BEST TIME OF MY LIFE I LOVED IT LOVED MY LIFE WANT TO GO BACK Past Review
By fernanda.fuentes.9887 (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/12/2013 to 12/22/2013 with
Sciences Po: Paris - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
YESSSS!!!! I know what I want to do with my life now. I chose the career path I really want to take, and am not going to law school anymore. I had the best time, I did everything I dreamed of doing in Paris and more, things I didn't even imagine would happen. I met some really AMAZING people,.. and i get nostalgic thinking about it. I am even much happier coming back to my home University, I feel like I might have changed a little, and I got to know myself better. I was introduced to some fine quality cheese.
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. |
we did not have many assignments so I often didn't really have to read etc.Their resources are measly, at least compared to UT. The library is insufficiently equipped with enough computers and seating space. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
they are disorganized people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I feel like UT and sciences po seem to place a lot of responsibility on you finding your own housing (hard and risky to do so when you are a country away)... I searched until the very last day I was getting on the plane to find my housing... this was a close call from arriving in a foreign country with no where to stay. but this was bc i had a low budget for Paris. I shared a 1 bedroom w/ 3 girls, and no door on the bathroom so it was uncomfortable but at least i liked my roommates and we were in Paris! |
| * Food: |
Sometimes i got tired of eating baguettes... because it was the cheapest food on the streets but I really miss a lot of their quality food now. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The kids at sciences po are not very interested in the international kids... It seemed like the international hung out together, but i did not know french well enough to hang out with them in and speak casually in french. but all my friends in french classes were not so succesful with the sciencs po kids. Even a sciences po girl studying at my home university told me that they hate working with international students on the projects bc "they have to do it all." I mostly socialized with my french neighbors. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
GREAT! the SOS program that we were told we could call abroad for any questions was amazing! i went w/ my roommate when she had an emergency and also i got an infection and the sos helped us out soooo much. |
| * Safety: |
there is some pickpocketing but as long as you watch out, I felt very safe. |
| 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) |
i did better than i thought.... i saved money while working over the summer... I tried to spend 100 or less per week (including food/shopping etc)... most of the time i spent less. I could even do 50 euros sometimes, and I was not cheaping out that badly |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 90 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not wait to get accepted to apply for scholarships. I thought : step one apply, 2. get accepted, 3. then apply for study abroad scholarships.... but the deadlines don't work that way. try to go to get food from the markets and groceries and cook during the week. Also we didn't eat very much anyways because we had so much to do and had coffee instead... |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | I wish I knew French! and make sure you emphasize that SOS program more,... tell them if you need to see a doctor to call them! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA 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. |
