Belgium: Land of Complexities Past Review
By Mary M (history, Birmingham-Southern College) for
Vesalius College: Brussels - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
From studying abroad, I learned that I have very capable of being independent and taking care of myself. I also was forced to step out of my comfort zone, and at first I was very nervous of this, but after the initial shock I found it very easy to open up to the Belgians and try to incorporate myself into their culture. My study abroad experience would not have been as rewarding as it was if I had gone with other students from BSC. As initially hestitate as I was to interact with the Belgians, being by myself forced me to do this and that is where my best experiences came from.
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 grading system was different from BSC in that an A was anything above an 84 and all other grades were on a 20 point scale from there. The work load was different in that rather than having assignments throughout the semester, I had 1 paper, a midterm, and a final for most of my classes. Because of the lightened workload, professors expected the students to study the material thoroughly throughout the semester and exams and midterms were much more comprehensive. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
administrations were not easily accesible and were often absent. The school was also changing administrative offices and buildings which made things very chaotic. |
|
* 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? |
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) |
|
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
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 |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Vesalius would benefit a student looking to get into international politics, NATO, or the EU and also students who wish to take languages in English while learning French or Dutch outside of class and at home. The homestay program is very helpful in learning other languages. Also, students looking to pursue an internship would find a great fit in Vesalius as they have an excellent internship program. Just make sure they apply for it before leaving the US. |
