A great place to call home but not a place I would consider my best education. Past Review

By A student (Marketing., Bentley University) - abroad from 08/22/2012 to 12/14/2012 with

Vesalius College: Brussels - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

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

I learned so much about myself during my time abroad. I really had to learn to adapt to new situations and go out of my comfort zone. I was challenged to learn a new culture and try new things. I have a whole new perspective of the world and better understand the world events around me.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The academics at Vesalius are not particularly difficult. I never felt truly challenged like I do at home. It almost felt like I was attending high school.
* 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?	Vesalius offers almost NO social and cultural integration with the local culture after the first week is over. This is probably because so many students are Americans. They need to do a better job at helping study abroad students integrate.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt very safe in Brussels. Never did I feel like I was uncomfortable. Just use common sense and be aware of your surroundings.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)	I lived with a homestay so I didn't have to pay for most of my food. Most of my expenses were for snacks, going out, traveling, etc.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Less than $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Don't eat out all the time. Skip the vending machine snacks. Use a reusable water bottle and fill it with water at home (if the water is safe to drink). Be reasonable and budget for the entire semester. Always ask for a student discount or fare. Only take buses when needed-- always try to plan on night buses or trams.

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?	High School
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?	Brussels uses a lot of English so it is not always necessary to speak French or Dutch. If you want to learn a language you really have to try!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	The location Taught in English Classes
* What could be improved?	There is no campus... Cultural integration. SO MANY STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I didn't realize that Vesalius has no campus. They are associated with the VUB and show the VUB's campus on all of their promotional materials, website, maps, etc. HOWEVER, in reality, the VUB campus IS NOT Vesalius's campus and there was no campus community like I was hoping for and expecting. The pictures and materials are totally misleading.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Elementary French 1
Course Department:	Languages
Instructor:	Canaen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Sociology and Psychology of Marketing
Course Department:	BUS
Instructor:	Krautwurst
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: