My Report Last Modified: 08/02/2013 Filter By: Report Subgroup
1. Name (optional)
T ext Respo nse
Sean Stiefel Michael Finfer Shara Darr Lindsay Hsiao-Fan Hsueh Alvin Chelsea Weatherby Dustin Byer
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 8 2. E-mail Address (optional)
T ext Respo nse
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 6 3. Location
# Answer Bar Respo nse %
39 Aalto University School of Economics 0 0% 4 Australian National University 0 0% 6 Chinese University of Hong Kong 0 0% 5 Copenhagen Business School 0 0% 3 Corvinus University of Budapest 0 0% 37 Chulalongkorn University 0 0% 2 ESADE Business School 0 0% 40 ESCEM 0 0% 38 ESCP-EAP 0 0% 65 Fudan University 0 0% 13 HEC School of Management 0 0% 7 Hong Kong UNiversity of Science and Technology 0 0% 58 ICHEC Brussels 0 0% 63 IE School of Business 0 0% 15 Korea University Business School 0 0%
16 National University of Singapore 0 0% 18 National Taiwan University 0 0% 27 Peking University 0 0% 14 Rotterdam School of Management 0 0% 61 Seoul National University 0 0% 19 Singapore Management University 0 0% 1 Thammasat University 0 0% 57 Universidade de Nova de Lisbon 0 0% 64 Universiidad de Carlos Madrid III 0 0% 11 Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi 0 0% 62 University of Hong Kong 0 0% 9 University of Manchester, Manchester Business School 0 0% 10 University of Melbourne 0 0% 12 University of Navarra 0 0% 17 University of St. Gallen 11 100% 59 Vienna University of Economics and Business 0 0% 8 WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management 0 0%
Total 11
St at ist ic Value
Min Value 17 Max Value 17 Mean 17.00 Variance 0.00 Standard Deviation 0.00 Total Responses 11 4. What is your academic status this semester?
# Answer Bar Respo nse %
1 Sophomore 0 0% 2 Junior 5 45% 3 Senior 6 55%
Total 11
St at ist ic Value
Min Value 2 Max Value 3 Mean 2.55 Variance 0.27 Standard Deviation 0.52 Total Responses 11 5. What is your expected date of graduation from USC (Semester and year, eg Fall 2009)?
T ext Respo nse
spring 2010 Spring 2010 Spring 2010 SPring 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2009 Spring 2010 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2011 May 2013
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 6. What is your major?
T ext Respo nse
business admin Business Cinematic Arts Business Administration BUAD Business Administration Business Administration Business Administration BUAD Business Administration Business and accounting Business Administration
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 7. What is your concentration (Business majors only)?
T ext Respo nse
corporate finance Global Business None International Business International Business International Business Financial Analysis and Valuation Individualized FInance Finance
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 10 8. Please indicate the term in which you were abroad (semester and year, eg Fall 2009).
T ext Respo nse
spring 2009 Spring 2009 Spring 2009 Fall 2009 Fall 2009 Fall 2009 Spring 2009 Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Spring 2011 Fall 2011
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 9. I. GENERAL PROGRAM EVALUATION Please rate the following items:
Very So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean dissat isf ied dissat isf ied sat isf ied sat isf ied Respo nses
1. Your overall satisfaction with the 1 0 1 0 6 4 11 4.18 program.
St at ist ic 1. Yo ur o verall sat isf act io n wit h t he pro gram.
Min Value 2 Max Value 5 Mean 4.18 Variance 0.76 Standard Deviation 0.87 Total Responses 11 10.
No t at all So mewhat Mo st ly Very much T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean so so so so Respo nses
1 2. To what extent did the program meet your expectations? 1 0 1 6 3 11 3.91 3. To what extent was your participation in the program a valuable 2 0 1 0 5 5 11 4.27 learning experience?
2. T o what ext ent did t he pro gram meet yo ur 3. T o what ext ent was yo ur part icipat io n in t he pro gram a valuable learning St at ist ic expect at io ns? experience?
Min Value 1 2 Max Value 5 5 Mean 3.91 4.27 Variance 1.29 0.82 Standard 1.14 0.90 Deviation Total 11 11 Responses 11.
Wo uld no t Wo uld May reco mmend Wo uld surely T o t al # Quest io n reco mmend at Neut ral reco mmend Mean wit h reservat io ns reco mmend Respo nses all mo st st ro ngly
4. To what extent would you recommend 1 1 1 0 3 6 11 4.09 this program to other USC students?
St at ist ic 4. T o what ext ent wo uld yo u reco mmend t his pro gram t o o t her USC st udent s?
Min Value 1 Max Value 5 Mean 4.09 Variance 1.89 Standard Deviation 1.38 Total Responses 11 12. II. ACADEMIC PROGRAM
No t at So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean all so so so much so Respo nses
1 5. To what extent were your courses intellectually challenging? 0 1 0 6 4 11 4.18 6. How comparable was the quality of instruction and academic demand of 2 0 3 0 1 7 11 4.09 classes to that of USC?
5. T o what ext ent were yo ur co urses int ellect ually 6. Ho w co mparable was t he qualit y o f inst ruct io n and academic demand o f St at ist ic challenging? classes t o t hat o f USC?
Min Value 2 2 Max Value 5 5 Mean 4.18 4.09 Variance 0.76 1.89 Standard 0.87 1.38 Deviation Total 11 11 Responses 13.
St ro ngly St ro ngly T o t al # Quest io n Disagree Neut ral Agree Mean disagree Agree Respo nses
7. The grading system used in the courses was 1 2 3 2 4 0 11 2.73 explained. 2 8. I was able to register for all the classes that I wanted. 3 5 0 2 1 11 2.36
St at ist ic 7. T he grading syst em used in t he co urses was explained. 8. I was able t o regist er f o r all t he classes t hat I want ed.
Min Value 1 1 Max Value 4 5 Mean 2.73 2.36 Variance 1.42 1.85 Standard Deviation 1.19 1.36 Total Responses 11 11 14.
No t at all So mewhat Mo st ly Very much T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean so so so so Respo nses
1 9. To what extent were you prepared for the coursework? 0 4 1 6 0 11 3.18 10. To what extent do you feel you were immersed in the culture of the 2 2 1 2 3 3 11 3.36 host country? 11. To what extent did you gain a better appreciation of the host 3 0 1 2 4 4 11 4.00 culture's perspectives?
