Great, but could have been better Past Review
By Ben K (The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 01/04/2012 to 05/31/2012 with
Sciences Po Lille: Lille - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was worthwhile, mostly for the travel and the independence.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Sciences Po Lille academically is a complete joke. I didn't have to seriously take exams, simply one paper for each class. Students rampantly skip class or show up late. Professors are blatantly apathetic and uninterested in teaching. One professor literally copied the wiki on a topic for all her powerpoints. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Guillame, although friendly and welcoming in person, "refuses to answer e-mails." His office hours were also very difficult to work around. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The BDA organization is very helpful in finding housing, and there is PLENTY of housing in Lille. |
| * Food: |
The cafeteria has cheap, decent food, and a school down the street is even better. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Lillois are welcoming and helpful people, and there are near-weekly festivals and events. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Students and educators were generally unaware about how/where to get healthcare. Like everything else in France, dealing with just getting health insurance is a bureaucratic headache. |
| * Safety: |
Most of Lille is extremely safe, just stay out of Wazemmes and Fives. |
| 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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
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 |
Language courses on campus were a complete joke, but on the other hand, you are encouraged to take courses in French, and Lille is a welcoming location to practice your French. |
| 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? | French in the 300's |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | How to deal with frustrating bureaucracy. |
