with immersion
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Check admin message

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Topology
Course Department: Math
Instructor: Joseph Lehec
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Challenging
Credit Transfer Issues: Don't know, will find out
Course Name/Rating:

Rings
Course Department: Math
Instructor: Olivier Frecon
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Challenging
Credit Transfer Issues: Don't know, will find out
Course Name/Rating:

Diff Eq and ODE
Course Department: Math
Instructor: Pol Vanhaecke & Julien Dambrine
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Love Pol! He guided my research after my semester and he is a wonderful professor/person in general. He is the reason I'm giving this class 4 stars. The other guy was ok; he's nice but not a good teacher at all. Learned nothing about ODE's (his section).
Credit Transfer Issues: Don't know, will find out
Course Name/Rating:

French
Course Department: French
Instructor: Sabina M
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Useless
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

History of Poitiers
Course Department: French
Instructor: Fabrice Vigier
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Best class in Poitiers, and one of the best classes I took in my life. Incredibly engaging professor and instruction, I forgot a lot but before I forgot I learned a lot. I didn't like the tests though, they were purely testing memorization (which is why I'm taking a half star off), but otherwise I really enjoyed this class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No