Background

Hello, I'm Alexia and I'm from Brasov, Romania, and the high school I attended was Andrei Saguna National College. My profile was humanities and that really helped me because now I'm studying political sciences at Sciences Po Paris, France, first year.

Extracurriculars

Newspaper Writer

In the ninth grade, because of the pandemic, I didn't have that many options to choose from for building an extracurricular profile for my liking. However, we had many clubs within our highschool, and one of them was Mugurii Newspaper, which was the newspaper. I created some writings, but I started looking for other interesting things, especially since the 11th grade.

MUN

I was introverted at first and avoided debating, staying in my bubble. But after returning to school in 11th grade, after the pandemic, I decided to change and got more involved in debating. I discovered MUN and participated in regional and international events in Romania, even Sweden, and Egypt. These experiences were great for networking and personal growth. Though I didn’t win any diplomas at first, after attending a couple of MUNs, I got more comfortable and eventually won my first prize.

I think it was, first, a shout-out. I remember it was in the UNODC committee, and even though it wasn’t a particular diploma, the acknowledgement in its own essence played such an important aspect to me. You can’t imagine the pride I felt in that specific moment! It was amazing and ever since then, I think I took part in seven conferences, where I also got acknowledged through other diplomas such as Honorable Mention and Best Delegate.

Summer Job

Looking in my CV, you will see at the work experience section two main activities, the first one was a summer job. It was not that tangent with whatever I'm doing right now in political sciences because it was a technical support for a park called Aventura Park. I was there talking to people and learning new languages because I was the one that was going to be training. What I really appreciated about this activity overall, was the fact that I was able to use my language skills—for instance, English or even French.

Why go abroad?

Ever since I had that pivotal moment in high school, I decided that I want to take more and more opportunities to develop myself.

For instance, next year in January, I'll be going to a conference on economics and sociology because I've been selected by my university to go there.

I believe that studying abroad exposes you to a network and the opportunities do tell their worth.

Why France?

Well, I wanted Sciences Po specifically because it has been my dream for two years, ever since I came across this university. I really wanted to go there because I know that it was high-ranked, and I also knew people that were there, and that seemed a perfect opportunity for me. Besides that, I could practice a bit of my French skills.

My campus is in Menton and is quite small. Being of such a size, it is mostly populated by university students that are also studying at Sciences Po, out of which 60% are in the English track. So, obviously you are more prone to speaking in English.

Why Sciences Po?

Besides my genuine interest in political sciences, the main reason I chose this school is my interest in social sciences and humanities. Additionally, the location played a very important role in my decision. France has been one of my options ever since the beginning of high school. Being familiar with the language was another asset.

Major

At Sciences Po, there is no major in the first year. Only in the second year do we decide on one. The years are structured differently than usual.

In the first year, you study six core courses: economics, political sciences, humanities, history, law and political institutions, and sociology. These serve as a foundation for the second and third years of study.

By combining two of these subjects, you choose your major in the second year, depending on your interests:

• economics and sociology, you can pursue the ECOSOC major.

• law and political institutions, you have Politics and Government.

• philosophical studies and history, you can choose Political Humanities.

Each campus also has a minor based on its regional focus. My campus specializes in the Middle East and Mediterranean region, which is also my minor.

Other campuses have similar specializations: Reims focuses on North America and Africa, Poitiers focuses on Latin America, Dijon specializes in Eastern Europe, Le Havre focuses on the Asia-Pacific, Paris covers all regions, and Nancy emphasizes the Franco-German partnership and the European Union.

Since my campus focuses on the Middle East and Mediterranean, we study languages like Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Spanish, and Italian, but you can take these only if you have at least a B1 in French. If this is not the case, you need to take mandatory French courses in order to reach a B1-B2 level at the end of your undergraduate studies.

Admission Process

My admission process began in October when I connected with VSSIE (Vreau Să Studiez în Europa), an association that guides students through international applications. At that point, I had some ideas for my application but lacked the confidence.

We started working on the written part in October and submitted it on December 10th. I had to write eight essays:

• four optional essays on civic engagement, volunteering, facilitating activities, work experience, and sports/cultural/language practices;

• three personal statements focused on academic performance;

• one personal essay

The optional essays allowed me to showcase different aspects of my personality and activities. The personal essay was the longest, and mine was about integrating AI in the educational environment.

After submitting the application in December, I was invited for an interview on January 11th and had my interview on January 24th. The interview had three parts. The first was a two-minute introduction. You must be concise and engaging because time is strictly enforced. The second part was an image commentary. You choose one of two images to analyze. I selected a painting, which allowed me to connect themes like globalization and historical context. The third part was personal questions, focusing on academic interests and future plans.

Finances

Tuition fees are calculated based on parents' accumulated income, but if it's lower than €14,000, you have nothing to pay. My fee, based on my parents' 2022 income of over €14,000, is around €2,300 per year. Since I pay tuition, I don’t qualify for a scholarship.

However, the French state provides rent aid (CAF). For example, my rent is €690, but with that aid, I pay €490. Other expenses include food (€200/month) and transportation (€90/year for a ZOU card, which offers cheap and fast travel). In total, living expenses amount to €800/month, though €1,000/month is ideal.

Paris is obviously more expensive than Menton, but Menton is pricier than nearby areas, likely due to its popularity as a tourist destination, especially in the summer.

Student Life and Adaptation

Homesickness

There are times when I get homesick, usually during difficult moments when I wish my parents were closer. However, being with friends and knowing we're all going through this together helps. We share fun experiences, which balances out the homesickness.

Community

Making friends and becoming part of the community can be both difficult and easy. Some people embrace newcomers, while others are more skeptical. This is universal; there will always be people who welcome foreigners wholeheartedly, and others who maintain a skeptical attitude.

During winter, the only residents of Menton are students and elderly people.

Life outside classes

Sciences Po is known for its rigid schedule. You have a lot of courses and few exemptions at your disposal. Because you chose this university, it’s in your best interest to attend all classes and seminars, and this leaves little time for independent studies. Exams are difficult, not necessarily because of the content, but because of the applied learning method, and you need time to adjust and understand their tips and tricks.

If you manage your time well and make some sacrifices, you can also find time for an additional job.

Work-life balance

In the first semester of the first year, it’s difficult to find a balance. The school demands a lot, and you must do a lot of external work to keep up with the workload. This means making sacrifices, so the work-life balance isn’t as striking as you might expect.

Studying in a foreign language

Honestly, moving to a society where English is dominant is sometimes tiring. In France, I speak mostly English, as I am following the English track at my university. However, in daily interactions, like in a supermarket or restaurant, I use French. I’ve promised myself that when I return for the second semester, I’ll speak more French.

Core Value for an International Student

I believe the core value for an international student is adaptability. Moving abroad requires leaving behind your past life and adapting to new traditions and customs.

Time Management

In university, you have more work and external pressure. Unlike high school, where you only had to worry about the baccalaureate, university brings added stress. In high school, you have more time to spend with family and friends, so make the most of it. Don't neglect your studies, but also cherish the moments with your loved ones.

Advice from Alexia

For a 9th Grader

Be as open as possible to all the experiences and activities offered in high school. It’s important to try different things because they help you understand yourself better. By the end of high school, you’ll make decisions about your future, like studying abroad or choosing a university profile.

For a 12th Grader

Seize the moment. Realize that this is the last time you’ll probably be in the same room with everyone. Life in university will bring new pressures, but in high school, it’s less intense. Don’t limit yourself to the traditional paths like med school or law school. There are many other viable options, so stay true to yourself and make the right choice.