[zero_Gravity91]

(Original post by jana_sweeney)
Zero_Gravity - the sub-campuses that offer the most courses in English would be Le Havre/Reims/Menton as we have dedicated purely English tracks Nancy, Poitiers and Dijon run partly in English but either end up with classes in French or are bi/trilingual courses.

Thank you so much! I will consider those three (along with Paris).

[JetLeechan]

(Original post by jana_sweeney)
JetLeechan - Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm not exactly sure on how to advise you but applying does no harm! I wish you the best of luck but here at sciences po at least at the undergraduate level they look beyond the basic academics so hopefully at masters level they do the same!

No no, I thank you. You confirmed what I was guessing so I know that there should be a chance for me, at least a tiny one. Other unis just said: NO

[vakanuvis]

Despite how interesting this school looks, they have the weirdest admission policy. They don't accept older undergrads, i.e. you need to have received your HS diploma sometime later than Nov 2010. This is so unusual and I haven't seen anything like this anywhere else.

Even tho I told them I'll get A levels in June 2012, they keep saying they take only the first HS diploma into account. This is NOT fair at all. What's up with that?

[Spaid]

Hi, so I just received an e-mail that told me that my application was deemed admissible, and that I would soon be given the time and place for an interview.

I am very nervous for this interview. Could you please explain a little further what exactly happens in the interview, what they ask, and what I should know going in there?

My first choice for the campus was Reims, and then Menton by the way.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[kiffeveritas09]

hi jana-
first of all, i'm so glad that here's someone who can help ignorant people like i am
thank you so much for your help!

i'm a junior at an american high school who is considering sciences po paris menton for my undergraduate years. i don't speak any arabic, but i'm taking AP French at the moment (which is, I think, A Level French in UK) and i speak fluent english and also quite good spanish (not that it's helping here). I've always wanted to attend this school, have looked at Menton website, but i'm lost when it comes to preparation.
is the interview done in french or english, and do they come to you if you're abroad, or do you have to go to france?
just wondering is it very competitive, with low acceptance rate? i know that it's hard for les français but i'm wondering if going in as an international student helps or not.
when do we have to get ready? i mean, interviews and stuff....

once again, thank you so much.

p.s. how funny, i bought hourani's book from a new haven bookshop because i thought it looked good!!

[jana_sweeney]

Vakanuvis: I know people that have been let in when they are older, its exceptional but it does occur... Do you have numerous high school diplomas?
Spaid: First off do not worry to much about your interview, they want to see how you think not how much you know. You'll be given an article from an Anglophone newspaper about a page/page and a half long about some big current event (mine was about american imperialism and the stability of monarchies during the Arab Spring) they asked me about my opinion more on general matters than specific things so as long as you are keeping up with current affairs you'll be fine! Make sure you have some general opinions formed and don't just go in the talking about everything you know they want someone who can think. Then you'll be asked about why you chose Sciences Po./the campus you chose/why France/what experiences do you have of the region you've chosen/what experiences in your life have given you the qualities needed for sciences-po... Its a lot of reflection, they don't pressure you a lot and normally if you don't know something they'll help you around it. Everyonce in a while you'll get a random question that comes from nowhere (mine was what are your opinions on the falklands war as a brit) but normally its about some historical event that you'll have learnt about in school (they review national syllabi a lot so they know what you've studied!)... Reims and Menton, purely out of campus pride I'm going to say Menton is the superior one but obviously any of them are awesome! I hope all of this helps, I can answer any more questions you might have!
Kiffeveritas09: No problem! Im just glad to help you all through the crazy application process! I started with no arabic, but fluent in French and Italian (you can keep studying spanish here they like to have Italian/Spanish speakers). If you apply for the french programme its in french and english for the english programme (if you say you speak french in a advance of the interview they might try to test your french too but that doesn't happen to everyone). If you live in American they have interviews in New York and Chicago and maybe somewhere else, you have to find your way there but they try to come as close as possible! The International Admissions success rate was around 20-30% I think last year so its nowhere near as competitive as the French thats near 4% acceptance! Start going onto the application site now, fill in the forms, start writing your statement try to be done for the start of february to give time for them to look over your application and then you can have your interview in april/may...
No problem! I'll be a bit distant for the next week (exams) but I'll always respond to your posts! Any questions message me or post here!
p.s. I have grown to love Hourani more than most other people in the world, start memorising facts from that book and the 1st semester will be a walk in the park!

[vakanuvis]

(Original post by jana_sweeney)
I know people that have been let in when they are older, its exceptional but it does occur...

Well no, just have one from my country; but since its basically a worthless piece of paper internationally (even though its above average domestically) i'm forced to do a levels (which can be counted as a 2nd diploma obviously).

I'm really confused bout this with SciPo, their central admissions office said I might be able to get a "dispensation" but when I emailed one of the campuses they said its not possible.. Who is correct?? I'd be really happy if they didn't waste my time like that

[assassindunord]

Hi !
I just got a question for you Jana : what do you think did the difference for you with another student, I mean what according to you push them to consider you better compared to other students?
Thanks !

[Sicherlich.]

(Original post by jana_sweeney)
...

Hi Jana, thanks a lot, you really are very helpful. I was wondering whether it is possible to do an Erasmus exchange semester in Menton. Have you ever met someone doing Erasmus there? I know my uni has an agreement with Sciences Po Paris, but I'm not sure if they let me go to Menton, which seems like the perfect place to study for me. I will ask them as soon as uni starts again, but perhaps you know something about this?

