Frustrating but nostalgic in retrospect Past Review
By A student (Political Science and Government, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/03/2015 to 05/23/2015 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
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
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* 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.) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* 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 |
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* 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 |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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? | ~$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 |
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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 |
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| 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
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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 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? | 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 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. |
