Attending School in France - Step One - EXTRA APPLICATION

ATTENDING SCHOOL IN FRANCE

step one
Extra Application that the School Failed to Tell Us About

Any American starting the college hunt / application process is well associated with The College Board - a web site linked to ALL American higher education institutes but also with any college entrance exam a prospective student needs to complete and submit for admission.

With the student entering College Board they need to set up a profile - education history, current schools and possible study interests.  An ambitious kid can fill out a lengthy profile of all their interests, past and present - but this is optional.  Not for Campus Francis!  No no!  It's mandatory!  Guess what, no one tells you that. 

 Or at least neither Mimi and I noticed the MANDATORY part of this application process nor was it ever broadcast by the Paris College of Art.  So it wasn't until after she got accepted into the Paris College of Art when we started the visa process (and I do mean process) that she found out she wouldn't be able to get her visa and attend school until this lengthy, detailed, questionnaire was completed AND approved by Campus Francis.  Kind of freaked her out - after all, she had months to do this, she just didn't know it wasn't optional like the College Board.

You can't even make an appointment at the French Embassy Consulate until Campus Francis "says you can" - once they've completed and approved your application.

So...step one for going to school in Paris, fill out the questionnaire completely - which includes questions on parents, current living situation, "what she might bring to enhance said school in France" what her favorite color is (just kidding, but it was close) page, after page, after page.

It wouldn't have been so bad if we had know about it, had plenty of time to conquer it, leaving it to just another step in the process.  

It's completely understandable that Paris doesn't want some dopey kid arriving with romantic dreams of living there without fully understanding that this IS school with all the responsibilities that come with it - exams, lectures, failures, etc.  So step one - proof that this is what you really want - to be a American fashion student studying in Paris - that does sound romantic, doesn't it?

Step Two - the Visa (getting a private meeting with the Queen of England might have easier...)

Pam