The Perfect Program September 07, 2023
By Monica A (International Relations, Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/04/2023 to 07/17/2023 with
SIT Study Abroad: Switzerland - International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy (Summer)
I now know what I want to do with my life
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was such an incredible experience! you get to meet people from big international organizations and learn french. The course was amazing. After this program i now know what i want to do after I graduate. Also the staff and professors are wonderful |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had the best homestay family |
| * Food: |
Switzerland food is the best |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This is the one area I don't think was fully covered. Your friends are people from the program. You don't get much exposure to people from Switzerland unless you make it happen for yourself by going out and actively searching for that. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Its quite literally the safest country |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved everything about it: my homestay family, the professors, the country, the structure, the class, the language, everything! |
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) |
It is a really expensive country and the stipend they give you at the beginning of the program doesn't cover much at all. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | go to migros or coop and live off sandwiches |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | self taught and earned the DELF B2 diploma through the French Alliance |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | 0 |
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? | the stipend wouldn't cover much |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
