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Published: 20 March 2025

March is International Women's History Month and International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th! This month in our blog, we would like to highlight a few  very inspiring and motivational journeys of A&M female students. Our next interviewee is Inès Feret ( Class 2022)

AFAM: Hello Inès, and thank you for being with us today. You are a MEng student at UC Berkeley, who went through the parcours US program. Could you please tell us a few words about the road that led you to Arts et Metiers and most importantly why and when you decided to become an engineer.

Inès: Sure! I started my academic journey with three years of mechanical engineering studies at La Sorbonne. During that time, I discovered the possibility of joining a Grande École through a parallel admission process. Arts et Métiers immediately stood out to me because of its values and its strong curriculum in mechanical and industrial engineering. I decided to take my chance, applied, and was fortunate enough to be accepted.

As for why I chose to become an engineer, I’ve always been fascinated by how the world works. Engineering felt like the most natural path for me because it’s a discipline that allows you to understand, innovate, and solve complex problems. Additionally, I’m passionate about both healthcare and robotics, and my goal is to bridge the gap between these fields to improve current medical solutions.

AFAM: could you tell us a bit more about your life and studies at UC Berkeley. What are your favorite classes and what do you enjoy the most about your education journey?

Inès: Life at UC Berkeley is amazing! One of the aspects I appreciate the most is the ability to choose from a wide range of courses, even in fields not directly related to engineering or mechanical engineering. Since I’m pursuing a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, this flexibility allows me to tailor my education to my specific interests.

There’s also a strong emphasis on independent work: there are fewer lecture hours compared to what I was used to in France, which gives students more freedom to manage their time. This structure allows me to not only focus on my studies but also explore the region, network, and dive into other subjects.

This semester, my favorite classes are Interface Between Neuroethology & Neural Engineering and Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems. At first glance, they seem unrelated, but together they offer a well-rounded approach to my professional goals. The neuroscience course helps me understand the fundamental challenges we aim to solve, while the microprocessor course focuses on multitasking programming, which is a crucial skill in many applications. Both classes are fascinating and intellectually stimulating. What I appreciate the most about this education system is the flexibility and the collaborative environment. There is little pressure compared to other academic settings, and a strong sense of support among students.

AFAM: what was the most challenging for you in the US ( or maybe before coming to the US)?

Inès: I would say the two biggest challenges have been cultural adaptation and financial aspects. The cultural differences between the US and France were more significant than I initially expected, and it took me some time to adjust.

Additionally, as everyone knows, education in the US is extremely expensive, which can be overwhelming or even discouraging. Fortunately, I was lucky to receive the support of the Sequoia Grant #2 from AFAM, and I am truly grateful for their invaluable help.

AFAM: recently you were a part of TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 in San Francisco. Could you please tell us more about this experience and what did this event bring you?

Inès: I was fortunate to attend this conference thanks to Berkeley, which sponsored a few tickets for students. Being able to see some of the most promising startups of the moment and engage with their founders was really an amazing experience.

I had the opportunity to make valuable connections to expand my network and attend highly insightful keynotes that helped me refine my professional vision. This event also reinforced my vision of AI which is now at the core of nearly every company, and integrating it into one’s career, especially in entrepreneurship is crucial.

AFAM: you live in the SF bay area. How do you like it? How do you spend your free time?

Inès: The Bay Area is absolutely beautiful, and there’s so much to do! One of the great things is that you don’t really need a car, public transportation is fairly accessible, which makes it easy to explore. San Francisco, in particular, is full of activities, and I’ve been lucky to experience some of them like Alcatraz thanks to the GadzMeet event in San Francisco, which was financially supported by AFAM.

The weather here is great, so I spend a lot of time outdoors discovering new places. I’ve also had the chance to travel a bit and visit Atlanta as well as Lake Tahoe, which were amazing experiences!

AFAM: Could you please tell us a few words about your current experience as an AI engineering intern? Any future plans you would like to share with us?

Inès: I’m currently working remotely as an AI engineering intern for a French startup. As I mentioned earlier, my experiences at Berkeley made me realize how important it is to integrate AI into my professional field. Because of this, I took the initiative to learn AI on my own, which led me to this internship.

In my role, I am developing an AI agent, which involves computer vision, programming, and deep learning. These are highly valuable skills, especially in robotics, and I’ve been enjoying the challenge of applying them in a real-world setting.

As for my future plans, I hope to find a full-time position that combines my passion for mechanical engineering and AI, ideally in the healthcare industry!

AFAM: thank you!

Pictures - courtesy of Inès

Union square and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe ( picture from Inès' October trip)

Other interviews in March "Zoom on" series:

Interview with Sixtine Guérin ( Me 2022)

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Published: 12 March 2025

March is International Women's History Month and International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th! This month in our blog, we would like to highlight a few  very inspiring and motivational journeys of A&M female students. Our first interviewee is Sixtine Guérin ( Me 222)

AFAM: Hello Sixtine, please tell us a little about yourself and what you are currently doing.

Sixtine: Hi! I started at the Metz campus before moving to Paris for the Parcours US track. Now, I’m pursuing a Master's in Supply Chain at Georgia Tech.

AFAM: What were the biggest challenges you faced, first during your application process and then after arriving in Atlanta?

Sixtine: One of the main challenges during my application was making an informed decision about where to study. I had to choose between two highly ranked universities in Industrial Engineering—Michigan and Georgia Tech—without having much firsthand knowledge beyond what I could find online. When you're still in France, it's difficult to fully picture yourself in a new environment, and resources are much easier to access once you're actually there. After arriving in Atlanta, the biggest challenge was navigating everything Georgia Tech has to offer. From joining clubs to exploring different buildings, labs, and opportunities, there are so many possibilities that it can be overwhelming. Even now, I feel like there’s still so much I haven’t discovered!

AFAM: What were your favorite classes? And what did you like the most about your educational journey?

Sixtine: Out of the ten classes I took, my favorite was the most practical one. We visited warehouses, met professionals working in the industry, observed the technologies they use, and then analyzed them critically based on the theories we studied in class. We combined hands-on experience with optimization calculations and theoretical background and I really liked it. I enjoyed every stage of my academic journey because each one built on the last. In preparatory classes, I developed critical thinking and managed a heavy workload. At Arts et Métiers, I explored a wide range of subjects, from laser technology to lean manufacturing, which helped me adapt quickly. Finally, specializing in Industrial Engineering and Supply Chain in the U.S. was exciting since I had always wanted to study and work here.

AFAM: You are a Sequoia #2 grant recipient. Why was it important for you to receive financial support from AFAM?

Sixtine: Studying in the U.S. is extremely expensive—my master’s program alone costs $72,000, and that’s just for tuition. When you add living expenses, the total becomes even higher. Any financial support is a huge help, and I’m very grateful for it.

AFAM: How did you like the U.S.? How did you spend your free time?

Sixtine: I love the sports culture here—being able to participate in different sports and seeing the strong sense of pride people have for their state, country, and school. I also appreciate the mindset that hard work always pays off; if you really want something and put in the effort, you can achieve it. In my free time, I joined the rugby team and running clubs, which were great ways to stay active and meet people. I also took the opportunity to travel and explore different states. I had contacts in Alaska and Hawaii, which allowed me to visit and experience the national parks there.

AFAM: Any advice for students applying or considering applying to American universities?

Sixtine: I would encourage them to approach it as a new experience and fully immerse themselves in the culture, rather than just applying for the prestige or to have a well-known university on their resume. If you only focus on the name, I believe you’ll miss out on something truly valuable.

AFAM: thank you!

Pictures - courtesy of Sixtine

Half Marathon Race in Atlanta

Georgia Tech Vehicle Workshop

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Published: 10 March 2025

AFAM: Hello Mickael, please tell us a few words about yourself.
Mickael: Hello, my name is Mickael. I'm a master's student at MIT studying Financial Engineering. Prior to joining MIT, I studied at ENSAM in Cluny and at Georgia Tech, where I completed my dual degree in Mechanical Engineering. Currently, I am working for MIT Golub Center for Finance & Policy conducting a data science project to develop macroeconomics factors for financial securities analysis. 

AFAM: You are a student at MIT. What was the most challenging part for you, first when you applied to MIT, and then when you arrived in Massachusetts?
Mickael: I think the most challenging part about applying to MIT was that I applied outside of the "parcours US" since I was already enrolled in the Georgia Tech dual degree program. As a result, I was not applying alongside others in the same program. Arriving in Massachusetts was not a huge adjustment for me, as I had already lived in Atlanta, and Massachusetts has a lifestyle closer to that of Europe. Nevertheless, one of the biggest differences is the weather, which is quite extreme in both winter and summer!

AFAM: What are your favorite classes? And what do you like the most about your educational journey?
Mickael: My favorite classes are the financial product-focused ones at MIT, as they provide a hands-on approach, which I think is very useful for a career in financial services. Another class that particularly sparked my interest is a statistics course that provides intuition behind Machine Learning models. What I appreciate most about my educational journey is that I have studied multiple topics along the way, spanning from Engineering to Operations Research and now Finance.

AFAM: You are a Sequoia #2 grant recipient. Can you tell us why it was important for you to receive financial support from AFAM?
Mickael: Studying in the US comes with a high cost of living. Receiving the Sequoia grant helped me cover my core degree expenses in Cambridge, which was a great support in kick-starting my academic journey at MIT.

