Great Program, Bad School Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/21/2015 to 01/10/2016 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
Lots of language learned, how to be assertive, confidence in social situations.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Aix-Marseille University was extremely disorganized and the rigor was exceptionally low. Buildings and facilities were falling apart and heavily defaced. No science classes available is a huge con for science majors wanting to study in Aix. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Fantastic program staff, extremely organized and well-run. Very helpful and knowledgable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Amazing host family, great single room with all the requirements listed in the housing contract. Only problem was the distance from the center of Aix, but buses were quite convenient. |
| * Food: |
Host family provided good food, and I was provided with enough of a stipend to afford what I wanted to eat. Program meals at nice restaurants were excellent. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Hard to make friends in classes because of the language barrier, but I still made French friends and acquaintances through other activities. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
Felt quite safe walking around even during later hours. |
| 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? | 40 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook rather than buying pre-prepared food. |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | FREN211 |
| 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? | Read a lot, and try to make French friends. |
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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| 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? | Horrible university. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
