<p>My daughter will be a French/Sociology major and is trying to decide between a junior year in Geneva or Paris. Her Sociology major advisor thinks Geneva is a better choice and, of course, the French advisor is pushing for Paris. The Sociology advisor thinks students have a better experience in Geneva because they live with other students - that it can be isolating to live with a family in Paris. My daughter is very interested in agricultural issues, particularly sustainable agriculture, although she grew up in a small city. She wonders if being so far from the country would be an issue for her if she went to Paris. At home the country is minutes away. Can anyone give some guidance on this?</p>
<p>There is countryside close to Paris. Is it possible to spend a semester in each venue? And aren't there programs in Paris that feature life with students and not a family? Or does your daughter want to live with a family? With so many Study Abroad options, maybe should could find one that met her exact specifications. There are also many programs in France in locations less urban than Paris.</p>
<p>My own personal bias is towards Paris because I adore it. I like Gertrude Stein's quote, "America is my country, but Paris is my home town." But as a native NY'er Paris seems small and manageable compared to NY and the subway system is more connected.</p>
<p>Geneva is an easy train ride from the countryside. On that train ride she will notice that every home has a small vegetable garden. That part of Switzerland is so picturesque (the lake with the French Alps accross the way, the vineyards, the small towns, etc.)</p>
<p>But Paris is...well, Paris! Even if she chooses Geneva, she'll have to take the TGV (fast train) to Paris to visit!</p>
<p>Are the students she would be living with in Geneva native French speakers (as opposed to Americans)? If not, then I would go for Paris. I think immersing yourself in the culture and language is of utmost importance!</p>
<p>You can't lose either way!</p>
<p>Bon chance!! :)</p>
<p>In Paris she will meet more french people than she will meet swiss in Geneva. The great thing about Geneva is that you'll meet a ton of people from all different parts of the globe and you have access to a broad range of international relations type internships. The great thing about Paris is you'll meet a lot of French and get to live in (or near, not everyone lives inside) Paris.</p>
<p>I already posted these remarks a while ago in the parents forum. Having "chaperoned" a friend's daughter in paris for her semester abroad at the prestigious "Sciences Po", I was truly disappointed in what she was being offered ( and paying through the teeth for): very little opportunity to actually be with French students, special "international classes instead of the normal French cursus, etc... To summarize, her French would have improved far more if she had worked as an au-pair during the summer AND she would have made some money. Don't forget the euro is much higher than the dollar and life in Paris costs a packet. So my advice is to choose the program with the most challenging courseload and take as many extra language courses she can on the side.</p>
<p>My soph. daughter is also beginning to look at study abroad programs, and I have a few questions:<br>
1. How competitive is the application process to Geneva vs. Paris, vs. a program in England, let's say Oxford?<br>
2. Assuming you meet the language and GPA requirements, will you be accepted at your first choice? How many applicants vs. spaces are there?
3. Should you apply to more than one program?<br>
4. D says that the Paris program doesn't allow you to register for classes until you get there, so she's not sure what the offerings will be. Anyone have experience with this?<br>
Thanks in advance for your advice.</p>
<p>It's much less competitive to go to a non-Smith program like Oxford (or really anywhere, the non-Smith programs are widespread) than it is to go to a Smith program. Really, the competition doesn't even compare, because as long as you apply in time and you basically meet the requirements, you'll 99% go to a non-Smith program, not always true of the Smtih programs. Also, the Smith program application is much more involved than the non-Smith program one. </p>
<p>THe other downside of doing a Smith program is that your grades count for latin honors, so if you find the adjustment difficult, and your GPA goes down, it might hurt you in the future. </p>
<p>Of course, the benefits are that the Smith programs are great, and you kind of know what you're getting into, non-Smith programs are more of a leap of faith. </p>
<p>I don't know if it's possible to apply to more than one program, your D should look into that at the study abroad office. </p>
<p>I don't know if all the programs are like Paris with registration, but I'm going to London for the spring 08 semester, and for me, it's the same, we can't register until we get there. I thought htey were all like that? Still, there are course catalogs you can look at online for my London school, probably the same for Paris? not knowing the course offerings though shouldn't put her off the program. I mean, it's Paris!</p>
<p>S&P- Thanks for the great info! Have fun in London!</p>
<p>Full disclosure -- non Smith parent. My D is going to London Jan. 3 and she has already registered for all her classes. In fact, she had to get them approved by her department to make sure they qualified for her major so she would get full credit when she returns.</p>
<p>I don't really know much about study abroad programs; I suppose that quite a few are really an opportunity to hang out and get drunk in a foreign country with other bored American college kids. BUT I'm sure that not <em>all</em> are like that. I know one girl who did a study abroad semester in a South American country -- she lived with a local family, took classes related to her major at the local university (all in Spanish) and had almost no interaction with English speakers for the entire semester she was there. That, to me, is an example of a great study abroad program. </p>
<p>Anybody care to offer names of impressive study abroad programs? They can be impressive to you for different reasons than the ones that float my boat, obviously.</p>
<p>I think your assessment's a little harsh memake, and not at all representative of the study abroad programs available to Smith students (even the non-Smith programs). </p>
<p>I think a great program is where the student comes away with a new perspective and an insight into a different way of living and studying. Whether that's living in a home, living in a dorm, going out and drinking, learning a new language or studying in your native tongue, there are a variety of ways to gain new experiences, even if you're not doing anything related to your major or mostly engaging in frivolous activity. </p>
<p>but if you want names, the programs run by IFSA-Butler and SIT are all great study abroad opportunities, for example, and most of hte non-Smith programs are run by those instituitions.</p>
<p>The Budapest Semester in Mathematics that my D did was pretty rigorous. The caliber of the students, including from Harvard, Yale, etc., was pretty impressive.</p>
<p>S&P is correct about the non-Smith programs grades not counting for Latin Honors. They don't count in you Smith GPA, treated as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, but the actual grades are posted on your transcript and most (all?) graduate and professional schools will recalculate for purposes of admission using the actual grades. Budapest didn't ding D's GPA too badly....</p>
<p>There was another program, run by a different school, lodged in the same building that wasn't rigorous at all, seemingly populated by partying slackers.</p>
<p>Since the purpose of BSM is mathematics, there isn't a lot of emphasis on the Hungarian culture, making Hungarian friends, etc., sajnos, even though you wind up with about two semesters worth of Hungarian language (very difficult). The biggest side effect for D was learning what it's like to live in a sexist society like America circa 1955.</p>
<p>D did not register for classes until arrival and there was a two-week shopping period.</p>