Discover what a semester abroad looks like through the eyes of our students.
Maria is a 3rd year student in Mathematics and Computer Science within the Bachelor Program. She talked about her experience at École Polytechnique and her exchange semester at King’s College in London.
Why did you choose to study at École Polytechnique?
I liked the idea of an international program in a reputable French institution. I followed a Natural Sciences path in high-school, which means that most of my courses were science related. I was always very passionate about Mathematics and, perhaps surprisingly, Chemistry, but I was not sure what I wanted to focus on for my bachelor’s degree. I chose École Polytechnique because the Bachelor Program offered by l’X was flexible enough so that I could study a little bit of everything in the first year without compromising the quality of my studies overall once I decided on a specialization.
How did you get to know the Bachelor program? What are its main benefits?
My sister, who was studying in France at the time, told me all about the French system and the Grandes Écoles, and one day she simply stumbled upon the Bachelor Program’s website. I applied almost immediately, as it was the last day of applications – and I’m glad I did. The program is a true international experience, where you meet people from all over the world. It is a unique opportunity to meet people that come from different backgrounds and understand their perspective in various fields such as science, politics, and social situations. Besides the flexibility I described above, other major benefits of the program are the bachelor thesis and the exchange semester. The former is conducted under the form of a research paper, which not only offers students a hands-on approach to research, but also gives the opportunity of exploring a topic that a student is particularly interested in. The exchange semester is a great way to explore new places and discover different ways of learning, with partner universities all over the world.
Would you recommend this program to someone interested in pursuing science studies?
Even though the Bachelor Program has many extra-curricular benefits, I would say that its main focus is definitely academic. We have around 30 hours of classes per week, which is very intense for a bachelor’s degree, and most of them are science-focused. Given the quality of our modules and the expertise of our teachers, but also the balance between theoretical and practical studies, I would strongly recommend the Bachelor Program to people interested in pursuing science.
Could you please tell us more about your exchange semester at King's College?
I went on exchange at King’s College London, together with three fellow Polytechnique students. Moving to London, my expectations were really high, but I can confidently say the exchange semester went better than expected. While abroad, I chose modules that were consistent with my double major, and I took two courses in both Mathematics and Computer Science. Having a lighter schedule allowed me to immerse into the King’s College experience, signing up for different events, student clubs, and even volunteer work.
Why did you choose this university abroad?
There were two main criteria I used to determine what partner university would best fit my goals. I wanted to study at the heart of a big city, surrounded by unique opportunities, and to have many interesting classes to choose from. I was always fond of the idea of studying in London, because of how diverse and vibrant it is. When I saw King’s College on the partner universities list and I checked its available modules, I knew I had to apply.
What are the main strengths of both institutions l’X and the exchange university)?
There are plenty of benefits to both l’X and King’s College, many of which coincide. They are both research-focused institutions with great faculty and an established reputation, and I am lucky to have been privileged enough to attend both. The teachers are highly motivated and truly passionate about their subject, and I really appreciate how eager they are to help. Academically, I found both programs excellent. I would say that because of the class size of the Bachelor Program at Polytechnique as well as the seclusion of the campus, it is easier to make friends and to experience everything the school has to offer (sports facilities, labs, etc). On the other hand, King’s College offers a much wider range in terms of student clubs and activities, which I enjoyed while abroad. One major thing that differentiates the two is, in my opinion, the percentage of women who are enrolled in the respective scientific programs, which is significantly higher at l’X.
What would you like to do after the Bachelor of Science? Do you have any professional career goal?
I have struggled finding a definite answer to this question for a while, because there are so many fields I would like to work in, and so many doors that the program has opened for me. I am currently applying to Master’s programs with a focus on game development and computer graphics, trying to combine creativity with scientific expertise in order to create products that have the power of shaping generations.