9. T o what ext ent were yo u 10. T o what ext ent do yo u f eel yo u were 11. T o what ext ent did yo u gain a bet t er St at ist ic prepared f o r t he co ursewo rk? immersed in t he cult ure o f t he ho st co unt ry? appreciat io n o f t he ho st cult ure's perspect ives?
Min Value 2 1 2 Max Value 4 5 5 Mean 3.18 3.36 4.00 Variance 0.96 2.25 1.00 Standard 0.98 1.50 1.00 Deviation Total 11 11 11 Responses 15.
Very So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean dissat isf ied dissat isf ied sat isf ied Sat isf ied Respo nses
12. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the content of 1 0 0 3 8 0 11 3.73 the courses you took. 13. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the quality of 2 0 0 2 7 2 11 4.00 instruction.
12. Please rat e yo ur o verall sat isf act io n wit h t he co nt ent o f t he 13. Please rat e yo ur o verall sat isf act io n wit h t he qualit y o f St at ist ic co urses yo u t o o k. inst ruct io n.
Min Value 3 3 Max Value 4 5 Mean 3.73 4.00 Variance 0.22 0.40 Standard 0.47 0.63 Deviation Total 11 11 Responses 16.
Very So mewhat Higher t han Very T o t al # Quest io n Average Mean lo w lo w average high Respo nses
14. Please rate the overall level of faculty interest in 1 0 0 6 4 1 11 3.55 students.
St at ist ic 14. Please rat e t he o verall level o f f acult y int erest in st udent s.
Min Value 3 Max Value 5 Mean 3.55 Variance 0.47 Standard Deviation 0.69 Total Responses 11 17.
Very So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean dissat isf ied dissat isf ied sat isf ied sat isf ied Respo nses
15. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the 1 0 1 2 7 1 11 3.73 academic program.
St at ist ic 15. Please rat e yo ur o verall sat isf act io n wit h t he academic pro gram.
Min Value 2 Max Value 5 Mean 3.73 Variance 0.62 Standard Deviation 0.79 Total Responses 11 18. III. LANGUAGE PREPARATIONIf you did not take a foreign language class this semester, please choose "Not applicable" for each question.
No t Needs T o t al # Quest io n Po o r Fair Go o d Excellent Mean applicable impro vement Respo nses
16. How were your language skills before the 1 6 3 1 1 0 0 11 1.73 program? 2 17. How were your language skills after the program? 6 2 2 0 1 0 11 1.91 18. Your living situation aided your language 3 6 4 1 0 0 0 11 1.55 acquisition.
16. Ho w were yo ur language skills bef o re 17. Ho w were yo ur language skills af t er 18. Yo ur living sit uat io n aided yo ur language St at ist ic t he pro gram? t he pro gram? acquisit io n.
Min Value 1 1 1 Max Value 4 5 3 Mean 1.73 1.91 1.55 Variance 1.02 1.69 0.47 Standard 1.01 1.30 0.69 Deviation Total 11 11 11 Responses 19.
Very So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean dissat isf ied dissat isf ied sat isf ied sat isf ied Respo nses
19. If you studied a foreign language on the program, please rate your 1 overall level of satisfaction with the language education component of 3 1 4 2 1 11 2.73 the program.
19. If yo u st udied a f o reign language o n t he pro gram, please rat e yo ur o verall level o f sat isf act io n wit h t he language educat io n St at ist ic co mpo nent o f t he pro gram.
Min Value 1 Max Value 5 Mean 2.73 Variance 1.82 Standard 1.35 Deviation Total 11 Responses 20. IV. SUPPORT SERVICESPlease rate your level of satisfaction with the following categories:
Very So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean dissat isf ied dissat isf ied sat isf ied sat isf ied Respo nses
1 20. On-site academic advising 2 0 7 2 0 11 2.82 2 21. On-site orientation 1 0 2 5 3 11 3.82 22. On-site academic facilities (e.g. classrooms, libraries, 3 1 0 1 6 3 11 3.91 computer labs), excluding housing. 4 23. Communication with the USC Marshall office in Los Angeles 0 0 1 8 2 11 4.09 5 24. Overall impression of on-site support services 1 0 2 7 1 11 3.64
20. On-sit e 22. On-sit e academic f acilit ies (e.g. 23. Co mmunicat io n wit h t he 24. Overall impressio n 21. On-sit e St at ist ic academic classro o ms, libraries, co mput er labs), USC Marshall o f f ice in Lo s o f o n-sit e suppo rt o rient at io n advising excluding ho using. Angeles services
Min Value 1 1 1 3 1 Max Value 4 5 5 5 5 Mean 2.82 3.82 3.91 4.09 3.64 Variance 0.96 1.36 1.29 0.29 1.05 Standard 0.98 1.17 1.14 0.54 1.03 Deviation
Total 11 11 11 11 11 Responses 21. V. HOUSINGPlease rate your level of satisfaction with the following categories:
Very So mewhat Mo st ly Very T o t al # Quest io n Neut ral Mean dissat isf ied dissat isf ied sat isf ied sat isf ied Respo nses
1 25. Housing coordination 0 4 0 4 3 11 3.55 2 26. Location of student housing 1 2 1 4 3 11 3.55 27. Quality of housing 3 0 3 2 3 3 11 3.55 arrangements
St at ist ic 25. Ho using co o rdinat io n 26. Lo cat io n o f st udent ho using 27. Qualit y o f ho using arrangement s
Min Value 2 1 2 Max Value 5 5 5 Mean 3.55 3.55 3.55 Variance 1.67 1.87 1.47 Standard Deviation 1.29 1.37 1.21 Total Responses 11 11 11 22. VI. OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS 31. Why did you choose this program?
T ext Respo nse
I wanted a german speaking country that would be easy to travel from. I needed to be bac home before June 1 as well. I had really wanted to visit Switzerland; it was somewhere I'd never been, and I am an avid skier. I was also attracted by the location, right in the center of Europe with lots of cool places a relatively short distance away. I had studied German for four semesters at USC previously to applying for the program and I saw coming to St. Gallen as a perfect way to be immersed in Swiss culture and language. Wanted to study in Europe I don't have a good answer for this and I don't really remember except thinking that it would be such a drastic cultural and environmental change from L.A.. Also, the business school is reputable and known for its Finance Department. So even though I wasn't eligible to take any Finance courses, I would at least be in the position to take advantage of its resources and be surrounded by like-minded students outside of the classroom. University of St. Gallen has one of the best business schools in the world. Finance oriented program. I wanted to improve my German. It was someplace I had never been and a great location to travel from. I wanted to explore more of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and I didn't want a huge city. Great school as well. I chose Marshall IEP because I felt studying abroad in a foreign country would broaden my horizon and give me an opportunity to learn the culture and customs of another country. I knew that I wanted to study in another country. I had spent a summer in Beijing and felt that I wanted to compliment my Asian experience with a European one. So after limiting my choices to Europe, I decided to screen for my academic interests. St. Gallen was my first choice due to the strength of its finance program. I also appreciated the centrality of Switzerland as a hub for travelling on weekends. I did not end up travelling much on weekends due to the 2 week Fall break, which was a huge surprise. It was a nice way to break up the semester with some European backpacking adventures. This aspect should be marketed better.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 23. 32. Please compare these aspects of your program with study at USC.
