Léa Bourgoin

A few days ago, I talked with Vanessa about her student life in America.

In the University, she has 8 classes to go in one week: French four times a week during 50 minutes, Humcore lecture twice a week during 50minutes, Humcore discussion twice a week during 1h20. HumCore is difficult because there are a lot of lecture and writing. Her schedule is very easy so she can be part of some clubs. This year she writes for the journal of the university and her first article was on Ebola. It’s really different for me because I have about 20 classes in a week so we don’t have a lot of free time.

 For her first year in UCA she lives in a Hall named Vista. There are 67 persons in it and a Residential Advisor, Shanon, in her 4^th year. She takes care of them, she is like their mother! Here, most of the students are in an apartment and in student residence there isn’t a residential advisor.

In United States, students have to be responsible. It’s their responsibility to go on school and to succeed. If students don’t want to, it’s their fault and teachers don’t push them. They have to do supplementary courses like sport, or club about society. Teachers in University think that it’s as important as the courses.

After high school there are two types of University. Community college is for students who don’t succeed in High school or who don’t have enough money. It’s 4000 $ a year. University is more expensive, it’s 30 000$ a year, including housing. In France, I paid 400 € when I was in the university and it include 200€ of social security. Engineering school is 800€ a year but it’s not huge compares to French prestigious trade school. To pay the tuition fee and to have money to do shopping, Vanessa did some jobs: she taught ballet, she did some tutoring; she worked in a florist and helped the company of her family.

It's was an enriching experience and it's always nice to talk with Vanessa !