Salomé Dhordain, La Châtaigneraie 2023

Salomé Dhordain

La Châtaigneraie, 2023

Bachelor in Political Science at Sciences Po Paris, with a minor in Law and Government. Starting a Master 1 in Economic Law

I think the IB was so important in building autonomy, especially learning how to schedule your own revision. It acts almost like a gateway into the university system, and once you've made it through that, you’re certain you can handle anything.

Where are you currently studying, and what course or program did you choose? Why did you choose it?

I've just finished a Bachelor in Political Science at Sciences Po Paris, with a minor in Law and Government, and this fall I'm starting a Master 1 in Economic Law. I chose this path because politics and law were things I never really got to touch at Ecolint, and I wanted to fix that. Sciences Po sold me on its renowned teachers, its interesting partnerships, and, admittedly, its dreamy location right in the center of Paris. Being fluent in English in a French-speaking country was also something I wanted to make the most of, it's a real asset here, and Sciences Po's international outlook felt like the right place to use it. I also count myself lucky to have gotten in, since I genuinely didn't think I would. Turns out you have to actually apply to find out!

What has been the highlight of your university experience so far, academically or socially?

Academically, it's been the guest speakers. Angela Merkel, François Hollande, President Zelensky, the Presidents of Denmark and Greenland (Mette Frederiksen and Jens Frederik Nielsen), the list starts to feel unreal after a while. The professors hold their own too, plenty of them sit as members of parliament at l'Assemblée Nationale when they're not grading our papers.

Socially, the student associations have been an absolute highlight. I had the pleasure of co-directing SciencesConcert, which puts musicians on stage in Paris and gets them sold-out shows. Our football team also had a great year, finishing as university vice-champions of France.

What do you hope to achieve or explore during your university studies?

Right now the Master in Economic Law has my full attention, and further down the line, I'm aiming to pass the bar in France.

What advice would you give to Ecolint students preparing to enter university?

You're more ready than you think. And it's worth going for the thing that seems slightly out of reach, I applied to Sciences Po on a “coup de tête”, no real strategy, and it ended up shaping everything after. Beyond that, get used to working independently as early as possible. University hands you a lot more freedom than the IB ever did, and the sooner you find your own rhythm, the smoother that transition goes. Also, talk to people. Ask questions. Nobody minds :) 

Are there any experiences or lessons from Ecolint that helped you adapt to or succeed at university?

I think the IB was so important in building autonomy, especially learning how to schedule your own revision. It acts almost like a gateway into the university system, and once you've made it through that, you’re certain you can handle anything.

If you had to summarize how Ecolint prepared you academically in one sentence, what would you say?

More than enough.

Were there academic areas where you felt particularly well-prepared compared to classmates at university?

Definitely, especially with long dissertations, which felt a lot like the Internal Assessments we wrote for the IB. The length doesn't rattle me the way it might have otherwise. The IB quietly trains you for exactly that kind of workload.

Can you share an example of a teacher at Ecolint who challenged you academically and why?

Mr. Colliard's classes were the most interesting by a wide margin, he kept us on our toes and pushed harder than most. He taught us to cite bibliographies from scratch with real precision, back before AI could do it for you. It's a skill I suspect I'll carry for life. Structured, demanding, and captivating!