# Quest io n Equivalent USC/Abro ad Bet t er USC/in L.A. Bet t er T o t al Respo nses Mean
1 1) Quality of instruction 5 3 3 11 1.82 2 2) Content of courses 3 4 4 11 2.09 3 3) Intellectual challenge of courses 3 7 1 11 1.82 4 4) Faculty interest in/support of students 1 1 9 11 2.73 5 5) Individual assistance provided 1 1 9 11 2.73
1) Qualit y o f 2) Co nt ent o f 3) Int ellect ual challenge o f 4) Facult y int erest in/suppo rt o f 5) Individual assist ance St at ist ic inst ruct io n co urses co urses st udent s pro vided
Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 Max Value 3 3 3 3 3 Mean 1.82 2.09 1.82 2.73 2.73 Variance 0.76 0.69 0.36 0.42 0.42 Standard 0.87 0.83 0.60 0.65 0.65 Deviation Total 11 11 11 11 11 Responses 24. 33. How much study time per week do you recommend in order to keep up with classes?
T ext Respo nse
4 hours Hard to describe on a weekly basis, as most of the finals are 100% of the grade, and the schedule isn't constant throughout the semester. 10 hours 5 - 7 hours 25 10 see 34 3 Depends on how many units you take, I'd say 5 hours a week with catch-up studying before finals. 40 plus ( including class time) A lot. Many exchange students here get in trouble because there is no assessment or feedback. 15-20 hours.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 25. 34. How, if at all, does the structure of the courses differ from those at USC? Did you like or dislike these differences?
T ext Respo nse
Classes meet around 6 times. Some classes for 8 hours at a time and 100% of the grade is the final. Some classes were block seminars, meeting only 4 times for the whole day; my schedule was often different week to week. It's nice getting some classes out of the way, but you can't visit these classes before signing up for them. The structure differs a lot. Classes are normally once a week with a final exam at the end of the semester that is 100% of the grade. Additionally, many seminar classes are offered in English as well. Much more dependent on exams. Much less homework. Attendance usually doesn't count. There's no homework or assignments to keep you on pace with the level of information the professor expects you to know. It's liberating but also dangerous if you don't stay focused. There also are't any TA or discussion sections for several of the courses. I think that I'm neutral. Both structures have strenghts and weaknesses. I feel like the amount of independence and responsibility HSG students are expected to have is good. It would definitely benefit USC students in the long run if they were held to similar standards. the course structure is quite different from the one at USC. First of all, many courses only meet 6-10 times per semester, and each class takes 2-4 hours in average. Secondly, the professors at St. Gallen usually don't care about students' attendance. Moreover, they only give final exams in the end of semester, and some of them determined 100% of the grade of the course. I personally like USC's structure better because I don't get too stressful in the end of the semester. Work load not spread out. Some weeks might pull 3-4 all nighters, while other weeks no work at all. Probably good for study abroad since it leaves room to travel. But be prepared to work hard when the work load piles up. There is no homewor or midterms. This gives you a lot of freedom during the semester but can be overwhelming at the end when final exams approach. Only one presentation and a final count towards your grade. Stay on top of yourself and you are fine, although I do prefer the structure at SC a little better. The structure of the class made it easy for students to slack off in the beginning. I prefer the USC model more. There is a large difference between the Bachelors and the Masters classes in terms of rigor. The added caveat is that the Masters classes provide much more interesting topics and the opportunity to learn much more.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 26. 35. Are there courses or professors that you would particular recommend? Please explain:
T ext Respo nse
Corruble Corporate Restructuring was an interesting class; Corporate Finance and Governance was a seminar taught by Professor Yermack, who is one of the most engaging and interesting business professors I've had. Doing Business in China II or Doing Business in Latin America because we had foreign guest professors teach at the university of two or three full days and as a student I learned a lot more about how processes work in these countries. N/A YES. International Business Regulation and Firm Strategy by Professor Simon J. Evenett. I found it extremely interesting and Professor Evenett was very knowledgeable, passionate, and effective in his teachings. It was an 8 a.m. but it was definitely interesting enough that you wanted to go to hear his opinion. He also had tutorials where you got to meet with him 3 on 1 (twice during the semester) and tell him your thoughts about the class. Or the world. Essentially anything. As far as class selection, I would definitely go to the course website and read up on the classes you want to take and are actually interested in. Take advantage of the first week and a half (or so) of class auditing, where you can go to as many classes as you want to try them out and see which ones are most appealing. Finally, read up on the professors. Most of them are either chairs of departments or visiting professors. I really like the course: International Business Regulations and Strategy. It's a master degree course. The professor is very knowledgeable and professional. The course is challenging as well. Corporate Restructuring. Almost a MUST TAKE for any guest student at HSG and they know it. Therefore it is extremely difficult to get into. Course level is manageable while the content is interesting. There is a different guest speaker every week and they have a company workshop during the semester. Professor doesn't really like guest students though... Management in the Digital Economy Corporate Restructuring is a must for exchange students. N/A Behavioral Finance - di Giorgio Theory of Insurance - Wagner (He also teaches Asset and Liability Management in the Spring) Capital Markets Law
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 27. 36. Are there courses or professors that you would advise against taking? Please explain:
T ext Respo nse
no Market Microstructure seemed straightforward from the description, but is a masters-level course and is very high-level. I certainly was not prepared for the content of the course and felt like I was vastly unprepared for the material. I would only take it if you have a very strong base of financial and economic knowledge. Knowing only BUAD 306, etc. left me feeling lost almost the entire time. My course "Ethics of Financial Services" with professor Ulrich Thielemann he is simply very difficult to understand and highly opinionated. He also doesn't give any real instruction for his class and almost half of the class instead of lectures was "self-study" time. N/A Knowledge Management. It was poorly structured and the material was hard to grasp (or at least, the professor wasn't very effective at presenting the material to the class in a way that was engaging). The profess (Dr. Andrea Back) is very passionate about the subject and I feel that a lot of the problems with her teaching style stemmed from the fact that she strugled with English. But it also hindered my ability to really apply what I learned in the class to business or any aspect of life. None History of Banking. Take "History of Finance, Banking, and Money" if you must; the latter does not give USC credit. This professor literally sits behind his desk, opens up his laptop, and mutters to himself for 4-6 hours at a time. Take this class only if you plan on studying everything out of the book. Financial Institutions. The professor could not teach and the exam was exceedingly difficult. Any philosophy classes (do not take Experimenting with Organization), not their strong point. Also be careful with the Masters classes you sign up for. They are doable, but a lot of work if you take on too many. None Financial Markets Do not take any courses that are mandatory requirements for full time students. The tests are just brutal. These are the courses in which students are weeded out of the university. Some of these courses fail up t o 40% of those enrolled and do not take into account exchange student status. I would also advise against taking courses that are schedule during the same time. There is no prohibition against this in St. Gallen and it makes for a difficult academic semester. The bidding system that they use for assigning courses has a pretty large learning curve. The end result is that you may be stuck with overlapping courses. I did not do this, but it is pretty easy to get in off of the wait list at the end of bidding. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions during bidding. I will be happy to answer any and all.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 28. 37. Has participation in this program influenced your academic or career goals? How?
