Grew as a person Past Review
By Michael N (French Language, Literature, Williams College) - abroad from 08/25/2014 to 01/15/2015 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
I learned how I wanted to live life. I learned how to relax and I learned a bit of French along the way.
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. |
The courses were a breeze, but that was not the main motivation of studying abroad. My course load included a fifth year (masters level) finance course from SciencesPo. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration was too authoritative. I felt like I was treated like a child instead of an adult. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Had expectations too high of French cuisine. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Great, but night life was too expensive for my taste. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
Never felt unsafe. |
| 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) |
300 euros a month stipend is very generous. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make your lunches instead of always eating out. |
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 |
I wish the no English policy was more strictly enforced. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200-level (French literature) |
| 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? | Engage in several French clubs (high pay-offs). |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | I wish I joined more groups early on and I wish I traveled more even if meant that I would be a bum. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
