Now that all is said and done, I have made an updated list for students looking to study abroad in Rennes/France. Some of these tips will be familiar as I may have mentioned them in other articles while others are new. I hope that you will find these tips helpful!
Secure housing early
Getting housing in September or August will be almost impossible if you do not know someone or have someone (such as a classmate) agree to roommates/rent splitting. This is why it is important to start your housing search early. I started my search in April and secured housing in May, and that was enough to find an apartment in a quiet and safe neighborhood close to the school (so approximately 5 months before departure). I used Studapart, but I am aware that students have had mixed results with that platform. Try to work with a legitimate housing company or agent, or join a Facebook/WhatsApp group specifically for international students seeking housing in Rennes. Booking an AirBnB is much riskier and there are few AirBnBs that will let you rent for the full duration of your stay.
Examples of different types of housing (houses, apart-hotels, apartments/condos)
Some French universities offer student housing options on campus but it remains fiercely competitive. As of 2022, Rennes School of Business does not have on-campus housing (though they plan to support 500 units on campus by 2024; the building complex is actively under construction).
Failing to secure housing early on can lead to housing insecurity or even homelessness. If a landlord asks for you to pay for rent upfront, or to wire them money before you arrive/see the place, be suspicious, as this is not standard procedure and possibly even illegal. Please note, that this is different from a security deposit, which is required by virtually all landlords/property managers. The security deposit serves as a form of risk management for a property manager, as they can use it to repair damages to the property (if any) after departure. This is a study abroad experience, but you are also moving to another country for half a year. You do not exist in a bubble and there are people who may want to take advantage of unsuspecting international students.
Conduct research into destination country entry/visa requirements
Different countries have different entry and visa requirements. If you plan to study abroad in France for a semester, you will need a long-stay visa. Long-stay visas are obtainable by appointment only, and only at specifically designated VFS centers, which are run by VFS Global, a third-party company to which the French government has outsourced administrative work relating to the visa process. There are no VFS centers in Hawaii, which means that you will likely have to book an appointment with a VFS center in San Francisco or Los Angeles (closest locations). This also means that you will have to fly out to California and make appropriate arrangements when there. Beware: appointments fill up fast so start the visa application process early!
It is important to follow every step of the process to the letter. If you provide all required material you should be able to receive your visa without much issue
FURTHER READING (specific to MIX students): https://jacobrg71.wixsite.com/jacob-bon-voyage/post/tips-for-obtaining-a-french-visa-mix-students
Familiarize yourself with WhatsApp
WhatsApp is widely used in Europe and will probably be your primary means of communication with your classmates for group projects, planning, and communication with businesses, individuals, and school clubs. I also used WhatsApp to communicate with my family back home in Hawaii. Since it is a VoIP service, it uses an internet connection to send messages, connect calls, and host video chats. This negates most issues relating to international calling/communications, and different number formats. Please familiarize yourself with the app and how it works.
Watch out for pickpockets
Pickpockets are a concern, especially if you visit/study in Paris. They frequent tourist areas, such as the Eiffel Tower. Pickpockets rarely work alone. In fact, they often run organized scams or work together to steal valuables. A common tactic they will use involves asking a question to tourists (e.g “How do I get to this place?” in English). The tourist is confused and distracted (why are they asking an obvious tourist for directions). While they are distracted, a second pickpocket will steal valuables/empty the pockets of the unsuspecting tourist. All the while, their friends might be keeping watch for any authorities. That said, as long as you display a reasonable level of caution, vigilance, and awareness, you should not have too much trouble. Strength in numbers rings true. Try to go to these places with friends who can watch your back.
Closed on Sundays (Rennes specific)
If you are studying abroad in Rennes, you will find that the majority of businesses, including grocery stores, and home goods stores are closed. You should plan ahead for this tradition by buying extra food for yourself over the weekend and stocking up on household supplies so you are not left short on goods like toilet paper. Worst case scenario, McDonald’s France is open every day of the week, has restrooms and is 24/7. They also use kiosks to take orders now, so you do not need to interact with anyone to order.
Talk to your classmates (Rennes School of Business specific)
Your experience becomes much more enriching when you talk to your classmates, both French and international. They often have very different perspectives on things that you had never considered, and the dialogue that you have will (hopefully) leave you feeling immensely satisfied. Much like locals in Hawaii value a good "talk story", Rennes School of Business (RSB) facilitates deeper conversations, as breaks between classes are plenty, and lunch breaks, in particular, are around 2 hours. People in general also tend to enjoy talking about themselves or their country, even if they do not want to openly admit it, and so they can provide a lot of details and "insider" cultural insight that you won't find in the numerous blogs online. I took the opportunity to eat lunch with my classmates, or my apartment neighbors when I saw them at school. Rennes School of Business is very international so you have people from every continent.
Consider cultural context
This was a topic that I noticed was brought up a lot among international students. For example, French people are very straightforward and will tell you if they think something is bad. They may say something that seems rude based on our cultural standards but that doesn't mean that their intention was to offend. One of my Chinese classmates highlighted how this was a distinction between high and low-context cultures, where high-context cultures tend to be more implicit with their meaning whereas low-context cultures tend to be more explicit with their meaning. This concept was reinforced by what I was learning in Managing International Complexity. He said that Chinese people would find the forwardness of French people really rude, and had to remind some other Chinese students of the cultural context because in French culture it is seen as a more polite thing to be completely direct and open about your feelings. For people from Hawaii, who I generally find to be more high-context than people from the mainland US, this can be hard to adapt to at first. Some of my Eastern European classmates also found French people to be quite honest and direct, compared to their culture and so we discussed the cultural contexts of France relative to our cultures as well.
Scheduling system (Rennes School of Business specific)
Class schedules at Rennes School of Business change a lot. For example, classes might be rearranged the day before or the day of the class. Also, the classrooms that you meet in are usually different every time. As a result, students cannot be entirely sure of when or where they will need to go to class sometimes.
Here is an example of my classes for one week:
And another week:
Try your best to be adaptable and regularly check the RISE student platform (it is similar to STAR at UH Manoa).
Take advantage of your free time and have fun
Studies are important, but you are also in a new environment that you may never visit again in your lifetime. Make the most of it!
Less “what ifs,” more spontaneity
Students preparing to study abroad often run through a lot of what-if scenarios in their heads. I was one of those students. It is ok to be cognizant of what could go wrong, but overthinking things can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. If something does not work out, then no problem. Maybe you wanted to visit a museum but it was closed for the day. Or maybe you wanted to eat outside a café but it started storming. One thing that I learned from Scouting is that even if experiences aren't "perfect" they can still be memorable, which I think is what matters the most.