T ext Respo nse
Yes, classes have been great. Not particularly, as my career goals lie in the entertainment industry and I was not studying anything related to this. In certain ways yes because I would like to, upon graduation, pursue a career in a foreign country in particularly in a German speaking country. N/A Yes! It showed me how many more options I have as far as subjects to study in Grad School and in my remaining semesters in Under Grad. Specifically international law or maybe contract law (since my intention is to go to law school once I graduate). If anything, it's defintely forced me to view business in a much more global perspective. This can be a general as international law or as specific as the differences between Europe's VATs or the U.S. Sales Tax. No Reinforced my intent on studying finance. The program also gave me some exposure to master level finance courses. No. Not really, although I took a law themed class which reaffirmed my desire to go into law. None Definitely. I think that I am much more likely to pursue a graduate degree in Europe than I once would have been. The single motivating factor in this revelation is cost. I had no idea how much cheaper tuition costs could be.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 29. Please tell us about your experience with the foreign language of your host country: 38. Besides English, what is (are) the language(s) most prominently spoken on the campus of the university where you studied?
T ext Respo nse
German German, a little French German German, French German, Swiss German Swiss German Swiss German, German, French German and Swiss German Swiss German, High German, a little French German German, French, but mostly German
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 30. 39. Did you speak the host language, or receive any language training in the host language prior to, or during your semester abroad? If yes, please explain:
T ext Respo nse
Yes, I took 4 years of german None Yes, I studied German for four semesters at USC and HSG provided a week of language courses at the beginning before the semester started for the exchange students. No I don't speak German but had an intensive german course at the beginning of the semester for 2 weeks. I did't speak any German, but I took a the language intensive course which taught me the basic greetings and numbers. No Nope I had 1.5 years of trainin A one week intro to German, although everyone spoke English. None No. Everyone speaks English. I had no problems.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 31. Then rate:
# Quest io n Excellent Go o d Fair Po o r T o t al Respo nses Mean
1 1) Your language skills before the program: 0 1 2 8 11 3.64 2 2) Language training on the program: 0 2 2 7 11 3.45 3 3) Your proficiency after the program: 0 3 1 7 11 3.36
St at ist ic 1) Yo ur language skills bef o re t he pro gram: 2) Language t raining o n t he pro gram: 3) Yo ur pro f iciency af t er t he pro gram:
Min Value 2 2 2 Max Value 4 4 4 Mean 3.64 3.45 3.36 Variance 0.45 0.67 0.85 Standard Deviation 0.67 0.82 0.92 Total Responses 11 11 11 32. 40. Did cultural/social activities sponsored by the program assist you in language acquisition?
T ext Respo nse
No No, everyone spoke english. No no they were all with exchange students, so in english Yes. Not so much language acquisition but acquisition of Swiss culture. no Yes. The local student host program called the BuddySystem put on events that were EXTREMELY helpful. No. No, everyone spoke English. N/a Yes. However, I did not take advantage of these opportunities.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 33. 41. Did outside/other activities help? Please explain.
T ext Respo nse
Yes, this is a small town where few speak english Almost everyone spoke and understood english. Listening to people throughout my everyday life and reading occasionally has helped. no Living and everyday tasks like getting groceries. You pick up on the language if you make an effort and leave your flat. no Speak the language whenever you get a chance! No. Not really. N/a There were plenty of intramural sports opportunities and strangers were very willing to talk to me about just about anything.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 34. 42. What percentage of students on the campus of your host country (would you estimate) actively speak English?
T ext Respo nse
50% 100% 100% in my classes, which are conducted in english, about 50% would actively speak english 100% speak English (or just about). But I feel that most prefer to speak in German when they're around other German speakers (which makes sense considering English would generally be their 2nd or 3rd language). approximately 70%-80%, or even higher Willing? 95%. Able? 99%. 100% 90% 100% 100%
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 35. 43. How would you recommend that students prepare for language differences abroad?
