EXPERIENCE REPORT
Name:
E-mail:
Study Program:
Exchange semester:
Academic year:
Host University:
Country:
Kübra Kara
k.kara1@hotmail.com
Bachelor
Fall 2013
2013-2014
Bellarmine University
United States of America
I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Bellarmine University is a small university compared to other universities in Louisville. It has a
beautiful campus that is located at the foot of a hill in a quite and beautiful neighborhood. The park
and the forest with the many walking trails across the university is also a nice place for a walk and to
spend time with friends.
Bellarmine University is similar in size with Tilburg University. It has almost the similar total amount of
students. From the 3.422 students are 2.340 full-time degree seeking undergraduates and we were
with about 35 international students from all over the world. The biggest difference between the
campuses is that Bellarmine University has many residence halls, which means that students live on
campus and that is why there are always several activities on-campus. College sports are also very
important at Bellarmine University. The basketball, field hockey, volleyball and soccer teams are
always in the spotlight. Another big difference between Bellarmine and Tilburg University is the size of
the classes. At Bellarmine the average class size is 20 students and the biggest class is 40 students.
This is in contrast to some huge classes at Tilburg University. The many sports possibilities for every
BU student is also different from Tilburg University. There is a big fitness center and the tennis,
volleyball and basketball courts are always available for the students.
It is a 15 minutes drive to downtown from Bellarmine University, but Bardstown Road is on walking
distance. This street is a nice area with different bars, restaurants and small boutiques. It is a street
where you can spend your whole day with looking around in the different boutiques, have a nice
dinner in one of the restaurants and end your day in one of the various bars. I prefer to go to
Bardstown Road, but downtown has also many places to spend your time. Louisville is located on the
edge of the Ohio River, which gives many beautiful places in the city. The walking bridge between the
states Kentucky and Indiana is definitely a must-see. Kentucky, and especially Louisville, is famous
because of the horseraces. And that is why everywhere through the city are signs of horses or things
related to the races. The Churchill Downs is, therefore, absolutely a place that should be visited as
well. It is the location where the biggest horserace event of the United States was held, the Kentucky
Derby Festival. The Derby is in May, but there are also many other opportunities to visit one of the
horseraces through the year.
Sapporo Japanese Steakhouse is a restaurant on Bardstown Road where I had always very great
meals with the diverse Asian menu. I also enjoyed going to the Old Spaghetti Factory, which is
located downtown. This restaurant with his Italian cuisine has very tasty meals and I loved the
decoration.
The Undergraduate Academic Programs are:
 Accounting
 Applied Information Technology
 Art
 Arts Administration
 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
 Biology
 Brown Scholars Leadership Program
 Business Administration
 Chemistry
 Communication
 Computer Science
 Criminal Justice Studies
 Design, Arts and Technology
 Economics
 Education
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English
Environmental Studies
Exercise Science
Finance
Global Languages and Cultures
Health Care
History
Honors Program
Interdisciplinary Courses (IDC) of the General Education Program
Liberal Studies Program
Mathematics
Medical Laboratory Science
Music
Music Technology
Nursing
Peace Studies
Philosophy
Physical Therapy
Physics
Political Science
Pre-Professional Programs
Psychology
Respiratory Therapy
Sociology
Theatre
Theology
The academic year of Bellarmine University is divided in two semesters. Every course has its own
syllabus, but all the courses have at least two exams. The first one is in the week of the mid-term
exam week and the other one in the week of the finals at the end of the semester. Most of the courses
have quizzes, presentation assignments, and/or other practical assignments besides the exams.
Every exam, quiz and assignment is a part of the final grade.
II PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Information before you left: I received the acceptance letter and the welcome packet from Bellarmine
University on the 18th of April. This was perfectly on time and it gave me a great overview of all the
things that Bellarmine University expected from me before and during my stay there. The only
difficulty was completing all the requirements on time, but if you plan it well enough, this won’t be a
difficulty at all.
Visa procedure and arrival: I made an appointment with the US Consulate a couple weeks before my
leave. I had to wait for the DS-2019 form from Bellarmine University. The visa costs € 120. After I
received my visa I booked my flight and I could pass it on to my peer mentors. One of them picked my
up from the airport and helped me with the check-in on campus. The administration and faculty were
well prepared for my arrival.
Orientation/Introduction activities: The first week of my arrival at Bellarmine University there were
many orientation activities. The first three days were only with the rest of the international students.
The rest of the week was together with the freshmen. The activities with only the international
students were based on knowing the university and Louisville. The activities with the freshmen were
more focused on knowing your fellow students more. All the international students were divided in
small groups of 3-4 international students and 3-4 mentors.
