LOVED Geneva Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/14/2019 to 04/28/2019 with

Boston University: Geneva - Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Not only did my French abilities improve ten-fold, but I feel more comfortable traveling on my own and have a better knowledge of human rights within the UN and around the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I have never felt safer in any city

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

Switzerland is a beautiful country with so much to offer (for a high price) and in the middle of a beautiful region. I learned so much on the program that I would never learn anywhere else.

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 and Switzerland as a whole are extremely expensive. Prepare and budget accordingly.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? bring lunch to your internship instead of eating out everyday, and make your own meals.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Not encouraged at all outside of the French course but you may have to use it depending on your internship and going out to some places

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Level 3 (intermediate-advanced)
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? join a language-buddy program and speak French, take French courses including the offered French course (there are three available levels)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Improving my French
  • Traveling
  • Meeting new friends/learning about human rights
* What could be improved?
  • one of the courses was not quite what it was advertised to be
  • we could be encouraged more to speak French
  • it would have been nice to have interactions with Swiss natives of our age group
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive Switzerland is as a whole and how to cook properly