Hi everyone, I’m an 18-year-old fashion student currently facing a major issue with tuition fees after deciding to withdraw from my program. Here’s my situation:
This year, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Fashion Business program at a private fashion school in Paris. The academic year officially started on September 24, 2024, with an orientation that included a presentation of the program, exams, and the school’s app, along with a team-building activity in the afternoon. Due to social anxiety and being generally introverted, I decided to skip the team-building event after meeting another classmate who told me it wasn’t necessary.
Classes began on October 1, and I initially got along with a small group of classmates. However, as an introvert, I found it hard to integrate fully, and over time I started feeling excluded. I even tried to join conversations, but they were brief, and I often felt left out. Eventually, the discomfort started affecting my mental health; I felt anxious, sometimes wanted to cry from frustration, and even started dreading school. As a result, I began missing classes and even took a few days off when I got sick. When I returned, my classmates seemed to distance themselves from me even more, possibly because of my absences.
With all of this, I came to the decision that staying at this school would likely harm my mental health. I wasn’t integrating well, and I was struggling to keep up with some classes in French. So, I decided to look into transferring to a different school that might be a better fit.
When I informed the head of studies and the admissions manager about my decision, they were confused and seemed not to understand my reasons. The admissions manager insisted that the school is affordable compared to other fashion schools and mentioned that many students come to this school after experiencing issues elsewhere. My concerns, though, weren’t with the school itself but rather with the lack of an English program and my own challenges in integrating socially.
The main issue now is the tuition. The full yearly fee is 7,500€, and I had already paid 750€ as an initial payment. The school is demanding the entire 7,000€, citing a clause in the enrollment contract that states:
Art. 2: Any schooling started is due in full.
Art. 3: Only withdrawal in the event of failure of the examination necessary for admission allows the reimbursement of tuition fees committed.
When I asked if they could reduce the amount since I had only attended about 10 days of classes, they refused, saying it wasn’t possible because I had signed this contract. My bank advisor even connected me with legal services, but they only suggested trying to negotiate.
I met again with the director, who also didn’t budge on the tuition. I felt pressured during this meeting, as the admissions manager encouraged me to pay on the spot. I tried to transfer the entire 7,000€, but it didn’t go through, so she instructed me to make smaller transfers until I was able to send 4,000€ total. She then asked me to go to the bank and complete the remaining amount as soon as possible.
After leaving, I called my sister to explain what had happened, and she was furious that I had paid so quickly without fully exploring my options. She thinks I should consult a lawyer to see if I have any grounds to negotiate the fee given my limited attendance.
I’m now feeling lost and overwhelmed. I haven’t told my family everything yet, and I’m unsure how to move forward. If anyone has any advice on whether it’s possible to negotiate a partial fee or if it’s worth seeking legal help, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you for reading, and I appreciate any guidance you can offer.