To introduce myself in a few lines: I'm a student at Arts et Métiers. I'm currently pursuing a double degree in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
How I managed to get in Georgia Tech and the impact of the Sequoia #2 grant
During my first year at Arts et Métiers, I decided to apply for this Master of Science because I wanted to discover the United States in a prestigious university, while continuing my studies in the field of mechanical engineering.
The double degree begins with a semester in Metz, on the Georgia Tech Europe campus. After this semester, I did my end-of-studies internship, then arrived in Atlanta for a final semester, to complete my Master of Science.
Study in the United States comes at a price, but I was lucky enough to get the Sequoia grant from AFAM. I'd like to thank them again for this invaluable financial support. AFAM also offers coaching for students going to the United States for internships or university exchanges.
Here are a few tips for students wishing to pursue this double degree, based on my own experience:
Tuition fees
Georgia Tech offers several opportunities to reduce tuition fees. For example, I was lucky enough to do a GTA in Metz, which involved assisting a math teacher. It required a bit of work, as I had to give classes twice a week during which I corrected exercises in front of several students. It was a very rewarding experience, and I was able to take advantage of a substantial tuition discount for this semester at Georgia Tech Europe.
If you're interested in research, you can also apply for a GRA, which allows you to work in a laboratory and earn a monthly salary. I wasn't interested in research, but I recommend that you look into it, as every year, students from Arts et Métiers benefit from it.
Subjects
Another interesting aspect of this double degree is that Georgia Tech offers you the possibility of choosing the subjects you want to take, with respect to a few conditions. One of these conditions is that you have to take a Mathematics course (either in Metz or in Atlanta). I advise you to take this course in Metz (Math 6701): the teacher is very pedagogical, speaks French if you have difficulties and the program isn't really complicated compared to what we've seen previously during our studies.
Another course I recommend taking in Metz is Acoustics 1 (ME 6760). The teacher is fascinating, the lessons are clear and the tests are not too complicated.
Finally, since it's up to you to choose your subjects, don't forget that in Atlanta you'll have more choices than in Metz. But since the double degree starts in Metz, be careful not to close any doors: if you really want to take a certain course, it will have to comply with the Master of Science requirements.
Accommodation
In Metz: classes take place either on the Arts et Métiers campus or at Georgia Tech Europe. The two institutions are not far apart, and there are many student residences in the vicinity. But don't start your application too late!
In Atlanta: the campus is very large, but it includes a number of residences for which it is possible to register and reserve a room. The process is generally well explained and managed with Georgia Tech Europe's administration, if you're interested. Alternatively, there's Homepark, a neighborhood with lots of houses, located north of campus, where many students live in shared apartments. Personally, I'd recommend getting roommates, it's much nicer. My roommate and I found our house on Airbnb. As for rent, overall it's super expensive, no matter where you live. As far as I know, prices vary between $900 and $1,200... it's a big part of the budget.
Leisure activities, trips
In terms of leisure activities, the campus offers a wide range of sports to practice: just ask around. There's a large weight room, swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts... all available to students, so make the most of it. You can also watch college football games at Georgia Tech's stadium, which is really fun.
In Atlanta, I really recommend going to Mercedes Benz Stadium at least once. It's a really huge stadium and it creates a really special atmosphere.
This double degree is also an opportunity to discover the United States. Don't hesitate to rent a car and explore Georgia's surroundings. For example, I spent a few days in Charleston with some friends during Fall Break. We were also lucky enough to visit San Francisco for a weekend thanks to AFAM. If you get the chance to go, I obviously recommend it, even if it's quite far: San Francisco is nothing like Atlanta. We also plan to go to New York and Chicago before returning to France.
Overall, I'm really pleased with this experience. I'd never been to the United States before, and I loved discovering this country. Coming from France, you're not completely disoriented, but there's still a bit of a culture shock.
Please read in our "Take My Word For It" series:
BLOG / 
CALENDAR / 
DONATIONS / 
MENTORS /