AFAM: Do you enjoy living in the US? How do you like to spend your free time?
Mickael: Boston is a great city to live in and explore. I enjoy spending my free time walking through the city, as it is one of the most walkable cities in the US! MIT is located in front of Harvard bridge which allows us to have regular walks in downtown Boston. I particularly like walking in Boston Public Garden, Back Bay and the South End (at the end of the article you can see a picture of Boston Public Garden in the Fall and the frozen Charles River in January).

AFAM: Any advice you would like to give to students who are applying or would like to apply to American universities?
Mickael: I would definitely advise students to apply to the "parcours US" facilitated by ENSAM, as I have heard great things about it from students who completed the program and were accepted into great US universities. Additionally, I encourage students to use their years at ENSAM to work on projects closely related to the subject they want to study in the US, as this is something universities highly consider.

AFAM: Thank you for your time.

Boston Public Garden in the Fall

frozen Charles River in January

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Published: 19 February 2025

AFAM: Please tell us a few words about yourself

Sebastien: Hello I am Sebastien, I am currently enrolled in the Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering in UC Berkeley. I did the US track in Paris after spending 1 year on the campus of Châlons-en-Champagne.

AFAM: What was the most challenging for you first when you applied to American Universities and second, when you arrived in California?

Sebastien: When I applied to American universities, the most challenging part was understanding the application system, which is very different from the French system. Writing personal statements and essays that reflected both my academic and personal journey required a different approach than the one I was used to. Additionally, securing financial support was a big concern, as studying in the U.S. can be quite expensive.

When I arrived in California, the biggest challenge was adapting to a new academic environment and a different way of teaching. Classes are more interactive, and there is a greater emphasis on collaboration and personal initiative. At the same time, adjusting to life in the U.S.—from administrative processes to cultural differences—was an important learning experience.

AFAM: What are your favorite classes? And what do you like the most about your educational journey?

Sebastien: My favorite class was Data and Statistics for Engineers. It was a new experience for me, yet some of the concepts were already familiar, which made it both challenging and exciting. I particularly enjoyed learning about machine learning and data management, as they provided powerful tools to analyze and interpret complex datasets.

One of the highlights of this course was a project where we worked on predicting the real estate market in Berlin. This allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to a real-world problem, using data-driven models to make forecasts. It was fascinating to see how statistical methods and machine learning algorithms can be leveraged to gain insights into market trends.

What I like the most about my educational journey is the opportunity to work on innovative projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and challenge myself intellectually. The freedom to explore different fields, even beyond engineering, has been an enriching experience.

AFAM: you are one of the Sequoia #2 grant recipients. Please tell us why it was important for you to get some financial  support offered by AFAM?

Sebastien: Receiving the Sequoia #2 grant was crucial for me because studying in the U.S. represents a significant financial challenge. This support has allowed me to focus more on my studies and research projects without constantly worrying about financial constraints. It also gave me the opportunity to fully engage in academic and extracurricular activities, which are essential for making the most of this experience.

Beyond the financial aspect, being supported by AFAM is also a source of motivation, as it shows that there is a strong network that believes in and encourages French students pursuing studies in the U.S.

AFAM: Do you like living in California? How do you like to spend your free time?

Sebastien: Yes, I really enjoy living in California! One of the things I appreciate the most is the weather, which is much sunnier and warmer compared to France. It makes everyday life more enjoyable, whether it’s studying outside or exploring new places.

I also love the Berkeley campus, which is a great place to walk around and discover. Beyond campus, the Bay Area cities are amazing to explore—San Francisco, with its iconic landmarks and cultural diversity, and other nearby places that offer beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities.

In my free time, I like to stay active, whether it’s working out at the gym, playing football (soccer), or just going for a run. I also enjoy going out with friends, discovering new restaurants, and experiencing the local culture.

AFAM: Any piece of advice you would like to give to parcours US students who will be arriving in the US next year?

Sebastien: My advice would be to be open-minded and proactive. The U.S. academic system values participation and initiative, so don’t hesitate to engage with professors, ask questions, and seek opportunities beyond coursework.

Also, take time to build a support network—whether it’s with other French students, international students, or local friends. It helps a lot with adapting to the new environment.

Finally, don’t be afraid of challenges! The transition can be overwhelming at first, but every difficulty is an opportunity to learn and grow. Stay curious, and enjoy the experience!

AFAM: thank you for your time, Sebastien

Photos below - courtesy of Sebastien

Venice Beach

Griffith Observatory

Walk of Fame ( Hollywood)

Santa Monica