Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Une Chasse aux Trésors Past Review

By (History and French, University of Connecticut) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/14/2014 with

UConn: Paris - UConn in Paris, France

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I was able to see history up-close. I had easy access to museums, monuments, and historic sites

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.

The mix of courses from different universities, organizations, and programs was both chaotic and confusing.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I didn't see MICEFA making a large effort to help the students of UConn. The informational session about course registration that we should have received weeks prior to our arrival was given three days before school started in Paris.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

We had to cook for ourselves.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Classes were mostly with other American students. At least the professors were French.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to go to the hospital during the semester. The ambulances in Paris take 30 minutes to get to you (despite the hospital being two blocks away). And I had to pay on the spot before being driven to the ER. The health insurance though that we have did reimburse me though when I filled in the proper paperwork.

* Safety:

Travel in groups. Or if on your own, during daylight hours. Try not to look like a tourist and be aware of your surroundings and know where the United States Embassy is along with their telephone number. That being said, always carry a cellphone you can be contacted with and communicate with others where you are going and what time they should expect you to return.

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

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $113.00
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Get jobs (notice it's plural) over the summer and save. Book airline tickets months ahead. And find recipes that are budget friendly for one person.

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? I have taken French courses on the 3000 level
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? Speaking partners are good. But also watch TV for an hour a day or buy a magazine about a topic you like and read it front to back.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning the language
  • Traveling to other places
  • Museums and Historic Sites
* What could be improved?
  • Course Registration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How the course registration was supposed to work. And in detail!! We needed someone to help us translate university websites, so that we could find the department we wanted and their course offerings

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!