[jana_sweeney]

Assassindunord: Honestly, everyone here has pretty incredible academic records but what they really want are individuals I spent a lot of my time at high school working on extra-curricular work volunteering in hospitals and working with Amnesty International. I've always been very politically active, that I'm interested but also that I have something to offer the university that I won't just study there but get involved and be part of the student body.
Sicherlich: I have numerous friends that are just doing a semester or a year in Menton, one girl has just come from Jacobs University in Bremen on ERASMUS. I'm not sure how the application system works but I know the grades they require are pretty high what specific questions do you have about the exchanges?

[SND123]

Hi Jana! I just applied to Sciences Po in Menton, and I have a couple questions.
First, I was wondering when most people find out if they have been accepted? I'm applying to US universities as well, and the reply date for them is May 1st, so I wanted to find out if I'd hear from Sciences Po by then.
I was also wondering about the classes during the first year. Would you say that the professors expect you to have a base knowledge of economics, history of the Middle East, etc.? And about how much time do you spend in class each day?

Thanks so much!

[jana_sweeney]

Hello SND123! You find out depending on when you booked your interview as they have 5 or 6 days during the year when the admissions council meets to decide admissions across the campuses, this means you should only be waiting a month after your interview to find out if you were admitted or not. Also they do not expect any deep level of knowledge before you start the course, it's recommended that you've read over some literature beforehand but having neither studied economics nor history of the Middle East before I've had more work to do than the ones that have but it's been no particular problem. Each week you spend an minimum of 20 hours in class per week, increasing depending on your language levels, but the daily schedule fluctuates between 8/9 hours days and days offs (who knows why). No problem, I wish you the best of luck with your interview and I'll hopefully be seeing you soon!

[Sicherlich.]

(Original post by jana_sweeney)
Assassindunord: Honestly, everyone here has pretty incredible academic records but what they really want are individuals I spent a lot of my time at high school working on extra-curricular work volunteering in hospitals and working with Amnesty International. I've always been very politically active, that I'm interested but also that I have something to offer the university that I won't just study there but get involved and be part of the student body.
Sicherlich: I have numerous friends that are just doing a semester or a year in Menton, one girl has just come from Jacobs University in Bremen on ERASMUS. I'm not sure how the application system works but I know the grades they require are pretty high what specific questions do you have about the exchanges?

Thanks for the reply Jana. Do you know if the module choice for Erasmus students is somehow limited or are they free to choose anything? Do they have to take the compulsory modules like normal students have to? And do you know whether Erasmus students apply directly to Menton or do they send it to Paris, who then transfer them?

Also, how would you describe the weather there now. And what's the mix of French-European-International students like? My French skills are 'terrible to non-existent', so I'm afraid that's going to be a problem when it comes to socialising with other students there. The campus just looks amazing on pictures, would you say the facilities inside the building are too? How long does the Bus take to Nice? I would imagine Nice is perfect for Night outs and shopping.

I'm also currently trying to sort out my finances for the year in Menton. How much would you say students spend monthly, it says on the website between 700-1100 Euros. Is that realistic? Sorry for the many questions and thanks again for your help.

[SND123]

(Original post by jana_sweeney)
Hello SND123! You find out depending on when you booked your interview as they have 5 or 6 days during the year when the admissions council meets to decide admissions across the campuses, this means you should only be waiting a month after your interview to find out if you were admitted or not. Also they do not expect any deep level of knowledge before you start the course, it's recommended that you've read over some literature beforehand but having neither studied economics nor history of the Middle East before I've had more work to do than the ones that have but it's been no particular problem. Each week you spend an minimum of 20 hours in class per week, increasing depending on your language levels, but the daily schedule fluctuates between 8/9 hours days and days offs (who knows why). No problem, I wish you the best of luck with your interview and I'll hopefully be seeing you soon!

Thanks for your help! I actually have a couple more questions for you..
I am a dual citizen (US and Italy) and I've heard that I can study in France without a visa because of my EU citizenship (whereas I would need a visa if I only had an American passport)- do you happen to know if that's true?

I was also wondering if you knew how many Americans there are studying in Menton in a given year, and how many of them are there for a full degree, vs. the dual BA program with Columbia?

Thanks again!

[-raisa]

(Original post by SND123)
Thanks for your help! I actually have a couple more questions for you..
I am a dual citizen (US and Italy) and I've heard that I can study in France without a visa because of my EU citizenship (whereas I would need a visa if I only had an American passport)- do you happen to know if that's true?

I was also wondering if you knew how many Americans there are studying in Menton in a given year, and how many of them are there for a full degree, vs. the dual BA program with Columbia?

Thanks again!

\

Hey; just curious, did you apply for the Dual BA program between Sciences Po and Columbia?

[SND123]

(Original post by -raisa)
\

Hey; just curious, did you apply for the Dual BA program between Sciences Po and Columbia?

I was considering it, but I decided to apply to Sciences Po alone instead.

[assassindunord]

Thanks Jana for your help !
I have another question : I'm applying for the english track in Menton ... is it a problem if my motivation letter is in french ???
Thanks !

[Sicherlich.]

We lost Jana. I knew bombarding her with questions was not a good idea. Let's hope she finds her way back into this thread.

[I Kant Spall]

Just heard back from Sciences Po and they deemed my application "inadmissible"... not even due to my application or credentials, but because I'm 19 and graduated in May 2010. This stigma associated with students who took a gap year is frankly bizarre.

I'm not upset about a rejection because this isn't even a rejection letter; it's a letter saying that they wouldn't even fairly consider my application.

[EvaLuna93]

(Original post by I Kant Spall)
Just heard back from Sciences Po and they deemed my application "inadmissible"... not even due to my application or credentials, but because I'm 19 and graduated in May 2010. This stigma associated with students who took a gap year is frankly bizarre.

I'm not upset about a rejection because this isn't even a rejection letter; it's a letter saying that they wouldn't even fairly consider my application.

May I ask when did u send your application off and for which campuses?