Hello!
I hope all is well.
My son got admitted to the Paris Scholars Program (PSP) which is a transfer only program he is over the moon about that. However he has acceptances from higher- ranked places so we want him to weigh this carefully.
We were able to make an impromptu visit to GWU and tack on a tour on March 29, 2024 to see if he would like it when he got back.
Students were friendly and appeared happy
Staff was friendly
Campus is very nice and completely urban
Students stay on campus through junior year
They say the dorms are nice -random students did also
The advisor stated pre-meds have gone through the PSP and he would double-check about the science courses
Advisor also stated science courses are available via PSP
Campus is 4 blocks from White House and two blocks from State Dept (according to student tour guide) hence safe
Multicultural experience
Famous speakers (e.g. VP Harris, Kim Kardashian)
There is a free rider app for students (like campus UBER) - free rides 7 p to 6a anywhere on campus and even up to 2 blocks outside the campus
Did you learn any more about this program? How many will participate? Safety? Extra costs? It’s a shame that there is not a formal admission with an aid package up front.
Hello!
So after many emails it turns out that staff at GWU do not have a great way to describe the nuts and bolts of this program.
You will have to get your child’s GW ID and email the AUP staff directly. I have called AUP and emailed and they are helpful. The cost is on their website in Euro.
I am sorry I don’t know who many were admitted.
AUP stated that there are no science courses available during this year.
From other posts I have read the living spaces have no laundry or cafeterias (another thread).
For the pre-meds - consider that the medical schools you apply to will usually not accept any courses done internationally for the pre-med core courses so it probably does not matter that AUP does not offer this. GWU prehealth office replied to me via email that the student can either do an enhanced curriculum when they return or plan to take a gap year. They noted that the 5 chemistry courses are tricky to fit in prior to needing to take the MCAT and the student may have to do a summer course.
Prehealth at GWU was helpful (others do not seem to know anything about the program including the mainland person who is supposed to at GWU). They will not counsel you until you are an admitted student. I am not sure if accepting the PSP program makes you “admitted” since that is a different program.
I know gap years are positive now for med school versus in the past BUT I don’t like the idea that the institution sort of makes that decision for you by putting you in this program.
May 15th is the final date to submit your $1250 (if memory serves) deposit for the PSP program. For other questions google AUP and call them directly (about 6 hrs ahead) - have your student’s GW ID handy.
If your student has not accepted this option in the GW portal then AUP will not have them on the list. Don’t be alarmed by that, just aware.
My daughter got accepted to the Paris Scholar Program and is also pre-med. She has not shown any interest because of the lack of Science classes, so the entire freshman year will build nothing towards her pre-med objective. Thank you for doing all this work and posting it here. But what did the GWU prehealth office mean by “enhanced curriculum” ? How would taking a gap year solve the problem of not taking science classes during freshman year? Do they mean taking a gap year and joining GW as freshman in 2025? I am a little confused. Could you please clarify?
Hi, recently committed student here! Not sure if you still need to know but I’ve been able to find out the answers to most of your questions:
-Number of students: On an informational Zoom meeting I did, it was mentioned that about 60 students enrolled in the program 2023-24, so take that as a rough estimate for this upcoming year most likely.
-Safety: From what both the counselors and students currently in the program have said, the school is in a relatively very safe part of Paris; you just need to watch out for pickpockets and do obvious things like not going out alone past ~10PM. Plus most people in Paris speak English so the language barrier shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I’m still trying to learn French though!
Cost/Financial Aid: There aren’t any up-front scholarships/federal aid programs, but you can apply for certain things like the Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan. Beyond that, there’s a 1,250 euro deposit due by May 15th with an estimated 35,000 euro cost for the entire year and an extra 500 euro orientation charge.
Hello!
I am so sorry I am just seeing this. The enhanced curriculum is basically taking 5 chemistry courses in sequence and, as I understood it, going through the summer was likely. The gap year is the other option and likely where the student will find themself if the Chemistry does not work out.
Gap years are common now (90% in one of the recent entering med school classes at EMORY), but I did not want that to be forced upon my son. He ultimately decided he was not going to do the program as it was not a good fit for his pre-med goals.
The Pre-health office at GWU was very helpful! Here is part of their email:
Please do contact the Paris Scholars Program directly to request data about their enrollment and the success of their students, since our office does not have access to that information.
“Generally speaking, medical schools do not accept international coursework for pre-med prerequisites, but you should speak with the Paris Scholars Program directly if you have questions about their offerings and transferring credits back to GW. Our office can discuss an academic plan with your student once they are enrolled at GW and we would be happy to help them plan for GW registration. Please share the link to the pre-med prerequisites
from our website with your student. If your student transfers to GW fall of sophomore year they can do the pre-med prerequisites here. The chemistry sequence, 5 courses that must be taken in order and are ideally completed before the MCAT, can be a bit tricky to fit in. Many students are able to accomplish it with AP credit, or a summer class, or are able to apply to med school as a Senior and use a gap year to gain valuable pre-med experience and personal and professional growth before medical school.”
You will notice that GWU does not have specific answers to any PSP/ AUP questions. They will direct you to AUP.
For us, I feel better that my son has decided against this option. Everyone is different though and it would have been a great experience.
I hope that helps and message me directly if you need anything else.
P.S. Akashlina123,
With no AP credit the student would likely have to chemistry through sophomore year and sophomore summer and then fall and spring of junior year to have it complete for the end of junior year and the “regular” med school application process. Most medical schools want all pre-med requirements complete at the time of application is what I have read.
I hope this helps!