Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A truly hands-on international affairs education Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/19/2017 to 12/22/2017 with

Geneva Graduate Institute and Wellesley College - BA/MA Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was absolutely worthwhile. I gained a strong insight into how IGOs and NGOs function and was exposed to a diverse array of new and interesting perspectives.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall rigorous but much less so than Wellesley. The professors were very qualified however the large class sizes made it hard to know them well personally. The building and resources are new and well-equipped.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The IHEID admin was very kind and very helpful. I had nothing but very pleasant experiences with them!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The Picciotto student houses are modern and spacious and they provide almost everything that you need. The location is also very convenient being just a 3 minute walk to the school. That said, you do not have the ability to choose a roommate which can lead to some really negative experiences and this is a key area that needs to be addressed for the health and well-being of future residents.

* Food:

The food is great albeit expensive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Institute and GISA does a great job of planning events for students to meet each other and I felt well-integrated into the campus.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I found that health care was adequate in Geneva although expensive. The sole experience that I had with urgent care in the city was a clean nice facility although there was a significant language barrier.

* Safety:

I always felt very safe!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

The professors are incredible, the students have interesting diverse perspectives, and the location can't be beat. The Institute also planned really cool networking events with the UN, WTO, and World Economic Forum among others, and I don't know where else I could have such fantastic experiences.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Geneva is incredibly remarkably expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $312 a week including rent
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Shop for groceries at Lidl!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Right next to the UN
  • Fantastic faculty
  • International student body
* What could be improved?
  • Student housing
  • Cost of living
  • Info on what to expect
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known that roommates are assigned at random and that you're not guaranteed to be housed with other first years or BA-MA students.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.