Wellesley-in-Aix: A rewarding year abroad Past Review
By April Y (French and Psychology, Wellesley College) for
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
Yes!!!! I learned so much about myself during this year abroad, from my personal learning style to how I actually do like vegetables if they are fresh and locally grown! I also learned so much about French culture and way of life, and I have really learned to slow down and enjoy what I am doing each day. I was also able to remove myself for an entire year from the craziness that can be Wellesley, and in doing so I was really able to reflect on my interests and what I wanted to do after college. It gave me a focus and vision that I don't think I would have been able to find in the everyday grind at Wellesley. By learning about and interacting in another culture I have been able to discover much more about who I am and what I want in my future, both personally and academically.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universite de Provence- Aix-Marseille; Sciences-Po Aix |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall the academics at Universite de Provence were what I would expect to be the equivalent at any state university in the US. The professors were knowledgeable and good at their jobs. However, the atmosphere of the university itself, especially the extremely run-down building, made the overall learning experience much different than I had expected. Unfortunately, I feel that this would be the same experience at most universities in France at the moment, and in that regard, at least I had an authentic learning experience. I felt that the academics at Sciences-Po Aix were of a much higher standard than at the Fac, and the overall atmosphere was much more similar to my small, private university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The director for the program was amazing!!! She was always available, got things done quickly and efficiently, and had extreme knowledge about the host country (she grew up in France, after all) that most importantly, she was always willing to share. She was also very knowledgeable about my home university's requirements for transfer credit. I felt the program size was perfect, and I feel that if there were any more students it would have been too large. My expectations were not only met, but far exceeded!!! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The group excursions were always amazing and I was sure to never miss them! The excursions were some of the most memorable parts of my entire year-long experience, and I will never forget them! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Aix is a small, student-friendly city, and I always felt safe. I did see the doctor a few times while I was in Aix, and it was always really easy to get in. The program had a list of doctors that they recommended, and if I had any questions I was always able to ask the director of the program for advice. The doctor was knowledgeable and able to speak a little English, which was helpful because my medical vocabulary in French was sometimes lacking. Getting prescription medications was also fast and easy. The only negative was that I had to pay up front for the prescriptions and then send the information to my insurance company to get reimbursed. There were no prevalent health issues in France that required any vaccines specifically for this program. |
| 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? | I spent about 500 euros a month, but that included money for food, personal expenses, occasional shopping and a bit of traveling (Belgium, London, Switzerland). One could easily spend between 50-100 euro a week if they were just spending money on food and personal expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I can't think of anything, I felt that I was well informed. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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