Don't drink absinthe after 3 am. Past Review
By A student (Corporate Finance and Accounting, Bentley University) - abroad from 08/21/2012 to 12/14/2012 with
Vesalius College: Brussels - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I gained a more worldly view on things. I now understand how Eastern Europeans think and act which will help in my dealings in international business. Also I can appreciate the little things of home.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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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? |
The home stay was a miserable experience. Other than being on the edge of the city there were no upsides. The food cooked by the host was terrible, the living conditions were barbaric, and there was no consideration for allergies after I specifically requested a house with no cat. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $175 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save money for trips. The biggest mistake is spending most of it while in your home country. You will be there a majority of the time so there is no need to exhaust everything quickly. |
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 |
Took an introductory french class and found it useful for day to day interaction with the locals. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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? | None |
| 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? | Do not be afraid to speak and mess up. The people abroad will be happy that you are making the effort and will not be offended. |
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 knew how miserable the home stay would be. Other students that I met from Bentley while in the program agreed they would have rather lived together than stayed in the home stay. |
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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Business Writing and Social Media |
| Course Department: | Communications |
| Instructor: | David Zaruk |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This professor brings American politics into a course that it has no business being in. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
