This was my jam on our trip to Paris! I couldn't wait to visit Sorbonne and get into the Pantheon…read more As a social studies teacher, I do an entire unit on the Enlightenment period, my favorite period in history, pulling the population out of the darkness of superstition and traditions into the LIGHT of political theories and sciences. I couldn't wait to see my heroes Voltaire and Rousseau's final resting place as well as Victor Hugo and Marie Curie. We took a lengthy walk around the Sorbonne neighborhood..........absolutely beautiful! The entry fee for the Pantheon was 13.00 I think. Well worth the visit. The first floor is devoted to epic artwork and amazing statues. Descend into the catacombs to visit the internment of France's most influential thinkers and revolutionary heroes. Honestly, it was a pretty emotional experience for me. This was a 10 star event that should not be missed on any trip to Paris. I could do this 100 times and love every minute.

I attended the Catho for a semester through the Central College (Pella, IA) study abroad program…read more Paris was the only choice for those wanting to go to France, but at the time, you had the option of studying either at the Sorbonne or the Catho. It seems that has since changed and they're only offering the Catho. Not sure what happened to the former. When Central advertises "intensive language immersion," they mean it. I placed in the intermediate program and found that the intensity of the program coincided with my level of understanding of the language. I managed to not get lost in translation and wrapped up 18 credits after completing the following courses: Intermediate French Phonetics French Experience Seminar French Grammar and Civilization The Media in France French Institutions and Society The first four were mandatory; the second two electives. All of these classes were taught by native French-speaking professors, none of whom had much proficiency in English. This forced me to have to listen, read, write, speak and think in French through the duration. Side note: The cafeteria isn't the greatest, but does offer some unique cuisine you may not be accustomed to as an American, such as kangaroo.

I'm a former student of this school and wanted to chime in with my fellow alumnae to discuss some…read moreof the great things about this school. First, the staff and faculty are overwhelmingly fantastic and incredibly supportive. I had some exceptional circumstances arise during my studies and from the financial aid to academic advisement, I was met with so much kindness and flexibility that completely wowed me. That is the best part of this school because it's small, you're able to get the kind of attention that larger schools can never give you. You're also able to be more flexible with your course load/ assignments because each student is treated individually and not only as numbers. The second reason why this school ranks highly for me is it's access to practitioners in the field of IR, like former ambassadors, heads of NGO's and employees at UNESCO/ OECD. It's refreshing to have professors who know more than just theory/ academic ideas that don't fly in the real world. It makes you feel like you're getting an education that can actually help you with your work and not just pass a class. Lastly, the location of this school is great. Right in the middle of Paris at the Alliance Francaise, which allows students to participate on their events and take classes. We're also near quite a few other University's which gives us access to other students and learning communities. Overall, I think this school does a lot of things well and depending on your attitude and focus, it's a great place to prepare for a career in IR.