CIEE: Paris - Paris Center for Critical Studies Photo

The Parisian Adventure

A Study Abroad Program Review For

CIEE: Paris - Paris Center for Critical Studies

Program Information

This program is geared to students who have completed at least five semesters of French study or are at the high intermediate or advanced level in their language study. Students should have an interest in a critical approach to contemporary French thought in the fields of literature, film, philosophy, art, and... More

Provider: CIEE
Location(s): Paris, France
Year Founded:
Website Take me there!

Review By:

Noni C. (HIstory and Literature, Harvard University) on January 18, 2012

Overall Rating

Personal Information

* Start Date: 2011-08-17
* End Date: 2011-12-17
If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: College International de Philosophie
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload and grading system was not bad at all. I was blessed to be placed with professors who had a real knack for teaching. My professors, in fact, aided in making the experience worthwhile.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very good at preparing us for the semester ahead.

* Housing:

* Food:

My host family catered wonderfully to my dietary restrictions and it was rather easy to find what I needed in Paris.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The seminars, museums, and monuments I had the opportunity to visit were wonderful. It's Paris after all.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If the student follows the safety precautions given, it's pretty safe.

* Home Institution Advising:

How well did Harvard University prepare and support you for your time abroad?

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? For the first few weeks, I would say observe spending habits very closely. I did well to spend as little as I could the first month or so so that I could splurge a little at the end of my stay.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
Language acquisition improvement?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The support it gave that allowed for a fulfilling experience.
* What could be improved?
  • Better description of the academic environment being entered into.
* If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? Yes
* What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? Yes.