The silver lining of a global pandemic!! August 18, 2021
By Sophie Lemmerman (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/23/2020 to 05/14/2021 with
American University of Paris: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
For me, this was a unique experience as I got to immerse myself in a different part of France. I grew up in the suburbs of Paris but had never lived in the city.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
While the academics were not as rigorous as what I'm used to at Wellesley, I really enjoyed the close-knit classroom environment and proximity to my professors. Despite Covid restrictions, I was able to benefit from access to the campus library, a job at the campus cafe, and extracurriculars. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in my own apartment which I found independently of AUP. I cannot speak to the quality of their living arrangements. |
| * Food: |
The only food provided by AUP is at the cafe on campus (the "Amex"). Very good but gets expensive since it's not included! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My integration was facilitated by the fact that I grew up in France, speak the language, and have friends in the area. But I was also able to make new friends through AUP! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
AUP has a great insurance plan that covers medical and psychological care (way more than standard French health insurance!). MSH is easy to use. |
| * Safety: |
AUP is located in a very safe neighborhood. Paris is a relatively safe city as long as you remain street-smart |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I really wanted to travel someplace I'd never been before but due to Covid my options were very limited. I chose France because it was the most straightforward option (I had a residency card and spoke the language) despite it not being my first choice. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend AUP for anyone wishing to explore more of Paris as it is a wonderful program! |
Finances
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* 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) |
Paris is an expensive city, but costs can definitely be minimized by cooking at home and avoiding bars/cafes/restaurants! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 approx |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | bars and cafes add up fast! for public transport, I recommend buying a monthly "Navigo" (metro card) or investing in a bike early on (individual metro tickets add up really fast). Watch out for tourist scams (restaurants, tourist buses/cars...). Don't tip when eating out (the French never do). |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Hard for me to say because I came into the program already speaking French...AUP doesn't seem to offer much opportunity for immersion although I heard their French classes are pretty good. I think it's what you make of it. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | Living alone is hard--it requires a lot of time management and budgeting! I wish I'd been more prepared. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
videojournalism practicum |
| Course Department: | media/communications |
| Instructor: | Jurgen Hecker |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | very valuable experience for anyone considering a career in journalism! a rare opportunity to produce journalistic videos in a college classroom environment! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
history of asian civilizations |
| Course Department: | history |
| Instructor: | Albert Wu |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Professor Wu made the most of a challenging situation by making his zoom classes both engaging and packed with valuable information! the class was challenging and stimulating. I learned a lot. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Drawing |
| Course Department: | Fine arts |
| Instructor: | Clara Delamater |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | this course felt weak compared to my other ones. assignments were poorly explained, and the structure of the class felt very disorganized. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
