You need to call the French embassy or consulate. They are the only people who can give authorized answers to your questions. You will have to contact them sometime to apply for a visa.

Why aren't the people at your college helping/directing you?

I think for what you are doing, a simple visitor visa is all you need.
For visa nationals, the Schengen visa (that's what you need) is usually issued for a fixed length of time, and it's governed by the number of days you have confirmed accommodation for, details of which you must enclose, together with medical insurance cover.
You can travel to all Schengen countries (which include Greece and Italy) but you must have booked accommodation for every night you spend. It can be just a bed in a hostel dormitory. Either a faxed confirmation from the accommodation provider or through websites like Hostelworld, with reservation details printed out. You also need to enclose details of how much money you have, usually by including your latest bank statement. Get a letter from your school/college about the details of the course and its duration, and any accommodation provided.

Trouble with contacting French consulate is rarely you can speak to a real person. Even if you can (usually on premium phone line to a commercial call centre), all they tell you is to look at the cosulate and French government websites for details. They don't want to give an answer to visa questions for fear they give the wrong advice by misunderstanding you or not getting the full facts. They will just tell you to apply and they will look at it.

>>>Because of my citizenship, I need to apply a visa.<<<

If you are a US citizen, you don't need a visa for three weeks in Europe. You can travel for three months without a visa.

Thank you guys so much, my school officials suggested me to apply for a student visa but I somehow just think it's kind of weird when I am only enrolled in an US school.

I am prepared for both visa, does anyone know if I can just bring all the materials into my appointment and let the officer decide which type of visa to issue?

I will call tomorrow and see if they can give me any answer.
Thank you all again!!!

btw, I called the consulate, and Alec you are right, you cannot get anything from them by calling... the woman answering the phone was annoy and irritate.

What nationality are you? If American, you don't need any kind of special visa - you can stay in Europe for up to three months. If you're not American, call YOUR consulate, not the French one and see if they can be more helpful.

I have never heard of a "mini-term" so have no idea what it is but you say you will be studying there. It sounds like some trip abroad for a few weeks with people from your school and they will claim they are teaching you something there. I don't really think that qualifies you for a French student visa, I agree with you, if you really need one. I think to qualify for a French student visa, you need to be studying in a program or institution that is actually located there permanently, even if it is run by someone non-French (ie, the AUP). But just some folks traveling over there? I don't think so.

But some schools could have permanent offices and programs established abroad, who knows, you have given so little information for anyone to know what you might need. And you don't need a student visa if you are an American citizen, you should give people the details necessary to answer your question, your citizenship is crucial to understanding what you need.

Hi ALL,
I do need one since I am not American, I am Chinese.
Christina, I think you have the point. The program is led by one of the professor from my school and since it is an art mini-term, we are going to a lot of museums and therefore not register with any institutes, we do have a agreement with a French studio.

I have prepared every document I need for applying both visa, Is there anyone knows if it is possible to just bring everything to the consulate officer, and let him/her to decide which type of visa to issue?

The appointment is next Tuesday, so I am kind of nervous. Thank you all for helping.

Gook luck on your application! There are many Chinese travelling around Europe these days, so I'm sure you won't have a problem. Are you attending an American university? If the other students are travelling as tourists you will probably only need a tourist visa yourself.

Yep I made up my mind to apply for a tourist visa. I am attending an American University yes. All my friends don't need to apply for one because they are American Citizen, and the school didn't seems to have anyone needed such visa in the past, therefore I kind of have to work my way through by myself.
But anyway, thank you so much for your help, and I really appreciate it.