T ext Respo nse
Take german Learn basic phrases, although Swiss German is quite different from normal German. Yes, I would recommend it. Marshall should maybe also require a language prerequisite for the business administration major as well because it allows us students to be more capable of interacting with foreign students and companies in the future. At the University of St. Gallen the students are required to take two foreign languages. learn some basic phrases, numbers before going abroad Go in with an open mind and DON'T ASSUME everyone speaks english! Take some basic language courses before departure. Buy a German-English dictionary. Learn the names of typical supermarket foods in German. And take the 2 week introductory intensive German class upon arrival. Know how to ask useful questions like for example at a supermarket, bank, etc. For the most part, people can speak English. It depends on the country. For Switzerland learn the basics and you are fine. If you have an interest in German remember that all of the locals speak Swiss German to each other. It's unnecessary to learn German before or during the program as everyone were very proficient in English. Learn how to look hungry, thankful, and confused. You'll be fine.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 36. Click to write Column 2
# Quest io n No t Available Available But No t Used Available And Used T o t al Respo nses Mean
1 Housing coordination 0 1 10 11 2.91 2 On-site personal advising and informal support 0 6 5 11 2.45 3 Orientation in Los Angeles 7 0 4 11 1.73 4 Instructional facilities 0 1 10 11 2.91 5 Medical/dental facilities 1 10 0 11 1.91 6 Recreational facilities 1 4 6 11 2.45 7 USC Financial Aid 5 4 2 11 1.73 8 Communication with office in Los Angeles 1 1 9 11 2.73
On-sit e perso nal Orient at io n USC Co mmunicat io n Ho using Inst ruct io nal Medical/dent al Recreat io nal St at ist ic advising and inf o rmal in Lo s Financial wit h o f f ice in co o rdinat io n f acilit ies f acilit ies f acilit ies suppo rt Angeles Aid Lo s Angeles
Min Value 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 Max Value 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 Mean 2.91 2.45 1.73 2.91 1.91 2.45 1.73 2.73 Variance 0.09 0.27 1.02 0.09 0.09 0.47 0.62 0.42 Standard 0.30 0.52 1.01 0.30 0.30 0.69 0.79 0.65 Deviation Total 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Responses 37. Click to write Column 2
Belo w Abo ve # Quest io n Unaccept able Average Accept able T o t al Respo nses Mean Average Average
1 Housing coordination 0 3 1 5 2 11 3.55 On-site personal advising and informal 2 0 1 7 1 2 11 3.36 support 3 Orientation in Los Angeles 2 1 3 3 2 11 3.18 4 Instructional facilities 0 1 3 6 1 11 3.64 5 Medical/dental facilities 0 0 8 0 3 11 3.55 6 Recreational facilities 1 1 3 3 3 11 3.55 7 USC Financial Aid 0 0 5 2 4 11 3.91 8 Communication with office in Los Angeles 0 1 1 4 5 11 4.18
On-sit e perso nal Orient at io n USC Co mmunicat io n Ho using Inst ruct io nal Medical/dent al Recreat io nal St at ist ic advising and inf o rmal in Lo s Financial wit h o f f ice in co o rdinat io n f acilit ies f acilit ies f acilit ies suppo rt Angeles Aid Lo s Angeles
Min Value 2 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 Max Value 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Mean 3.55 3.36 3.18 3.64 3.55 3.55 3.91 4.18 Variance 1.27 0.85 1.96 0.65 0.87 1.67 0.89 0.96 Standard 1.13 0.92 1.40 0.81 0.93 1.29 0.94 0.98 Deviation Total 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Responses 38. 44. Did you live in...
# Answer Bar Respo nse %
1 Dorm 0 0% 2 Apartment 11 100% 3 Other 0 0%
Total 11
St at ist ic Value
Min Value 2 Max Value 2 Mean 2.00 Variance 0.00 Standard Deviation 0.00 Total Responses 11 39. 45. If you used STA Travel for transportation arrangements, were you satisfied? Please explain.
T ext Respo nse
n/a N/A I didn't use it N/A N/A n/a What's STA? No. Did not use N/a No
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 40. 46. Is there any aspect of the program that you would like to see changed or different? (VERY IMPORTANT!)
T ext Respo nse
St. Gallen moves its campus to a city that isnt freezing cold or super expensive. Most of the classes for which we could get business credit were Master's Level, and a couple of the Master's Level classes were over my head in terms of being qualified to understand the material. I think that the English courses we receive business credits for should be more extensive and a bit more favorable for exchange students. USC was very strict on what courses would receive business credits and that made it very difficult for me to get all 15 USC units from bachelors courses. I had to take three masters courses which has been quite challenging because almost all of them are finance courses and are a study that I have no interest in. Also, I don't feel as though I was fully prepared to take finance courses. N/A Not that I can think of. everything is good beside the housing. I believe I get the most expensive student apartment in the whole St. Gallen (no joking). Everyone (including exchange students and local students) was shocked about how much I paid for my room, but sadly, my room (or say my apartment) is not the the best/biggest at all. My flatmates and I all feel that the housing office of St. Gallen raises the price too much. We feel that they take advantage from us only because we are outside of the country and have no idea about the student housing market there. There should be an "Are You Sure?" button upon applying for HSG. Too many kids don't know what they're getting into in St. Gallen and have a terrible time due to the weather, isolation, or rather difficult courses. Those that had a bad time should have let someone that would have had a good time come in their place. ALSO, the HSG program needs more courses that count for USC credit. I would definitely recommend another look into the courses offered at HSG. Many of the courses are perfectly valid business/finance classes and should probably count for USC credit. The bidding system to pick courses was extremely annoying and I could not get into all the classes I wanted and in the end, I was short of credits because I was waitlisted for several courses I needed.
I would like a better understanding of how class selection is done. It is this crazy point allocation system that is difficult to navigate if you are unfamiliar with it. I think it would be better for students who wish to learn more of the country's culture to live with host families. It was difficult for me to find my own housing since I was not satisfied with the housing the university provided. I think that the fees related to going to school in Switzerland should be more clearly stated. There are many hidden taxes associated with residing in the country that are not related to immigration or housing exactly. I spent close to $1500 on things that I was not expecting to spend. Also, certain things are just simply more expensive for foreigners from all countries in Switzerland. Not all of this comes from the some of the traces of xenophobia in the area, but it definitely plays a role. I was paying nearly twice as much for housing in the same building in the same style apartment as some of my Swiss counterparts. I was paying an even larger multiple compared to those who did not find housing through the university, and rather found it on their own. People who found housing on their own oftentimes lived closer to the school, the center of town, and the train station. I had a great time in my apartment because it was about 90% filled with exchange students, but do not be surprised when you learn how much you are gouged by the university housing office. Another thing that I would like to see changed is a better explanation of bidding strategies for enrolling in courses. I spent a considerable amount of time my first week there figuring out the system. To a large degree I felt that this was time wasted because there is a large element of randomness in the system that cannot be avoided. All in all the positives definitely out way the negatives and St. Gallen is a wonderful place to spend a semester.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 41. 47. Additional comments on services and coordination.
T ext Respo nse
There was a learning curve being the first semester N/A N/A N/A n/a The advising office can be hard to deal with. The housing lady can be brutal with housing inspections (so stay REALLY clean). Also housing related, I wish they wouldn't make new arrivals haul all their luggage up the mountain to get their apartment keys and then have to haul it all the way down to their apartment. It would be so much easier to set up a small table at the train station to hand out people's keys. The housing office lady was unfriendly and unaccomodating, especially when my roommate and I were in a situation in which our entire bathroom needed to be remodeled. It was pretty easy to get set up and find orientations and classrooms, although be prepared that Switzerland likes to record things so you will have to run around town in the beginning registering with the city and school. N/a Take advantage of the Buddy System that St. Gallen holds for exchange and international students. The St. Gallen students who run this organization will be your number one source for problem solving and figuring out the best way to have a good time in Switzerland.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 10 42. Please tell us about your travel experiences. 48. How did you find your arrangements to the host institution?
