Challenging, but worth it Past Review
By A student (Political Science and Government, St. Mary's College of Maryland) - abroad from 08/24/2015 to 05/14/2016 with
Sciences Po: Paris - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
How to budget on a weekly basis, how to balance course work and travel, and how to interact with new people from different cultures
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. |
Academically it was challenging in that the different professors were not consistent in what they wanted from course to course. It was also difficult to know what was expected of your work and receive feedback on what you had done. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program best benefited my majors at my home university and provided me with more in depth knowledge in field areas that weren't available to me at SMCM. I was also able to meet many different international students who are definitely going to be life-long friends. |
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) |
2.5, it's hard to spend less than $100/week on expenses |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | buy and cook your own food, it's much cheaper than dining out or buying from the cafeterias |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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 |
In Paris, a lot of people speak English and it was up to you to pick classes in French or take a French grammar class |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | How hard it is to find good housing in Paris, the difference in how courses are taught, how bureaucracy and administration are not efficient |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
