CIEE College Study Abroad in Paris, France

Spending New Year's in Paris was the perfect start to the program. The housing arrangements were fabulous, and the academic curriculum was engaging and fascinating. Three weeks is definitely not enough to see this beautiful city, and was the perfect setting for making friends and having unforgettable experiences.

The class itself served to enhance my experience in Paris. The professor was knowledgeable and personable, and the class took place primarily outside the classroom, allowing visual learning.

Honestly, this was one of the best things that I have ever done in my life. Studying abroad is a fun experience, and it is something that we should all do. Paris is full of wonderful things, so you will never run out of things to do. The classes are long enough to learn from them, but short enough for you to have free time and explore Paris. You are always safe, but you are also given personal space to do what you want. The home stay is also amazing. We are provided with amazing households with wonderful families. Food is also not a problem. Lunch is provided and dinner is given by your family. However, if you would like to buy a snack during the day or when out, you should have your own money. Be careful with your money. It may seem like you have much, but it can spend away like that.

This was my first time abroad and this program exceeded my expectations. The CIEE Paris staff is amazing and friendly. They love to get to know the students, and they are always around for questions. The professors really know their subjects and are always there to help students understand and learn more. Classes are longer than in the United States but not too long considering the classes are only six weeks long. The classes are taught English except for the French language classes. The language professors are patient and understanding but also strict enough that English isn't spoken during class. Most classes have some field trips which definitely help enhance the learning experience. My french history class went to the Pantheon which was really neat. I saw where Voltaire and Pierre and Marie Curie are buried. The study tours for were a big part of my experience because I used to be afraid to travel alone and with the study tour the whole program goes generally. The study tours were an opportunity to learn, and meet people in my program, and create some fun memories, from visiting a soccer stadium in Marseilles, to a chocolate museum in Belgium, to Omaha beach in Normandy. I made some friends that will last a lifetime, learned somethings I will never forget, and became more independent and even stopped being afraid to travel alone. It was overall an awesome experience and I definitely plan on coming back.

I loved my experience with CIEE Open Campus Paris! Starting from the program staff to the courses to the city, I give this program a 10/10. CIEE itself is super organized and entirely capable of making the entire VISA / paperwork process simple and easy for students to understand. The staff on site are so supportive and kind to us and I've never felt anything but welcoming comfort and kindness, and the professors you will have are fully committed to making sure to provide an academic experience that compliments the short six weeks of your open campus experience well. Paris itself is an incredible city in which you can buddy up with the other American CIEE students, or find a way to venture out entirely on your own.

CIEE's Summer Open Campus in Paris made my summer the best one yet! The staff is so helpful and caring; any time you have an issue, they are more than willing to help you. Furthermore, they planned optional "extracurricular" activities that helped the students discover new parts of Paris that might not be known to tourists. The program also plans a day trip and an overnight trip each session to locations 1-3 hours around Paris. These were places that I would've wanted to travel to on my own (i.e. Normandy, Loire Valley, Chateaus, and Giverny), but the program transported us there and paid for meals and lodging. The staff was always willing to help answer any questions about Paris/Europe, such as where I should go for the best escargot or how I could book cheap tickets to travel to another city. The program had two days off which allowed for time to travel to other locations in Europe. The classes were extremely interesting! I learned a lot, but the workload was not at all overwhelming. The other students were amazing. Since we were studying abroad, we all seemed to be adventurous people who were looking to have a fun time exploring Paris. I have made the most amazing friends and memories that I will absolutely never forget. My summer with CIEE was priceless!

Because I am not a French speaker I believe I did not get as much out of the program as I could have if I was fluent in the language. While French people are kind, it can be very difficult to break that initial barrier to build friendships without the knowledge of the language. Perhaps if you want to study in France, but your language skills are not so great you should study in places like Nice or Marseille. While individual communication was very difficult, CIEE was most accomadating and helpful during the whole assimilation process. In one instance one of the Student Life Directors even made a phone call on my behalf so I could have a manicure appointment.

This program was a lot harder academically than advisors made it out to be. It was hard to get help from the staff about problems that occurred with teachers. I was also in a homestay that was not located in the city of Paris. We had many problems with specific teachers and how they graded which was tough to deal with. We also dealt with a lot of administrative tasks that students should not have been dealing with. I learned a lot, but the academic side made it very tough to enjoy the culture side.

When I first told people that I was going to CIEE, I've gotten a lot of worry about what the program was and what it meant that it was a non-profit, but I knew it was something I was going to love because the money wasn't the first priority. Being the first session of the open campus program there were some kinks, but I wouldn't have changed my experience for anything. I've learned so much about the French culture, people and history by being able to explore and be open to new possibilities. The staff was friendly and available at all times which made me feel very comfortable. I didn't like the housing situation and I'm pretty sure they didn't like us, so in future I would explore finding something else, maybe closer to the campus and more open to rowdy American teenagers. My tip would be to rely on your instincts and remain open to the fact that this program is meant to give you the most independence and expect you to use that independence wisely. Future participants need to know to ask for help at anytime, remember that your academics are just as important as your adventures and to have fun.