Housing: Bellarmine University has residence halls where also all the international students stay.
Before I arrived at Bellarmine I had to fill up a survey about my interests, so they could match the
roommates depend on their interests. My room was already ready when I arrived on campus.
Everyone had one roommate and we had to share the bathroom with the two students who were
staying in the room next to us. It was different for me to share a room with someone I didn’t know in
the first place. But after a while I got used to it.
Living Costs: I financed my exchange period with the help of my parents. Furthermore, I received the
student finance from DUO. I had more expenses during my stay in the United Stated compared to
Tilburg. This is because I travelled a lot, but groceries stores are also a little bit more expensive than
in the Netherlands. I spend the most of my money on travelling around. And I think that is also the
best place to spend your money on. It’s the best way to make the experience of studying abroad
better.
Average monthly budget:
 Housing+Meal plan: €1.100, Food (excl. University Dining Hall): €30, Transport (Cab): €20, Books: €20, Travelling (Flight+Accomodation): €500,Academic Calendar:
 Arrival date: 14/08/2013
 Introductory week: 15/08/2013-21/08/2013
 First day of the semester: 22/08/2013
 Last day of classes: 04/12/2013
 Mid-term break: 12/10/2013-15/10/2013
 Examination period: 06/12/2013-12/12/2013
The International Office: There in an International Program Office. Gabriele Bosley is the IPO director
but Erica Ward (Study Abroad Advisor) and Sara Reyna-Byler (IPO Assistant) were our contact
persons. We could always email one of them or visit their office on campus. They were always very
helpful, also with answering my questions before my arrival at Bellarmine.
Exchange promotion: At the begin of the semester there was a welcome reception for all the
international students. They asked us there to tell something about our home university/country. That
was the only place for me that I had to promote Tilburg University.
Social Activities: There were many social activities organized by the university. Some of them were for
only exchange students but there were a lot for all the students. The International Club (student
organization) organized a trip to the Mammoth Cave for the international students only. Furthermore,
there were a couple dinners and receptions organized for the international students. But I enjoyed the
activities more, which were also for the local students. The Ball on the Belle (the Halloween party on a
boat) was very fun and the many bingo nights on campus were also always very fun. Those activities
were also very helpful for socializing with the international and local students. I had more contact with
a group of international students but I had also a lot of contact with local students.
I travelled to Boston, New York City, Washington D.C., the Niagara Falls, Los Angeles, Las Vegas,
and San Francisco. I also went on daytrips to Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis and Lexington.
Culture and Language: My biggest culture shock during my exchange was the eating habits of the
Americans. I normally don’t eat fried food that often, but more vegetables. But even the eating habits
weren’t that healthy, sports are a big part of the life college students. Even if not everyone was a part
of a team, they were involved in at least one sport somehow. I expected that the people in Louisville
would be more individualistic, like in the Netherlands. But that was not always true. Americans like to
make a small chat and are very interested in where you come from. Especially the ‘Hi, how are you?’
which you will hear everywhere you will come, was something I had to get used to it. At the begin I
always gave serious answers, but after a while I learned that the question was something that they
got used to it to ask and not that they were really interested in the answer.
I think I learned a lot about the culture in Louisville, but I cannot say that I learned the American
culture. Because I don’t believe that there is THE American culture. The United States of America is
way too big to say that there is only one particular culture. I have seen different places in the United
States but I would like to see more to learn those parts of the country as well. Every part of the States
is different from each other. The people in Kentucky were more layback, while the people in New York
City and Washington D.C. have a more rush life. Even the weather difference between California and
Kentucky is seen in people’s behavior. I loved all these different sides of the American culture: the
layback and the business related behavior.
In my first weeks of the semester it was sometimes hard to find the right English word during a
conversation, but it didn’t take me much time to get used to it. I didn’t have to take an extra language
course during my stay. The university offered a lot of help for the students who have troubles with
their assignments. It doesn’t matter if the problem was the language or just because they need help in
another way.
I also didn’t follow the Erasmus Intensive Language Course. During my stay in the United States I
improved my English skills definitely.
Personal Development: My exchange experience affected my cultural and social point of view. I have
seen how it is to live in another country with people who I didn’t know in the first place. I am more
open-minded now and I now know that some things that I always thought it was very normal for
everyone, don’t have to be that normal in other parts of the world. There are so many different
lifestyles and different opinions between people. It is the art to have respect for everyone.
I hope that my exchange experience will influence my future career possibilities in a positive way. I
learned to be more independent. Even living on myself for three years in Tilburg is not the same as
living in another country where everything is unknown in the first place.
The thing that I learned from the people I met during my exchange is that everyone can be different in
so many ways, but can still have so many similarities. Language, race, gender, religion, and age don’t
have to be a barrier to be friends.
If I will get the chance to do another exchange in the future I would plan the semester better. I wish I
travelled more at the begin of the semester, because at the end the days were not enough to see
everything I had on my list. Four or five months sound as a long time in the first place. But the time
flies when I was in the States. My best experience was the travelling. Seeing so many different places
in a short period and all in only one country was incredible. The worst experience was the fact that on
one side I wish I could stay longer in America, and on the other side I started missing home. These
conflicting emotions were very hard on some days. Especially when I start getting close friends, it was
very hard to say goodbye to those people. I believe that the people made my exchange the best
experience. America is an amazing country, but it’s the people that I met there that I will never forget.
I now know that I am strong and independent enough to see more of the world. I learned that I am
fond of my privacy, but I also know that I am able to share a room with someone else.
III ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Academic level at a host university: Bellarmine University offered all the courses in English. I took the
courses Life-span Development, Health Psychology, Biological Psychology, and Intro to Cultural
Anthropology. I took the Psychology courses because I want to do a master in Psychology in the
future. I took the Anthropology course because I was always very interested in different courses and
this course offered a wide view on this subject. I definitely recommend this course, because it is fun
and very interesting in the same time. Life-Span Development was also a very interesting course.
I think that the courses at Bellarmine University are not that hard as Tilburg University. The teachers
did everything to help you to get a high grade. But the workload was more. Most of the courses at
Tilburg University examine with only one exam, but at Bellarmine University the teachers gave a lot of
assignments and quizzes during the semester. The exams were just a part of the final grade. Even if
the assignments were not that hard always, I had deadlines almost every week. The class size at
Bellarmine University is very small so there is no difference between seminars or lectures. The
teachers always try to interact with the students and group work was also very important for most of
the classes. So I would say that the teaching style at Bellarmine University is primarily practical. The
first couple weeks it was hard to get used to this teaching style, but at the end I am very happy with
my achievements.
Exams: The exams were different between the courses. They were all written exams, but there was
not only one big exam. All the courses split up the book in a couple exams during the semester. For
one of my courses I had to make a quiz every two weeks. Another course didn’t have a final exam,
but a research paper instead of that. Most of all the exams had a multiple choice and short answer
questions. And some of them also had essay questions. But in general, the exams were not that hard
as the exams of Tilburg University.
Other: Students can easily the library and its resources. There were public computers available
everywhere on campus. Every residence hall has its own computer lab and study rooms available,
which are open day and night.
Description of Courses: All the courses I took at Bellarmine University were Bachelor degree. From
easy to hard I would say that Life-Span Development is the most easy course of the four, than Intro to
Cultural Anthropology, than Health Psychology and the most hard one was Biological Psychology.
Course
Prerequisites
Exam
ECTS
Comments
None
Written
6
Mid-term, Cultural
ANTH 111 Intro to
paper, Daily reading
Cultural Anthropology
assignments, Final
exam
PSYC 103
Written
6
Mid-term, Assessment
PSYC 218 Life-Span
Introduction
assignment, Final exam
Development
Psychology or
permission of
instructor
PSYC 103
Written
6
Mid-term, Quizzes,
PSYC 240 Biological
Introduction
Presentation, Final
Psychology
Psychology
PSYC 103
Written
6
Mid-term, Research
PSYC 404 Health
Introduction
paper, Presentation
Psychology
Psychology
Tips for the future students: I would definitely recommend an exchange period! If you like a small
university where the teachers know you by your name and you like to meet people, I would
recommend Bellarmine University. Bellarmine University has a dry campus, which means that alcohol
and smoking is not allowed on campus. But this was never a problem for someone. There is a nice
cute bar in the street where most of the students hang around when they want to have a drink with
some friends.
Prospective students should absolutely not forget to go on exchange without expectations. That will
make the experience more effective. Something practical that prospective students should not forget
is changing their debit card from a European card to a world card. And I would recommend them to
use a credit card. In the United States everyone use a credit card and you can pay everywhere with
that. There are even places where you cannot pay with a debit card, but only with cash or a credit
card. It is also useful if you want to travel, because most of the online bookings have to be done by a
credit card.
Contact details: Yes, the International Relations Office can share my e-mail address with prospective
exchange students.