Frustrating but nostalgic in retrospect Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/03/2015 to 05/23/2015 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It became more of a time to reflect on what I have been doing at home

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.

Even WIA courses did not approach the same dimensions of the courses I take back at home (i.e. diversity in subjects, hands-on approach, group work, interdisciplinary work, etc.)

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Attentative family but lack of wifi and amenities in contract seemed like they hosted for primarily financial reasons; unhealthy food

* Food:

Absolutely did not receive my money's worth of food; not at all comparable to the quality of food back on campus despite paying the same amount

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Has to do more with French modes of interactions, and less to do with the program itself

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$15 week for extracurricular lessons, sports
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you want to travel around Europe, plan far ahead to get the best deals

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? 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? FREN 211
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

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
  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Management by home college
  • Flexibility in activities
  • Cultural stipend
* What could be improved?
  • More travel in more disparate regions of France, not just in the south
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I was not able to take math or physics in France

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 Adventurer
The 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.