Aix Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/19/2011 to 05/26/2012 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
Yes it was worthwhile
Personal Information
If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universite Aix Marseilles 3 Universite d'Etudes Politiques Aix |
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. |
I took classes at two different universities. The regular Aix-Marseille university was awful -- classes were crowded, students (and sometimes professors) didn't seem to care about being there, the university was physically falling apart, and I learned very little. At Sciences-Po Aix, however, the classes were great -- very educational, taught by inspiring and intelligent professors who clearly wanted to teach their students what they knew, and other students were engaged and excited to be in class. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was hoping that by having staff on site I would feel supported and assisted throughout the duration of the program. However, I could not have felt less cared for. We were constantly lectured and belittled and I was afraid to come forward when I had problems. I felt more comfortable asking for assistance from my part-time host family who I had known for a few weeks than from the program administration. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment and I loved it! Super clean, great location, and awesome amenities! |
* Food: |
Food was amazing. Mostly I cooked for myself but when I did go out to eat, it was incredible. One plus with our program administration was that we got to go to a number of fantastic restaurants during the year. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I went to the doctor once and got recommendations from the staff and had a pleasant experience. However, my roommate got the stomach flu one night and reached out to our program director who accused her of making herself sick and refused to help her and . |
* Safety: |
Never felt unsafe in Aix, even if walking alone late at night. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
The 500 euro stipend from Wellesley was phenomenal but I still ended up spending a ton of my own money (the stipend was supposed to cover food and small amenities for the apt but we ended up needing to spend a lot more to get settled in -- buying things that were missing from the kitchen, etc.). 500 euro a month seemed like a lot but in all practicality, it wasn't enough and I spent tons of my personal savings |
* Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
* Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
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 |
We were supposed to use French at all times and got in trouble if we didn't |
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? | Advanced |
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 211 French at Wellesley |
How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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'd known that even though we would have staff on site, they were not prepared to help me when issues arose and that I would be more dependent on others than on the Wellesley administration |