# Answer Bar Respo nse %
1 Travel Agent 2 18% 2 Online 9 82% 3 Other: 0 0%
Total 11
Ot her:
St at ist ic Value
Min Value 1 Max Value 2 Mean 1.82 Variance 0.16 Standard Deviation 0.40 Total Responses 11 43. Would you recommend this method?
T ext Respo nse
Yes Yes yes yes Yes. yes Yes. Book flights/trains in advance. But hostels tend to be relatively flexible unless it's a special occasion (like Ireland for St. Pattys) Yes. It was easy, but others found transportation online successfully. Yes Yes.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 44. 49. What was the average cost for round-trip tickets to your host country?
T ext Respo nse
$600 $800 $900-$1000 around 1200 USD N/A don't remember More expensive than you'd expect. 800 $1000 when I bought them, but that varies. 900 usd I booked early on Swiss Air. I got a direct flight from LA to Zurich for about $800. The train was about $30 round trip. This was definitely on the cheap end. One way to get to Switzerland a bit more cheaply is to use a different European gateway city. A lot of my friends had luck getting round trip flights through Lisbon and then using a regional airline to get to Zurich.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 45. 50. How often did you travel and to where?
T ext Respo nse
Every weekend to 10 countrie Almost every weekend until I returned from spring break, and for a little bit after the program. London, Milan, Paris, Skiing in the Swiss and Austrian Alps, Munich, Prague, Vienna, Brussels, Luxembourg, the Canary Islands. Also many cities within Switzerland. I traveled once every three weeks on average. I traveled mostly to the Netherlands to visit my boyfriend, but besides that I went to Germany, Italy, and Ireland. Almost every weekend at the beginning of the semester, mainly around Switzerland. Also to neighbouring countries. 1st month: Munich, Germany. 2nd month: Paris, France; Edinburgh, Scotland; London, England, 3rd month: around Switzerland very often. I've traveled a blt within Switzerland, and also, I've been to Germany, Hungary, Italy, Austria and Czech Republic. I traveled rarely most of the semester, but I did a 3 week trek in April to Eastern Europe. (Germany, Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary) I traveled to Vienna, Budapest, and Prague. Compared to other exchange students this was not that many cities. Nearly every weekend until we had to study for finals. Half the time within Switzerland (Lausanne, Luzern, Zurich, Constance, Interlaken) the other half outside of the country. We went to Germany, Austria, Italy, Amsterdam, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic and probably a few others I forgot. At least once a month for 8-10 days total. I visited neighboring cities and countries. I traveled within Switzerland 25 to 30% of the weekends. I took a 19 day backpacking trip in the middle of the semester during the Fall seminar break. I used a Eurail pass and EasyJet. I traveled to Salzburg, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Berlin, Potsdam, Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam during the break. Within Switzerland I traveled to Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Zermatt. I would often take afternoon trips to Konstanz, Germany. I went to Munich for a weekend for Oktoberfest.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 46. 51. Did the structure of the host institution's course schedule foster travel opportunity or prevent it? Why?
T ext Respo nse
Yes there was a 4 week spring break and most weeks only classes 2 days Definitely foster; the finals are mostly 100% of the grade, which allows for flexibility at the beginning of the semester. The spring break is 2 weeks, and there aren't many classes on Fridays. It did foster travel opportunities. In particularly for me I had three seminar courses over our two week spring break and was unable to have a spring break and travel because I was taking the courses. Most students traveled more than I have. I scheduled my classes from Mon - Wed to have long weekends to travel. Foster it. Classes meet once a week or sporadically throughout the semester, leaving lots of down time to travel. Also there's a 2 week break in October to travel (or take a seminar class). Yes. As what I have said before, in St. gallen they don't meet as much as we do at USC. Therefore, it's easier for us to have a long weekend schedule. Work was concentrated in a few weeks which made it easier to travel. Also there was a long "spring break" in April. It fostered travel opportunity because there were no responsibilities during the semester. Foster if you schedule your classes accordingly. Leave yourself long weekends and don't schedule class during spring break and you're good! Yes. It is possible to not have any classes on Friday and Monday allowing for a longer weekend. Furthermore, I strongly encourage students to take classes during block so they'll have more time for travel. The course schedule fostered travel. The two week seminar break was a pleasant surprise.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 47. 52. Do you have any tips or information about traveling while abroad that you would like to share with upcoming exchange students preparing for their trip?
T ext Respo nse
If you are expecting a vibrant city don't go to St. Gallen. It is a village that is freezing cold and more expensive than any place I have ever been. The student body is 80% male and there is no social life in this town. Travel as much as possible at the beginning of the semester before it gets busy with schoolwork. Search online for low cost carriers because they can save you a lot of money. Traveling by plane can be cheaper than by train as well. December will be too cold so travel more in earlier months. Also work will pile up so again travel earlier. And definitely get Gleis-7 and Halb-tax from the SBB trains. Yes, expect to spend lot of money. Especially if you're travelling. Plan to do your own cooking or learn how to cook because you will be broke if you attempt to eat all of your meals out. Backpacking, being as easy as possible DAY TRIPS! Visit places within your own host country. If you make it to Switzerland, look up the Verzasca Dam, and go bungee jumping! Pack lightly. Really enjoy the places you are, don't skimp on food because I personally feel that is how you get to know a place :) and don't skimp on museums, you'll thank yourself later. As far a specific tips, do your research, use EasyJet if you want cheap flights, and don't panic if something goes wrong. Buy euro pass ahead of time. Switzerland offers a half tax pass, half off the original price of train tickets. Make sure to book transportations ahead of the time for more savings. The same applies to hostels. Pack less things than you think that you will need. The value of having semi-empty and lighter bags far outweighs and money that you may save by bringing things along. Plus, checking that third bag can be offensively expensive. Before you arrive in Switzerland make sure you buy the Half - Tax and After - 7 train passes. This will save you plenty of money.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 48. 53. EXPENSES: How much spending money FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER would you recommend that the next participants budget for this program?
