Life Changing Past Review

By (Biopsychology, Tufts University) - abroad from 08/20/2012 to 01/12/2013 with

Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Certainly worthwhile. So many things I learned outside of the classroom that I could not have learned anywhere else.

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.

Easy, but the classes were very boring

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Directrice was not very helpful and especially not very kind.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Home stay family was awesome.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

If you don't join a team or something, you won't get integrated into the culture

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

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? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? FR 22
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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

  • 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?
  • Home Stay Family
* What could be improved?
  • Classes
  • Orientation
  • Student Support
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it is really hard to make French Friends