Paris: A Dream! Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 07/29/2015 to 12/19/2015 with

Sciences Po: Paris - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about cultures, not just French itself but many more due to travels and meeting international people.

Review Photos

Sciences Po: Paris - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Sciences Po: Paris - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host mom was so sweet and helpful. I had other exchange students as roommates and they were great, too.

* Food:

Wonderful food everywhere but so pricey.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Wonderful health care system!

* Safety:

I felt safe for the most part. I know my friends did not feel this way. Many of them had to move home stays because of multiple incidents of men harassing them and following them on their walk home. Even after the terror attacks, I felt very safe and never alarmed.

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)

It's Paris so things are very pricey.

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

Sciences Po offers half of its courses in English and I took only classes in English.

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? FR 320E
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? Make friends with French people and actually practice. Even if you become friends with other exchange students, practice with them!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • food, museums, and other cultural things
  • the people I met
  • how easy it was to travel within Europe
* What could be improved?
  • school's administration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Spend more time in museums and other cultural things there.