I can only apply to so many universities... so part of my research for this project has involved asking other students about their experiences applying in Europe. Patrick Hill, another Senior at Coe-Brown, recently applied to the American University of Paris. AUP is a small liberal arts university in the center of Paris, it is located just a twenty minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and about forty five minutes from Paris's Charles de Gaulle international Airport. There are around 935 students at AUP from all over the world, though all 20+ majors are taught in English. Tuition is approximately €33,000, relatively similar to out of state tuition prices in the United States.
To get a better understanding on how to apply to AUP I asked Patrick a few questions... his answers can be found below!
How did you find out about the American University of Paris?
"I discovered AUP with my own research. I wanted to find a school in Paris that taught in English, and this was the only one that I took an interest to."
Why did you choose to apply to AUP?
"I chose to apply for a multitude of reasons. The first being that I wanted to study abroad in France, but I took it one step further and applied to a school in Paris. I am semi fluent in French, and I want to become fluent, so I thought that this would be a good chance for me to immerse myself into French culture. I also want to become a French citizen, it is one of my top priorities in life. I already have the base for the language down, the only language barrier I still possess is comprehension, just because the French talk so fast. The French also award people who get degrees in France naturalization and potentially citizenship, they essentially just make the process easier. This would also give me a leg up because by that point, I will have already established residency and I will have proof of employment, which are the two major requirements for assimilation, whereas if I chose to study in the States, I would have to start that process from scratch, and it is rather intense. Moreover my major goal is dual citizenship, which I can achieve with ease if I attend school in Paris, at AUP. And of course I applied because Paris is amazing, there are so many opportunities there. Being there would also give me a chance to explore the rest of Europe inexpensively."
Did you apply for a specific course or just the school in general? If soo….
"Yes, I applied for their environmental studies program, I believe it is a four year program."
How did you apply? (Did you apply via the common app or direct through the university)
"You can apply through the university, but I applied directly through the common app."
Do you know what specific things the university wanted to see on your application? (For example, American schools want to see huge activities lists and achievements and test scores and a rigorous schedule and more, while British schools just want to see test scores)
"They were very interested in me as a person. My essay was probably the most important thing on the application. I also had to write a 300 word supplement on how I want to contribute positively to society after school, which I had fun writing. The school also accepts SAT scores, but hardly awards scholarships based on those scores. They want to see Inter Baccalaureate scores or French Baccalaureat scores. They award up to 20,000 euros per year for those scores."
Is the school all American/ international students? Are the professors American?
"It is almost everything but Americans. I’m sure that there is an American population that attends, but it is largely an international school. I think people from over 100 countries attend school there."
Are all the programs at the school taught in English?
"Yes, all their programs are taught in English."
Do you have to take French classes as part of the degree?
"French is not part of the baseline curriculum, therefore not required, however I am sure that it is highly advised. I will be minoring in French, so I personally will have French classes."
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