Experience of a Lifetime Past Review

By Mike S (Marketing., Kent State University) for

Kent State University Geneva

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I would definitely do the program again if given the opportunity. The experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity and well worth it. Not only was it a great learning opportunity, it also looks good on a resume.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The program exposes you to a lot of different courses that you wouldn't normally take at a normal university. The international perspective of the courses gives you a much larger understand of the world, especially Europe's politics and economics. The classes are all taught by insdustry professionals. The European economic system class is taught by Dr. Patrick Low, chief economist of the WTO.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	If you had a question you could find someone who could answer it for you. The professors have been teaching with the program for a while so they are your best resource.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The building was completly redone in 2010. Everything is brand new and it is located downtown in the heart of Geneva. The train station is less that 5 minutes away. The rooms are small and have limited storage space. The kitchen is very nice, but can get crowded and messy during the evening. Classes are located in the building, but the classroom is quite small.
* Food:	It is up to the student to plan their meals. I went to the local grocery store (Manor) just down the road and bought food to make. If you don't know how to cook then I suggest learning the basics. The food in Switzerland is amazing and you have the opportunity to try many new things, however, food in Switzerland is very expensive.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	My classes were only Monday - Wednesday. This meant I had four days a week to travel. You have a great opportunity to see everything you want in Europe. Take advantage of the long weekends and travel as much as possible.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Geneva is very safe. As long as you are careful and don't explore on your own at night you will be fine. I never once felt like I was in an unsafe situation.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
Language acquisition improvement?	You can get by in Geneva with English, it is a very international city. If you speak French, however, you will get the opportunity to use it every day and people will be more accepting of you.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I recomend this program for anyone interested in Business, Politics, Economics, or a general interest in Europe and Switzerland. It was a great opportunity to live in an internationally diverse city.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	International Business
Course Department:	ECON 42295
Instructor:	Prof. Oberholzer
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I found this class to be very interesting and useful. You get a broad perspective into the international business environment, and learn a lot about the policies and practices of international business.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Intro to International Trade
Course Department:	ECON 32075
Instructor:	Prof. Kostecki
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This class went pretty in depth into international trade policies and issues. Kostecki talks a lot about the idea and process of international trade. This was porbably the hardest class I took while abroad, but Kostecki is interesting and has a lot of insight into the subject.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	European Economic System
Course Department:	ECON 42191
Instructor:	Dr. Low
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Dr. Low is the chieft economist of the WTO. I highly recommend you take this course as you will rarely get the opportunity to have a class taught by some as prestigous in their field as Dr. Low. The course goes in depth into Europe's economic system, which was particularly interesting as Europe was going through a financial crisis at the time Iwas in Switzerland.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	European Politics
Course Department:	POL 30520
Instructor:	Dr. Peters
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Dr. Peters is very energietic and makes the course interesting. You learn a lot about the different politics, governments, and history of many countries in Europe.
Credit Transfer Issues: