Montreal: A Beautiful New World Right Next Door! Past Review

By (Marketing-Advertising, Champlain College) for

Champlain Abroad : Study in Montreal

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
In addition to enjoying my classes and internship, I made some incredible new friends and truly fell in love with the city. Prior to my semester abroad, I was unsure of what city I would like to live in after graduating. Now, I am questioning whether or not that city will even be in the United States. My semester in Montreal has lead me to decide that if the opportunity presents itself, I would love to spend some time working and living in Montreal.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was fair and manageable and grading was similar to Champlain-Burlington, though assignments were fewer and counted for a higher percentage of our grade.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The three individuals behind Champlain College-Montreal's administration are an all-star team of incredible people who can be directly credited with the success of the program. Each one is an expert in his or her specific position and deserve the utmost gratitude and respect for accomplishing so much for such a limited staff. Additionally, each one was always friendly and approachable, even outside of normal working hours.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The student apartments leased from UQAM by Champlain College-Montreal were quite minimalist, but perfectly suitable for student housing. While basic appliances (fridge, oven, microwave) and furniture (bed, wardrobe, desk) were provided, my roommates and I brought or collectively purchased additional items with which to outfit out apartment (floor lamp, dishes and utensils, coffee maker, linens, pots and pans, television). The location of the apartment was excellent, as it was within walking distance of grocery stores, a large park, Champlain College-Montreal's academic center (15 minutes), a metro station (<5 minutes) and Montreal's vibrant nightlife. The apartment building is in very close proximity to the wonderful Place-des-Arts and is situated in the heart of The Plateau, a borough of Montreal and one of the most clean and beautiful parts of the city.

* Food:

Food was fairly expensive, but of good quality.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We took two very memorable weekend trips to Quebec City and Ottowa at various points in the semester. The two trips provide great comparisons to Montreal and show what other cities in Canada are like in regards to a higher French influence and a higher English influence, respectively. There were also several private visits to the offices of Montreal businesses specific to certain programs of study (ex. a video game design studio for Game Art & Animation majors, a marketing agency for Marketing majors, etc.) that were both interesting and thought-provoking. One of the highlights of my trip was obtaining a press pass for the 2011 edition of IF3 (International Freeski Film Festival). The Activities Coordinator knew I had a love of snowboarding and skiing, so he took it upon himself to apply for media passes to the monumental event. I had some close encounters with big names in the freeski scene, took some great pictures, and had an amazing time at some highly entertaining afterparties.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Montreal is one of the cleanest cities I have ever visited. Also, its metro system is incredibly clean, efficient, and safe. At no point in my trip did I ever feel unsafe while walking around the city, even by myself at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

My personal advice is to immerse oneself as much as possible in the language/culture. I chose to live with non-Champlain international students and had the great fortune of being place with two francophone students from different parts of France. Out of convenience, we ended up speaking English most of the time, but I would make attempts to learn/speak French with them. It was a similar situation at my for-credit internship, which was at a francophone marketing agency that dealt primarily with francophone clients. I did take an introductory French course while studying in Montreal, but I feel that I learned more at my apartment and at my internship than I did in the classroom.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Great faculty
  • Location of apartments
  • Absolutely amazing administration
* What could be improved?
  • Greater course selection (when possible, based on enrollment)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? A common misconception is that the Montreal campus of Champlain College is for students studying game design, programming, etc. While the location creates great professional opportunities for such students, it is SO much more than a place only for "gamers". As a business student I was given the opportunity to intern at an incredible marketing agency where I was able to work on accounts from Canada, the United States, and beyond. As a winter sports enthusiast, I was able to gain unlimited access to a weekend of amazing ski videos and even meet a few pro's. As a traveler and perpetually curious student, I was able to take in plenty of what Montreal had to offer as well as experience two very different cities just hours away.