Past Review

By (Government/French, New Mexico State University) for

ISEP Exchange: Nice - Exchange Program at Université de Nice

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
In the end, although my experience was the most challenging thing I've done in my life, and it was definitely NOT fun while I was experiencing it, it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I had the opportunity to become more independent and self sufficient than I ever would have if I had not studied abroad. I am genuinely proud of myself for learning how to fight for what I want and for what I deserve, and being successful in the end.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Fall 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Professors at the Fac de Droit were often difficult to get ahold of and were not very interested in the success of students, especially foreign students who did not speak perfect French.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

With this program, I worked with at least 5 different offices to get things done and NONE of them were very helpful, but some were better than others. First of all, the housing office (CROUS) is TERRIBLE! The ISEP administration is ok, but they are bad at following through and to get anything done, you'll need to call them back until your problem is dealt with. The administrators at the bureau des relations internationales are all very nice but not very knowledgable about ISEP. You'll also be working with administration at your specific college so be prepared to work with all these people! It gets frustrating, but just remember to fight for what is yours.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved the apartment I found with my two roommates. It was the ideal housing situation in a good sized apartment in a decent neighborhood. The contract was signed individually for each room which was nice so I didn't have to worry about relying on others to pitch in for rent and all the utilities except internet were included! HOWEVER! This was not the housing provided by the university. I would highly recommend avoiding university housing as it is VERY small and not designed for students actually living in the rooms long term. Certain residences are nicer than others (some even have their own sink, and select few, a toilet) but none come with any kind of kitchen and storage is very limited. These rooms are a lot cheaper than private apartments but keep in mind that under the ISEP agreement, the university is obligated to pay for your housing. In the end I ended up paying 40 Euro a month out of pocket for utilities and it was DEFINITELY worth it!

* Food:

This is France, so of course the food is great! And in Nice you have the added benefit of really fresh fruits and veggies! Yum, yum! The Resto-U at the universities are a really good deal at just under 3 Euro for a HUGE meal but only certain ones are open for breakfast and dinner. They're really accommodating to vegetarians/vegans and usually have a good selection of food. If you're living on campus, the resto-U will be your favorite place, but if you're living in an apartment with a kitchen, you probably won't end up eating there much.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There are plenty of social opportunities in Nice! There are lots of parties and if you're ever bored, there's always the beach and tons of cute little French towns to visit. The university is pretty good at sponsoring some of the events and giving good student discounts. There are also university sponsored sports teams and other PE type classes (Most of which are free or very inexpensive) that you just have to sign up for online at the beginning of the semester.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I feel like I spent way too much money on health insurance and in the end, I don't think I was even covered. The ISEP administration was horrible at explaining what goes on with the French Secu (or securite' sociale). As for feeling safe, I guess it's just like any other place on earth. There are always going to be bad things that happen, you just have to be smart and careful to avoid some potential problems.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? First of all, France has GREAT Savings account interest rates (3.6% for a regular savings account)! If I could have left some money in France, I would have! Other than that, just be prepared to spend a lot in the beginning because the university isn't always punctual in getting the ISEP stipend on time, but in the end, you should get it all back.

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

The additional language program offered through CUEFFLE at the Universite de Nice was very helpful with additional grammar and meeting other students interested in learning French. Some professors are better than others but they are all still very good and always willing to help. My language skills went from being certified at a low B1 (lower intermediate) to B2 (higher intermediate) and I feel that by the end, they were closer to a C1 (lower advanced).

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Expect to be VERY independent and willing to fight for everything from your stipend to getting your grades correct.