The Swiss Dream Life Past Review
By Adam M Band (University of the Pacific) - abroad from 01/16/2019 to 07/15/2020 with
ISEP Exchange: Lausanne - Exchange Program at Université de Lausanne
First of all, I gained a better understanding of what it means to be a successful business. The idea of businesses focusing on making a positive impact on the world and profits following greatly differs than the American business perspective of just focusing on maximizing profits. I gained friends and a network of people in practically every European country. Already having friends come visit from my semester abroad really attests to the fact that these are friendships that will last a lifetime.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
One of the best ranked business schools in the world. All of the professors explained everything very well, and the school itself was very organized in terms of administrative paperwork ect. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Olivier and the SASME office were very accommodating and made the whole process of registering for my residence permit and bank account pretty painless. Anytime I needed anything Olivier was very fast in answering emails. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment building was almost brand new. I had a studio apartment and the apartment itself was amazing, but I was not in the same building as many other exchange students with all lived in the Bourdonette apartment buildings. It would have been nice to have roommates instead of living alone, and I would have much preferred to be in a building like Bourdonette with the majority of other exchange students. |
| * Food: |
Groceries in general were really expensive. The quality of groceries in general were of much higher quality in the U.S. I didn't eat out a whole lot because the price of food at restaraunts was astronomical. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The ESN committee did an amazing job of organizing events that did a great job of getting local and exchange students together. This is where I met both exchange and locals who I ended up spending the majority of my time with. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Had to go to the Dr once. Nothing special. |
| * Safety: |
Very Very safe. Would leave my phone and wallet sitting on a bench in parc de Bourget while swimming and hundreds of people would walk by without issue. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Everything fell into place. High level of academic standards, 15 ski resorts within a few hours train ride, easy access to all of Europe, friendships that will last a lifetime. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Would have been way more affordable if I wasn't traveling or planning something for every weekend. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Three week french course before the semester started. Once that was over I rarely used French since practically everyone spoke English. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I would have brought my own skis with me. Thats my only regret from the whole semester. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
