Great academics, very supportive on-site staff January 25, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Middlebury courses were pretty rigorous, but the Sorbonne nouvelle ones weren't necessarily. I mean, we didn't have homework at USN, and just two exams per course. Middlebury provided plenty of resources for our courses and I learned a lot in terms of academics!

On-site administration of your program

The directors and administrators were very helpful, kind, and understanding. I could tell they liked their jobs, enjoyed helping students, and genuinely cared about us and how we're doing.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My experience with my host family was disappointing. From the beginning, I felt that they were not welcoming and made little effort to spend time with me, support me, or help me adjust to Paris. I often felt more like an unwanted guest than a member of the household, which was reflected even in our communication before my arrival. They were frequently judgmental and made comments that I found deeply inappropriate, including sexist, racist, and homophobic remarks. Additionally, my housing situation was complicated by an unexpected move two weeks after my arrival. While the new apartment was ultimately much better, I believe the family’s permanent living situation should have been established before my arrival. The first apartment was not prepared for my stay: the refrigerator was not working despite my having clearly indicated in my housing questionnaire that I would arrive with medication requiring refrigeration and having confirmed this with Host Families in Paris. Since I arrived on a Sunday, the Middlebury center was closed, Host Families in Paris was not answering, and neither was my host family, leaving me in a very stressful situation immediately upon arrival. The apartment itself was also uncomfortable, with cracked walls, an unclean carpet, no ceiling lights, and many belongings still packed in boxes. I am grateful that we eventually moved to a more suitable apartment, but I was disappointed that the transition had not been resolved before my arrival. Overall, I was very disappointed with Host Families in Paris, as I do not feel that the organization sufficiently screened host families or ensured appropriate placements for students. Additionally, the return of my $1,000 security deposit was delayed, and despite multiple follow-ups, I did not receive clear communication about when it would be returned.

The food my host family prepared was generally good, though a bit repetitive. Breakfast was usually the same each day (bread and butter or cereal), and dinners were often similar throughout the week. I had indicated in my housing form that I do not eat raw meat, fish, or eggs, but my host family prepared a soup containing a raw egg for me once, suggesting that my dietary restrictions may not have been communicated to them or taken into account. Outside of the meals provided by my host family, finding affordable lunch options in Paris was sometimes challenging, and I often relied on store-bought food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I already felt pretty integrated with the local culture prior to going to Paris, as my U.S. French courses did a great job of preparing me for what to expect and I'd already lived in Europe and been to France frequently before studying abroad. The Middlebury on-site administrators were also really good at helping us integrate. They shared tips on social norms, invited people to give lectures on traditions and holidays, and organized fun cultural outings.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I went to the ER three times, and had multiple doctor's appointments too. I broke my foot, which required more experience with the healthcare system. Overall it was okay and navigable. I had to ask a pharmacist what to do and how to find the nearest hospital the first time I had to go to the ER because it was after the Middlebury Center had closed for the day, but she was helpful and the system is not hard to navigate. I think a lot of us didn't pay close attention to the presentation on health care the week of orientation, not expecting to run into health issues, but in any case the Middlebury staff were super supportive and helpful. They assisted me in filling out reimbursement requests, making appointments, and other administrative things. When I broke my foot they regularly checked in with me to see how I was doing and one of the coordinators even went to a pharmacy to ask about getting crutches, which was super sweet! They even checked in with me on a holiday when they weren't at work and tried to help me fix my orthopedic boot when it broke. Filing for reimbursements was pretty easy and although dealing with health issues was tough at times, I don't think it was much harder than dealing with them anywhere else. I guess it would be nice if we could receive information on the nearest hospital/ER to our living location and how to get there, in case we should need it, perhaps as part of our living arrangement information. That would have alleviated the stress of having to figure all this out the first time.

I expected to feel unsafe and scared in Paris, but I very rarely did. There were a couple of occasions where I felt a bit uncomfortable, but given what a big city it is, I think it deserves nearly five stars because even coming back late at night, taking the metro all the time, including with a broken foot, I felt generally quite safe.

I would recommend the program overall, but I would not choose a host family again. One course I took at the Middlebury Center, taught by an exceptional professor, as well as the on-site staff made the experience worthwhile. I had a challenging time abroad, largely due to my host family situation and health issues, but that one course gave me a sense of purpose, motivation, and passion throughout the program. The Middlebury staff were consistently friendly, helpful, and supportive. I even returned to the Center a month after the program ended and was welcomed very warmly, which reinforced how supported I have always felt there. While the host family experience significantly diminished the overall charm of the program, the academic side was strong.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I was aiming to spend $75 a week, but ended up spending double that, despite trying to stick to my budget. Paris is known to be pretty expensive, though, so it makes sense.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We had a language pledge and the program always encouraged us to speak French. We technically weren't even allowed to speak English, but many students still did outside of the program, but that was their personal choice and not something the program could control.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The on-site program directors and coordinators
• Academics
• The other students in the program

• The organization Host Families in Paris
• The metro pass could be paid for by the program, as it seems to be with APA or CUPA

The Academic or Linguist