Sciences Po: Difficult but Worth It Past Review
By Lauren B (International Relations and Affairs., Tufts University) for
Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in Paris
Completely. I learned a lot about the culture and myself.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Sciences Po (full time) |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I loved my year in France, but I am not a huge fan of the French educational system. I don't like the reliance on oral presentations or the harshness of grading. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Tufts really helped me navigate the French bureaucracy. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was treated as a member of the family by my host parents. I had a wonderful experience. |
| * Food: |
France has amazing food |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
making European friends and visiting them |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
be careful when alone at night |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | this amount would be skewed because my program required my host parents to cook 5 dinners for me a week and that would be a significant portion of a normal budget |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Paris is in general very expensive for absolutely everything |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French literature |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced in my day to day life with other students, people in the city, and my host family. A lot of other students I spent time with did speak English, however. |
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?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The type of person who would benefit most from this program is someone who is willing to do the work to improve their French. |