# Answer Min Value Max Value Average Value St andard Deviat io n
1 General (including food, entertainment, local transportation) 700.00 5,000.00 1,972.73 1,373.38 2 Housing/rent 900.00 3,750.00 2,640.91 731.72 3 General travel during semester 600.00 3,000.00 2,000.00 924.12 4 Books & miscellaneous supplies 0.00 500.00 193.64 125.08 5 Other expenditures (please explain) 0.00 1,000.00 309.09 385.89
Ot her expendit ures (please explain)
N/A clothing, souvenirs / Permits (housing permits), residency permit, Student ID Social expenditures HSG fees (visa, housing, etc) Flight to Europe Entry taxes, registration, various fees 49. 54. Did you experience any form of crime, or were you in danger at any time (such as the victim or witness of assault, robbery, etc.)? If yes, please explain:
T ext Respo nse
Yes, in Denmark I saw many fights. In Budapest there is a very blatent drug culture No. I always felt very safe. No N/A No. no Some bad kids hang out in front of the McDonalds in marktplaz. They are pretty aggressive and a couple kids in the program got punched. Also the Australian guy claims to have been nearly "mugged." Overall St. Gallen is a pretty safe city though. No. No, Switzerland is very safe None No. Neither I, nor my friends, experienced any crime in Switzerland. One of my friends had his bag snatched as a train was leaving the station in Amsterdam. However, he was travelling alone and ostentatiously.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 50. 55. Before departure from USC, or upon immediate arrival to your host country, do you think you were adequately warned and/or prepared to deal with most incidents mentioned in the Health and Safety section of this evaluation?
T ext Respo nse
Yes Yes yes yes Yes. yes Mostly Yes. Yes Yes Yes.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 51. 56. If you did not feel adequately prepared (response to question #55), what do you think you needed to know or hear in advance? How could you have been better informed and/or prepared?
T ext Respo nse
n/a N/A I was informed quite well. N/A N/A n/a All stores being closed on weekends is definitely a health hazard if you arrive on Friday night hungry. I would recommend local gas stations for food if everything else seems to be closed. N/A Not applicable N/A I felt prepared.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 52. 57. Were you knowledgeable about your USC overseas insurance coverage policy?
T ext Respo nse
Yes Somewhat Not very knowledgeble Somewhat Somewhat. no Not really. Somewhat Yes Yes Yes.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 53. 58. Did you experience any negative treatment that you feel was related to your ethnicity, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion? If yes, please explain:
T ext Respo nse
Yes, the swiss often would treat me as a second tier citizen being America. Specfically, at bars and clubs they would try to overcharge me and give me a hard time. Yes; many Swiss people generally don't like Americans. Nothing particularly bad, a couple of disparaging comments, but other than that, just general rudeness. No a little bit due to ethnicity. but no big deal. No. no Professors in master level courses will do ANYTHING (lie, cheat, steal, etc) to keep exchange students out of their classes. Probably for good reason too since those classes tend to be difficult to keep up with. Also swiss girls discriminate against foreign boys. No. No No It was generally more expensive for me due to my national origin. This is true for almost all foreigners in St. Gallen. While I would not get gouged on a daily basis, both University and housing fees were considerably higher because I was a foreigner. I did not experience any discomfort due to treatment by other students or even by the grand majority of the individuals I met in the streets. It was more of a systematic discriminatory practice.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 54. 59. What was the best part of the program?
T ext Respo nse
Traveling outside Switzerland Switzerland is an incredibly beautiful country, and it is easily the cleanest most efficient place that I've ever been. Very liveable, and amazing scenery everywhere, with lots of interesting things to see and do. Meeting other international students and local students and traveling when I had some free time. travelling and meeting friends from around the world Meeting people from all over the world. Meeting many different people from many different countries 1. The other guest students from all over the world. 2. The BuddySystem The Buddysystem Traveling and the people! I made some wonderful friends and have great memories! The people you get to meet at school and during your travel. Far and away, the best part of the my exchange program was the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people from all of the world. I now have real relationships with people from about two dozen countries. This baffles me. I know that I can land pretty much anywhere on the earth and will have a nice friendly face to see and a place to sleep. It is pretty cool.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 55. 60. What was the most difficult part?
T ext Respo nse
Having to gut out my time in St. Gallen when I didn't have time to travel or class. Food is absurdly expensive, at both markets and restaurants. Other than that, mostly just the absence of helpfulness from most of the locals. The courses have been the most challenging because the professors do not give very much guidance and normally our grade depends on our one final exam. Sometimes I feel like I have studied so much and still don't feel fully prepared for the exams because they don't give any guidance. the food, the language, the weather Adjusting to the colder weather. At times being the only non-german speaker in a class. Also, meeting people as difficult since a lot of the university students commute and go home on the weekends. So there's not a lot of University Spirit (compared to SC at least, which has campus organizations, greek life, football games, etc.). 100% final exams 1. Boredom (lack of nightlife) 2. The school is located at the top of a MOUNTAIN. 3. Language 4. Weather cultural differences- shops closing at 7, everything being closed on Sundays budgeting- high cost of transportation and food The end of the program when finals are over and you are ready to go home. Just keep yourself busy until the end. Also, there was no adequate gym. The classes were structured differently than the classes at USC. It took a while to adjust. The most difficult part of the program was adjusting to the different academic expectations. Having my grade depend solely on my performance on one exam at the end of the semester is rather daunting. It was hard for me personally to adjust to creating and enforcing my own deadlines for studying. I was surprised to learn how much I rely on external forces to get things done.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 56. 61. Describe a situation that you experienced as a result of culture shock or cultural misunderstanding. How did you resolve it?
