Convention-Universite de Bordeaux Past Review

By (Neurobiology, Neurosciences, Wartburg College) - abroad from 08/25/2015 to 12/10/2015 with

University of Bordeaux: Bordeaux - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think I would have had a better experience at a university with more support for international students.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our administration was not available to any international students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

I made all of my own food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Our classes only met once a week which was not ideal.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was not informed that I needed to arrange French social security and heath care until weeks into my program. This was a fault of the host university.

* Safety:

I felt incredibly safe in Bordeaux.

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)

Despite still paying Wartburg College tuition, I found Bordeaux to be relatively inexpensive considering the price of Wartburg College's residence fees.

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? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 330/460
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I liked my professors.
* What could be improved?
  • An available international administration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the administration for international students would not be able to help and that all the other international students felt the same way. Had we banded together in the beginning it would have improved all of our experiences.

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!