How long did the visa process take you



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Student Services Study Abroad Evaluation

Name Elizabeth Coco

When and where did you participate in your study abroad program?

Location (please select)

Semester (please select)

Year (please select)

Prior to your Tisch Study Abroad experience, had you traveled or lived in another country before?

Yes No

Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability. This evaluation is taken very seriously and will contribute to the maintenance of our study abroad programming.

Section A: Pre-Departure (Visa/Flight/Packing)

1. How long did the visa process take you, if applicable? Was it a difficult process?

I did not have to obtain one.

2. Do you have any advice regarding the Visa application process?

No

3. Do you have any recommendations or tips about booking your flight or travel overseas?

Use Student Universe for flights. They have the best fares. I also would have rather booked a one-way ticket instead so that I could have traveled more easily after the program. I didn’t decide until I was already there that I wanted to continue traveling and then I wasn’t able to change my flight date.

4. Was there something you thought would be available to purchase overseas that wasn’t or is there anything you would advise students to make sure to bring with them?

I found it was cheaper to buy most items like pots and pans, some clothes, and over the counter items once I was there. I wished I had brought more notebooks to write in and more memory cards for my camera before going. Being told to bring my own external hard drive and usb stick would have been nice. I wished I had my own for editing in addition to the groups so that the work could be backed up multiple places.

5. Is there anything you did pack that you would recommend leaving at home?

I should have packed fewer clothes – all of us should have. We ended up all buying more clothes while we were there and then didn’t have enough room for all of our stuff. Books – I bought books there that I found more interesting.

6. Did you bring a laptop with you? If so, did you find that it was necessary and/or helpful?

Yes and you absolutely need your laptop.

7. Do you have any suggestions regarding specific supplies or clothing to pack (e.g. raingear, coats, books, etc)?

Bring a raincoat, umbrella, light jacket and some sweaters. It’s much rainier and cooler in Paris during the summer months than it is here. I also wished I had brought a bathing suit.

8. Did you ship anything to your overseas site ahead of time?

No.

Section B: Arrival and Check-In

1. Did you arrive earlier than the check-in day? If so, do you have any student accommodation recommendations?

No.

2. What was your experience like going through Customs?

Easy. You just tell them how long you are there for.

3. How would you advise students to prepare before going through Customs?

Organize your packing in case they want to check your luggage. Have things in your backpack or purse compartmentalized so that it’s easy to go through.

4. How did you get from the airport to your overseas check-in site? Do you have any advice?

Don’t take a taxi. The RER is much easier and shorter…but the view from the taxi is nice.

Section C: Housing and Meals

1. In general, how would you describe the residence?

It’s just like most dorms. Small rooms with a bathroom shared by the floor. It was clean and comfortable. The terrace on the roof is the best part of the whole building. My room looked straight out to the Eiffel Tower and I was able to watch the light show every night before bed. It was great!

2. How would you describe the bedding in your residence? Was it provided for you?

I brought my own sheets – I highly recommend this. I was much happier having soft, fun printed comfy sheets instead of the hotel sheets they provided. It made it more like home too. I found I used my throw blanket that I had brought with me more than the quilt on the bed. Some nights were cooler than others and I needed both.

3. Did you have any issues with or would you make any recommendations regarding phone access, electricity, linens/bedding, and mail service at the residence?

Bring your phone with you and make sure they know you are overseas. Keep it off except for when you want to use data or your phone bill will be huge. Go to Orange down the street from the residence and buy a cheap prepaid phone. I used this with all of my friends locally and then used skype to call home. I didn’t get mail at the residence.

4. Did you have Internet available in your residence? Was it wireless? Did you need to bring an Ethernet cord? If Internet wasn’t available in your residence, how and where did you use it?

Wireless internet is available and very reliable.

5. Did you have access to/use on-site laundry services? If not, where/how would you recommend students do their laundry?

The Laundromat is half way between school and the residence. Go with a friend, split the cost of the machines and detergent. The pizza place next door is delicious if you want a snack.

6. If you were able to cook in your residence, did you? If so, where would you recommend students go to get their groceries or other items?

