Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A rewarding and frustrating experience and a very satisfying accomplishment overall. Past Review

By (French and Environmental Studies, Ithaca College) - abroad from 01/01/2012 to 05/15/2012 with

University of Montreal: Montreal - Direct Enrollment and Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
U of M’s highly impersonal environment challenged me to use untapped independence and self-reliance in order to connect with my professors and understand the material. The consequences were well worth the effort, as my professors seemed to recognize the perseverance, encouraging them to be more amendable. Being evaluated by native standards challenged me to seek greater perfection in my academic work and cognitive thinking in ways I may never have been otherwise. Factors such as a language barrier, different teaching methods, and expectations, which initially made the completion of assignments challenging, were displaced by inspiration and the creative process, attaining yet another comfort zone, signaling that I had successfully adapted.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The University of Montreal is an exclusively French university. While it has programs for beginner French students, their resources for exchange students with an advanced level of French is limited. I had a tutor for grammar, but when I asked the Centre de Communication Ecrite if I could pay for more sessions after my bloc was completed, I was told private tutoring was not offered for exchange students, only individual workshops geared towards improving one aspect of the language such as spelling and pronunciation were my options. When I inquired as to a tutor for literature, my literature professor and student assistant reiterated the same. I communicated with another Killam Fellow who had attended U of M the prior semester and was told that she did not receive any private tutoring but that she had communicated her needs to her professors and was allowed to redo assignments. It seems to have been a system error that I had a grammar tutor for a bloc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The rooms were slightly larger than IC's, and each had its own personal sink.

* Food:

The University of Montreal did not have a meal plan. There were a few cafeterias and cafes where you paid with cash each time, and it was very expensive. The students are expected to do most of their own cooking.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not require health care during my stay

* Safety:

The university of Montreal's security system is very organized and secure.

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 100 dollars

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Foundation for Educational Exchange between the United States and Canada sponsors events and activities that help deepen on'es appreciation for the experience by broadening horizons.
* What could be improved?
  • There needs to be more academic resources, such as private tutoring, for exchange students.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If I could apply for the Killam Fellowships all over again, I would not list the University of Montreal as one of my choices due to the lack of academic resources for exchange students and the university's propensity for student strikes.