Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Growing Up Away from Home Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/10/2012 to 05/29/2012 with

Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The experience made clear that, in order to succeed and gain any kind of personal fulfillment, acceptance and open-mindedness to different cultures and ways of thinking is indispensable.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Université de Provence | Aix-Marseille 1 L'Institut d'Études Politiques d'Aix-en-Provence
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Wellesley College "Centre" located in the center of Aix-en-Provence

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Host family

* Food:

As it was France, there were countless opportunities to try new dishes in restaurants and boulangeries as well as with my host family.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program certain offers opportunities for complete integration and immersion but it is largely up to the willingness or confidence of the student to make it happen. Personally, I felt both integrated and isolated at varying points in the program, and only wish I had been more eager to cross boundaries.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally had no health issues but those who did seemed to be able to address their concerns.

* Safety:

I felt very secure within my host family and around Aix, considering I tried to pay attention to the directives given in the guide.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

I was fortunate enough to receive aid from parents, but Aix is expensive and some fellow students did indeed have difficulty.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would simply try to plan how much you will need each week and factor in small things (such as beverages and drug store-type expenses, they can be quite pricey).

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? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? A 300-level seminar on French history, conducted in French.
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? My advice would be to choose a host family and to make friends with French peers (the latter can be quite difficult, especially for the introverted but it is absolutely essential to mastering the language and feeling accepted by the culture).

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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 language immersion and exposure to French academics was key to my future studies and career plans. At the same time, I matured quite a bit. As the director of the program stated, Wellesley-in-Aix brings girls to France to study and sends back women.
* What could be improved?
  • I believe that the approach to academics and advice given to the students could be reviewed and strengthened.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Two things should be made known to prospective students: do not be afraid to speak up in class and accept the fact that you will never be the equal of a French student (i.e., care a lot about your grades but do not penalize yourself for less than perfection).