We cooked as a house 3-4 nights a week. We bought some cheap pots and pans down Blvd Saint Michel. Miki and I went to the market in the afternoon to get food and two bottles of wine. We’d send out a text to everyone saying when dinner was and asking who wanted food. We’d cook and then everyone would divide the grocery cost after dinner, which was usually 4-5 Euros each. This was significantly cheaper and it was great to have dinner as a “house” on the terrace at night. It was a great bonding experience.

7. If you didn’t cook, where would you recommend students go to eat near the residence? And near the academic facilities?

Scott will show you good places to eat near school. Walk down Blvd St Michel towards Notre Dame and on the right will be some small side streets with a bunch of cafes. They mostly do prix fixe meals in the evenings and run around 12 Euros with wine. There’s a great crepe place back there!

8. Was there anything essential for your room that wasn’t provided for you that you had to buy?

No.

9. How did you communicate w/people back at home (e.g. your U.S. cell phone, local cell phone, calling card, etc)?

I had international data on my iphone. I kept it on airplane mode when I wasn’t using it. Wherever there was wifi I could google chat or facebook with my family. We set up video chat dates once a week to chat on skype and I skyped with my boyfriend almost every day for at least 5 mins to say hi. Skype was the best way to keep in touch. I had a calling card that I kept in case of emergencies if my prepaid French phone ran out of money.

10. What advice do you have for students about keeping in touch while overseas?

Use skype, email and google chat when you’re near wifi. There is wifi often enough that it’s super easy. I put pictures up daily for my family to look at on facebook. They really enjoyed this and it made them feel like they were more engaged in my day to day life even if we weren’t talking every day.

11. For Prague, Florence, and London programs only: Did you live with any NYU students who were not participating in a Tisch program? If so, how was that experience?

     

Section D: Academic

1. How did you get from your dorm to your classes? Did you find it convenient?

Walk. It was about 8mins to walk to class.

2. Were the on-site resources adequate (e.g. books, libraries, Internet, etc)? If not, what would you recommend students bring with them or do to prepare for classes?

Yes.

3. What Tisch program track did you participate in while you were overseas (if applicable)? What was your course schedule like?

We had class four days a week and did shooting projects or field trips two days a week. It was a long schedule but we covered so much information that it was great.

4. What were your academic responsibilities like on evenings and weekends?

We had to shoot films outside of class but we had plenty of time to also enjoy being in Europe.

Section E: Money

1. Did you bring any foreign currency with you when you arrived?  If so, how much would you recommend students bring with them upon arrival?

Yes, a hundred euros.

2. How much money would you recommend students budget weekly to spend on transportation, food, fun, etc?

Get the monthly student pass for the train. It was 60 euros I believe. You will spend between 5-20 euros a day on food. The more you cook, the less you spend.

3. How much money would you recommend students budget for expenses during the entire semester?

That is tricky and depends on how much they want to travel. We did a lot of travel so we spent around 500 Euros just traveling. I’m not sure how much I spent overall.

4. How would you recommend students exchange or get money while they are overseas?

If you have Bank of America the exchange rate is great and I just used the ATM when I needed money.

5. For making purchases, would you recommend students use a credit card or cash?

I used my debit card because I typically got a discount on tax when I used my visa and didn’t get charged as high of an exchange rate as when I took cash out.

6. Is there any other advice you would like to share about money?

Keep track of it! Write down how much you’re spending each day in your journal so that you’re making sure you know.

Section F: Cultural Sensitivity

1. Did you feel comfortable as a foreigner while abroad? 

Yes

2. Were there any specific cultural differences (customs, language, etc) that you took time to adjust to? 

No, but I had been there multiple times before.

3. What was your experience like in meeting and interacting with the local people?

It was great. I knew French and had lots of lovely, friendly conversations with locals; especially at the market.

4. Did you do a lot of research about the country before you went? If so, what resources would you recommend students use to do their research? 

No. I do recommend learning about daily life – like banks, food, clubs, theatre, museums, etc. Get a “not for tourists guide” type of book before you go and travel with that instead of your French/English dictionary. It will have the French/English words you’ll really need to know translated in it.