T ext Respo nse
The prices were so high, I raised my credit card limit. There is a middle-aged man that lives in the apartment below me that constantly yells and pounds on my ceiling for making to much noise. The problem is, I rarely make noise; he has even done this while I was asleep. I try to explain this to him, that I can't prevent the floors from creaking when I walk, etc., but he speaks poor english. Eventually a German-speaking neighbor got tired of hearing him yell at me and spoke to him about it. The trash situation was very interesting at the beginning because you have to pay about $25 for ten trash bags that you need to use for trash once a week. Furthermore, recycling doesn't come by for weeks at a time so we end up with piles of paper and cardboard in our kitchen. in general most people around town only speak german, even at the school canteen or the post office or bus station. i just picked up words as the semester progress. I can't think of any currently. 1. the food is so expensive in St. gallen. 2. students knock on the table in the end of every class to show their appreciation to the instructors. The Swiss take their lunch breaks very seriously. I made the mistake of trying to ask a questing during someones lunch and they exploded. Overreaction aside, they've got a point though. Just avoid offices between 12:00-13:30, including HSG advising/housing. I didn't experience culture shock. The first time I went grocery shopping I tried to buy vegetables like you do in the US and got yelled at in German. Apparently in Europe you have to weight your veggies yourself and then buy them. Lesson learned! Everyone were very curious to learn about my life in America as I was to learn about their's. We took turn comparing our up bringing. I really didn't experience much culture shock. Perhaps the only thing that I can touch on is the grocery prices. Because groceries were so expensive in Switzerland I initially found myself unwilling to buy. After an initially hungry first weekend I realized that I would need to bite the bullet, because I could not allow myself to starve for the four months. So, I grinned and beared the high priced fruit, veggies, milk, and eggs. However, for less perishable items, I took an hour train ride to buy groceries in Germany. I am pretty sure this was violating some bilateral trade agreements, and that I may in fact technically be a smuggler, but I didn't run into any trouble. Bring a rolling duffle bag.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 57. 62. Describe something that you are proud of having accomplished during your stay.
T ext Respo nse
Traveling to 10 countries I saw many things I've never seen before; I'm proud of having traveled alone on multiple occasions; and I did some of the most intense skiing I've ever done at some of the most amazing mountains I've ever seen. I am proud of understanding the Swiss German language a lot more and understanding the local people more. learnt to read alot of german Navigated through the Gatwick airport on my own while I was on my way to visit my friend. Also, I was able to order a bottle of water entirely in German. On the othe end of the spectrum, I feel more connected to the world outside of the U.S. which sounds cliche (or makes me come off as overly sheltered prior to this trip), but it's something I feel strongly about. being a backpacker and traveling many countries I have friends all over the world in 40+ countries now. Joining AIESEC and finding an internship. I took the wrong train a couple of times. Normally I would panic, but we just stayed calm, laughed it off and we made it to our destination! I passed all of my classes. I learned to cook while I was in Switzerland. There is something strikingly satisfying about preparing your own food. I had always had "easier" options and limited opportunities to cook before arriving in Switzerland. It was literally trial by fire, but I can honestly say that this was one of the most valuable skills I learned.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 58. 63. What do you wish you had known about before leaving?
T ext Respo nse
That St. Gallen is in a small village where it is $15 for a #1 at McDonalds and 80% guys with no social lives. How difficult the Master's level classes would be, and just how expensive Switzerland is. I would have liked to know that the bachelor's English course selection is highly limited and that as a student it is almost guaranteed that you will have to take master's courses and most likely finance courses. the language barrier, the size of the town, how expensive it is to live in switzerland Nothing really. I was told to "not expect anything to be like how it is as SC." So that was probably the best advice I got before studying here. 1. the average student housing price 2. some basic language skill Too much to list here. Email me if you must know. General prices of basic commodities. I was pretty well prepared I think, but I wish I had shipped things to me instead of struggling with my 70 pound suitcase on the way there. Thank goodness for helpful airport people! I contacted the girls from the host school before leaving. They were very helpful and informative. I highly recommend doing that. I wish that I would have been better informed about all of the taxes and fees upon arrival. I wish that I would have known the details of the Half - Tax and After 7 train passes. I also wish that I would have been better informed about the course bidding system.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 59. 64. Do you have any travel tips to share?
T ext Respo nse
For flights sidestep.com and for trains you must buy a half-pass and after-7 pass. Inter-europe flights are usually cheaper out of Basel than Zurich. Buy the half-fare card and the after 7pm free card for the Swiss trains. Stay in hostels and look for good deals online. don't book hostels coz they are cheapest, read all reviews before booking I don't consider myself the most savvy traveler. Use Ryanair or Easyjet. plan beforehand. Travel with people who you can get along with If you're going to tour a city on foot, instead rent BIKES. You will cover way more area and your legs won't be tired at the end of the day. Your behind might hurt a little though... Prague, Czech Republic was my favorite city. Bath houses in Budapest, Hungary. Verzasca Dam bungee jumping in Locarno, Switzerland. Auschwitz everyone should see at some point in Krakow, Poland. >>Don't go to Bratislava. Book flights or train tickets in advance as it gets more expensive as the date approaches. Travel with people that you like. I would recommend going to a location that is lower on your to do list over one you really want to see if it means going with friends you will have a good time with. Also, don't be afraid to ask people (for directions, dinner recommendations) locals are very helpful and usually like talking to you. Keep your important belongings close to you at all times. There are plenty of pick pockets in Europe. Pack about 25% of the things that you think you need to pack. Seriously.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 60. 65. What would you like to say to the students going after you?
T ext Respo nse
Really consider if this is what you want. It is not the romanticized location other places are. It is a small village without a social life and a student body that is highly decentralized. Make sure you explore the outdoors (hiking, skiing, etc.) in Switzerland, because it's unlike anywhere else. Be prepared to take master's courses and learn a little German, or at least try to, before the semester begins. Have fun and make the most of your time. Don't expect anything to be like how it is at SC. Enjoy your life abroad. Travel as much as possible. Attend school social events. Spend time with other exchange/local students. Get along with your flatmates. Pass all courses. Email me with any questions. I'd be happy to answer them for you. [email protected] St. Gallen is extremely tiny, but there is a unique sense of community in that. The university is also very small and there is no sense of campus life or pride like at SC. The Swiss people are unique and you will learn the nuances of their character and society the more time you spend living there. Before choosing Switzerland, consider that it is going to be cold, I wore boots and pants almost the entire semester. Also, Switzerland is an expensive country. We improvised by traveling a lot and having dinner parties and house parties instead of going out all of the time. I had a blast but it is cold and expensive...you have been warned. Have fun and live the experience. Have a great time and make friends with the people who run the "Buddy System." They will take great care of you and solve 99% of your problems. Plus, they know how to have a good time.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11 61. 66. Any final thoughts...
T ext Respo nse
Make sure you live in the town and not up by the school. None really Overall, besides my course choices and a course getting canceled mid-semester, my experience in St. Gallen has been a lot of fun. Also, be prepared to study. / Pretty much lived up to all of my expectations for study abroad. n/a A semester abroad will change you as a person. It almost feels like starting college all over again. Nobody knows your background or who you are back at home. You make a whole new circle of friends and everything you experience is new. Except you have a whole new city as your playground. Enjoy your time abroad, it is an amazing experience! I would gladly study abroad again or work abroad if given the chance to. Make the right choice, go to St. Gallen.
St at ist ic Value
Total Responses 11