University Life in Paris

International Students
1

<p>I graduated from the second most selective law undergrad in Korea but even before entering decided not to pursue law in any form. Since then I’ve been making a living as a translator and interpreter, enjoying a leisurely lifestyle and gleefully out-earning my corporate peers (but not my lawyer-corporate peers of course, lol) while working half the hours. (“Hey, my contractor just deposited my remainder. Do you want to go to Hong Kong next week for the shopping festival?” “Um… I’ve got work.” “… Oh yeah.”) I have no career ambitions beyond that of writing (don’t feel ready yet, though), and I’m doing my job because I really enjoy making accurate translations, the process gives me a high; the money and free time is something of a bonus. </p>

<p>One day during work I suddenly realized that I wanted to study in Paris for a few years, for no logical or sensible reason whatsoever. I just very much want to. I’ve made pretty much every single major decision of my life this way and things have always turned out in the end. As an added bonus, it drives my parents crazy. :)</p>

<p>I think I’ve read everything they have on Campusfrance.org and its Korean version plus anything I can get my hands on, but there are some things that only someone who has studied there can answer. So:</p>

<li><p>Le cours magistral. How important are lectures? I read somewhere that there are virtually no textbooks, and what you’re examined on is how you’ve digested and synthesized the lectures, so note-taking is all-important. Is this true, or can I do fine by writing papers based on recommended reading material? I should explain that at Korea Law, lectures were pretty much unnecessary; they didn’t take attendance and the lecturers most likely were the same people who wrote the textbooks, so for my law classes I’d just study the material on my own and show up for exams. I know graduate supervision is different, but what is it like in Paris?</p></li>
<li><p>How much easier is it to be accepted at L3 than at M1? I’m thinking of studying International Law (Paris I) or Psychology (Paris V, VII or VIII I suppose… I graduated with a Psych double major). I’d be happy studying either, which is why I studied that two in the first place, so which would be easier to get in at which level? Is it very hard to move up from L3 to M1? I want to eventually get a doctorat - I enjoy research, and really want to do the work - and afterwards (I know I’m supposed to have a career plan here) who knows. I’d be perfectly fine with returning to Korea to translate again.</p></li>
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<p>I keep saying Paris, instead of France, although I’m also interested in schools outside of Paris… Toulouse looks nice, Strasbourg looks awesome. Anyway, these are my questions for now… hope someone can help! :)</p>

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<p>Hello, any progress in applying to Paris? I’m trying the same thing. :)</p>

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<p>Hi! I studied abroad in Paris this past spring, political science at Sciences-Po in Paris. I was in the udergraduate “cycle” but I got a good feel for the French university system, although Sciences-Po is private but I think the cours magistral are probably comparable. As for your first question, professors rarely assign readings. There are recommended books but you normally consult them at your own discretion. In both my lecture courses the books were essentially identical to the lectures (and like in Korea, often written by the professor) and attending was basically unnecessary. I’m not sure about the schools you’re looking at, but at Sciences-Po we also had discussion sections where we discussed the lectures in depth, making them even less necessary. Exams were very difficult however, and lectures were helpful in absorbing the material. But I think you could still pass without attending. In fact, I RARELY attended one of my cours magistral, and I got by reading the book (though barely). Of course graduate expectations could vary some (thesis reqs, I’m sure, are different)… </p>

<p>I also never had to write a paper outside of exams which were 4 hour essays. Expos</p>

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<p>hello, i’m thinking of applying to sciencepo next year to study as an undergraduate, can you tell me anything useful about student life? are the courses very hard? do you get a lot of work?is there a lot of competition? have you enjoyed being a student there? If you could give me any information it would be helpful, thank you:)</p>