5. What advice would you give students to adjust to the new culture?

Make yourself at home. Figure out a daily routine, daily alone time or an adventure/walk you want to take. If you cook at home most nights here, do it there too. If you get up early and read or read in bed each night here, do it there.

Section G: Health & Safety

1. Please describe your access to medical services, pharmacies, counseling, etc. 

Easy, you just called Holly and told her what you needed. She sent you to the right place or took you there herself.

2. Please describe the access to fitness or gym facilities while you were overseas. How did you or your classmates exercise if they wanted to?

We walked so much that it didn’t matter.

2. In general did you feel safe overseas? 

Yes

3. Is there anything in particular about your study abroad site that you think students should know about personal health or safety?

No

Section H: Student Tips

1. Please list 10 things you would recommend students do/see before leaving the program.

1. La Fete des Loges is a “state fair” open in St Germain En Laye during the month of July. It’s fabulous and so different from fairs here. It’s a 20min ride on the RER and so worth it.

2. When you go to Versailles rent one of the row boats with friends. You’ll have a blast.

3. Go to the outdoor movies in the park. They are on Friday nights during July. We used to pack a big picnic and blankets and go as a group. Sometimes only 3-5 of us, but our last night in Paris we all went and it was great. They play a large variety of movies that most of us would never see or think to go see.

4. Go to as many museums as you can. Most of them are free if you are under 25yrs old.

5. Go to Bordeaux! We went as a group spontaneously, rented a hotel that we all shared and went on a wine tour together. It was 50 euros or so for 8 hours and 3 vineyards. We were so full of yummy food and wine and saw some of the most gorgeous landscapes in France. We also went to the beach at Arachon an hr away and spent our first afternoon there.

6. We also went to Belgium (Brussels and Brugges) and Amsterdam. In general, just travel on all your free weekends or two days off.

7. Look for all the free local music concerts and go to as much as you can. Take your laptop with you, a blanket and snacks. We edited several projects while sitting in a park together listening to awesome musicians play.

8. Walk as much as you can. Just walk out the door, pick a direction and start walking. Take your map with you for when you want to actually figure out where you are. This is the BEST way to just explore the city and learn about the locals and Paris.

9. Don’t just see the touristy sites. Simona and Scott will show you local websites to check out and learn about events. Look at them. Go see things you’d never see here.

10. Go to Bastille day celebrations! It’s a once in a life time experience and it’s fabulous!

2. Did you find that you had time to experience the local nightlife? If so, would you suggest any particular places to go?

Yes, but we mostly took walks, went to movies, and just explored rather than going to clubs. I think we only went to 3-4 clubs the whole semester. Just explore.

3. Did you find there was much shopping available to you? If so, what are your suggestions for getting the most for your money?

Yes. Simona is a great resource for shopping! You will also take a shopping field trip to learn about shopping in France. Les Halles was a good place and the small shops and thrift stores over by Centre Pompidou.

4. How did you travel around (walk, bus, train, etc)? Do you have any advice regarding transportation?

Walked mostly or took the train/bus. Remember when the trains stop running! The buses run all night though.

5. Did you find that you had time to travel during your semester?  If so, when was the best time and where did you go?

Yes. See above.

6. Do you have any tips about traveling outside of the program (safety, money, accommodation, method of travel)?

The train has student train passes and EuroPasses. Just be smart about where you stay. Hostels are great but check them out really well online first. We rented “apartment/loft” like rooms in hotels in Bordeaux that has 2 full size beds and a couch so 5 of us shared each room. This made it really affordable.

7. Do you have any advice for students regarding their return travel back home at the end of the program?

Don’t book it yet! You will want to travel afterwards. Wait until you get there and figure out when you really want to come back and what else you can afford to do after the program ends. Make sure you leave enough empty room in your suitcase for when you return and have twice as many things from living abroad…or just buy a second suitcase.

8. Is there anything else you would like to share about your study abroad experience or to help other students prepare for their semester overseas?

Go and do as many things as you can!

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