Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A fantastic experience with European culture and education Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/19/2018 to 12/18/2018 with

Franklin University Switzerland: Lugano - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be an independent thinker and person through the classroom education and the emphasis they placed on travel. It was totally worthwhile.

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.

The academic rigor here was similar to Middlebury in a lot of ways. A large emphasis on a liberal arts education and adequate resources to help.

* 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:

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

The memories I made there will stay with me for the rest of my life. The fact that it was my first semester of college adds to that.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100 CHF
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It is very easy to cross the border into Italy and go grocery shopping there for much cheaper prices than Switzerland.

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

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? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 201
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? Traveling around Switzerland allows for a lot of German to be spoken. I would recommend taking advantage of the train system to travel to the German speaking parts.

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
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The emphasis on travel
  • The setting
* What could be improved?
  • Larger student body
  • More clubs/activities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Swiss culture is as strict as reported, it is something that takes a little while to get used to.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

German 200
Course Department: German
Instructor: Laura Oreggioni
Instruction Language: German
Comments: f
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Pursuit of Happiness
Course Department: Classics
Instructor: Fabio Ferrari
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This FYS was an awesome introduction into college level writing. The readings were relevant and interesting as well as stimulating. Professor Ferrari is a talented teacher and makes it interesting to listen to his thoughts. He prompts interesting discussion and new ways of thinking. He is a fair grader and makes it known what he expects from papers and essays. There is a final presentation at the end which allows for some free-range research.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

BIO 210T Alpine Ecosystems
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: Brack Hale
Instruction Language: English
Comments: As this was a travel class, the travel component was the best part. Traveling around the Alps to put into practice what we learned in the classroom was amazing and an experience I will never forget. We were assessed with several presentations, quizzes and tests.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

LIT 238 Crafting the Journey: Studies in Travel Narratives
Course Department: Literature and Culture
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was challenging as there was a lot of reading. It was very relevant because of the emphasis that Franklin places on travel. We were assessed through several papers throughout the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

LC 150 Reading Film
Course Department: Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was a very interesting introductory class to Film and film studies. The professor was very well prepared and obviously cared a lot about the subject matter. We were assessed through several papers and a midterm.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A