Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Greatest decision I have ever made! Past Review

By (Communication and Media Studies., Illinois State University) - abroad from 05/17/2012 to 06/16/2012 with

Novancia Business School Paris: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This was the greatest experience of my life. I really wish I would have studied abroad earlier, because I would love to go abroad for an entire semester. I learned that I can live in another country if I wanted to. I now feel that if I were to get a job that made me relocate I could, without a doubt, handle the change of environment.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The class schedule was really manageable. I felt that the teachers really tried to help us as much as possible. They were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Our resources while in France were approachable and made the transition much easier.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on site administration was very helpful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was not that bad, but it definitely could have been better. I loved that we were able to get our own rooms! However, the bathroom was a little hard to get used to. I felt as if i was not able to fit in the shower. The rooms were not really cleaned before we came in and were only cleaned toward the end of our stay. A lot of us also had mold issues in the bathroom, which was a health concern. I would have preferred different housing arrangements.

* Food:

The food was very good! There are cafes everywhere. Since there was a kitchen provided in my apartment, I was able to cook a decent amount of meals. That helped me save a lot of money.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I didn't feel integrated until the third week of our stay. This is when I felt comfortable speaking what little French I knew and getting around comfortably. I would have liked to take a French language class before going.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

When I got sick in France I went to a pharmacy. They spoke English and were able to help me with no problems.

* Safety:

I really liked that you need a code to get into the building and then a fob to get into the building too. This helped me feel comfortable. However, going out at night, just remember that you are in a big city. I went out and had a close call one night because there were only three of us walking home at night. I would say if you are going to go out take at least four to five people. The more people you travel with the less likely you will be to get targeted. Also, beware of pit pockets on the train! Other than that I felt pretty safe in Paris.

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)

1 I needed to budget better. I spent way more than $200 because the Euro costs more than the US dollar.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 300-400
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Yes, do your research before hand and see how much items will cost you in France. Buy a smaller bottle of shampoo and conditioner before you leave. Also, once you're in France, sometimes it is easy to forget that you are spending Euros. I would attempt to calculate just how much you are spending before you buy.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Learning how to adapt to another culture.
  • Experiencing the architecture.
  • Meeting wonderful people and traveling to other European countries.
* What could be improved?
  • Housing.
  • Personal budgeting.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I had known more French before I went. I think it would have made the integration process easier and less frustrating.