Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Wellesley: Please Hire Better Administrators Past Review

By (French Language, Literature, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/02/2015 to 05/20/2015 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Of course I learned a lot about myself. That comes with the territory of living in a strange place for six months. I'm glad that I went, but it was oftentimes very painful.

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.

I took classes at AMU, or "le Fac" as it's known amongst students. As other reviewers have noted, the classes offered here are not rigorous

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I found the on-site administration of this program to be embarrassing for Wellesley College. Though the two women who run this program are fluent in French and extremely competent, they lack any kind of warmth or compassion for students. For students who don't run into any major issues, this may not be a big deal and easily overlooked. Unfortunately, I had several big issues over the course of the semester that I needed help with, including housing, my health, and a family emergency at home. Though the administration was aware of these problems and that I was struggling to deal with them, especially in a foreign country where my language skills were still in development, I was offered no empathy or assistance. Even though I consider myself to be very strong emotionally and extremely competent, I felt very abandoned by this program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I don't think it's pragmatic for the program director to keep housing assignments a secret from students until they arrive in France. There was a miscommunication with my housing, and by the time I had arrived in Aix, I felt like there was little I could do to improve my situation.

* Food:

It's France. Of course it's amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was very difficult to make friends with students at the Fac, as most of these students have been friends since childhood. Also, many students go home to stay with their families for the weekend.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I dealt with mental health issues while abroad. Though the program did refer me to a local psychiatrist, she did not take my problems seriously. I felt like I was not given the help that I needed. Honestly, I would recommend that Wellesley offer study abroad students more emotional support resources. Studying abroad can bring up so many dormant psychiatric issues, and it seems irresponsible to not offer students the help that they may need.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Aix. Several of my friends were followed home at night, though, so I recommend always walking home in groups or, when in doubt, take a taxi.

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)

Wellesley is very generous with its stipend, and I found it easy to live on 75-100 euros each week. The most trouble I had budgeting was when I was traveling during breaks, especially in the UK.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 75-100 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you want to travel, make sure you're able to set aside a significant amount of your stipend each month.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? FREN 211
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? Speak with locals! It can be scary, but it's the best way to learn.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • The city
  • The food
  • The culture
* What could be improved?
  • Administration
  • Housing
  • Classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I felt more comfortable talking with administrators back at Wellesley when I was struggling abroad.

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!