My Report
Last Mo dified: 0 8 /0 2/20 13
Filter By: Repo rt Subgro up
1.
Name (o ptio nal)
T e xt Re spo nse
Julia Wang
Krystina Nguyen
Adam Ro ttenstein
Alexandra Bumpas
david
Jaso n Po ulsen
Alex Orecho ff
Lina Chen
Bryan Medlo ck
vivian
Karen Tsang
Christie Lee
Nadine Tan
Sharo n Niku
Andrew Kwan
Sheila Kim
Stephanie Wijanarko
Stephanie
Diana To ma
Lo ren Hinkso n
Nik sethi
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
21
2.
E-mail Address (o ptio nal)
T e xt Re spo nse
juliawan@usc.edu
krystina.nguyen@usc.edu
Adam.Ro ttenstein@gmail.co m
bumpas@usc.edu
alex.o recho ff@gmail.co m
linachen@usc.edu
bmedlo ck@usc.edu
karen.tsang@usc.edu
leecc@usc.edu
ntan@usc.edu
sdniku@gmail.co m
kwana@usc.edu
sheilaki@usc.edu
wijanark@usc.edu
diana.to ma@usc.edu
wijanark@usc.edu
lo ren.hinkso n@gmail.co m
niksethi12@yaho o .co m
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
18
3.
Lo catio n
#
Answe r
39
Bar
Re spo nse
%
Aalto University Scho o l o f Eco no mics
0
0%
4
Australian Natio nal University
0
0%
6
Chinese University o f Ho ng Ko ng
0
0%
5
Co penhagen Business Scho o l
0
0%
3
Co rvinus University o f Budapest
0
0%
37
Chulalo ngko rn University
0
0%
2
ESADE Business Scho o l
0
0%
40
ESCEM
0
0%
38
ESCP-EAP
0
0%
65
Fudan University
0
0%
13
HEC Scho o l o f Management
38
10 0 %
7
Ho ng Ko ng UNiversity o f Science and Techno lo gy
0
0%
58
ICHEC Brussels
0
0%
63
IE Scho o l o f Business
0
0%
15
Ko rea University Business Scho o l
0
0%
16
Natio nal University o f Singapo re
0
0%
18
Natio nal Taiwan University
0
0%
27
Peking University
0
0%
14
Ro tterdam Scho o l o f Management
0
0%
61
Seo ul Natio nal University
0
0%
19
Singapo re Management University
0
0%
Thammasat University
0
0%
57
Universidade de No va de Lisbo n
0
0%
64
Universiidad de Carlo s Madrid III
0
0%
11
Universita Co mmerciale Luigi Bo cco ni
0
0%
62
University o f Ho ng Ko ng
0
0%
1
9
University o f Manchester, Manchester Business Scho o l
0
0%
10
University o f Melbo urne
0
0%
12
University o f Navarra
0
0%
17
University o f St. Gallen
0
0%
59
Vienna University o f Eco no mics and Business
0
0%
8
WHU Otto Beisheim Scho o l o f Management
0
0%
To tal
38
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
13
Max Value
13
Mean
13.0 0
Variance
0 .0 0
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
To tal Respo nses
38
4.
What is yo ur academic status this semester?
#
Answe r
Bar
Re spo nse
%
1
So pho mo re
0
0%
2
Junio r
22
58 %
3
Senio r
16
42%
To tal
38
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
2
Max Value
3
Mean
2.42
Variance
0 .25
Standard Deviatio n
0 .50
To tal Respo nses
38
5.
What is yo ur expected date o f graduatio n fro m USC (Semester and year, eg
Fall 20 0 9 )?
T e xt Re spo nse
Spring 20 10
May 20 0 9
Spring 20 0 9
May 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
May 20 10
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 10
May 20 10
Spring 20 11
May 20 10
20 11
May 20 11
May 20 11
spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 10
May 20 11
Spring 20 12
May 20 12
May 20 12
December 20 11
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
December 20 11
Spring 20 12
20 13
August 20 12
Spring 20 13
Spring 20 13 fo r Internatio nal Relatio ns; Fall 20 13 fo r Business Administratio n
Summer 20 12
December 20 13
Fall 20 12
May 20 14
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
38
6.
What is yo ur majo r?
T e xt Re spo nse
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Do uble: Business Admn. and Cinema Pro ductio n
Business Admin, Cinema Pro ductio n
Business
Business
Business
BUAD
Business Administratio n
BUAD
Business Administratio n
Acco unting and Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
BUAD & EALC
Business
Business Administratio n
Business Admin
business and acco unting
Business-Cinematic Arts
Business Administratio ns
Business Administratio n, Internatio nal Relatio ns
Business
Business
Business Administratio n (Internatio nal Relatio ns)
Business
Business Administratio n (Internatio nal Relatio ns)
Business, Acco unting, So cio lo gy
BUAD
business administratio n
BAIR
Business
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Internatio nal Relatio ns and Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n and Internatio nal Relatio ns
Business Administratio n & Acco unting
Business Administratio n
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
38
7.
What is yo ur co ncentratio n (Business majo rs o nly)?
T e xt Re spo nse
Internatio nal Business
Finance/Internatio nal Business
Intl. Business
Intl. Business
Real Estate
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
glo bal marketing
Cinematic Arts/Internatio nal Business
Real Estate Finance
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business and Finace
Internatio nal Business
Marketing
Finance
Internatio nal Business
internatio nal business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Glo bal Marketing
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
IB
finance
MOR
Internatio nal business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Finance
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
36
8.
Please indicate the term in which yo u were abro ad (semester and year, eg
Fall 20 0 9 ).
T e xt Re spo nse
Fall 20 0 8
Fall 20 0 8
Fall 20 0 8
Fall 20 0 8
Fall 0 8
Fall 20 0 8
Spring 20 0 9
spring 20 0 9
Spring 20 0 9
Spring 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
Fall 20 0 9
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 10
spring 20 10
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 0 9
Spring 20 10
Fall 20 10
Fall 20 10
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
fall 20 11
Fall 20 11
fall 20 11
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Fall 20 12
Fall 20 12
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
38
9.
I. GENERAL PROGRAM EVALUATION Please rate the fo llo wing items:
#
Que st io n
1
1. Yo ur o verall satisfactio n with the
pro gram.
Ve ry
dissat isf ie d
So m e what
dissat isf ie d
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
sat isf ie d
Ve ry
sat isf ie d
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
0
0
3
19
14
36
4.31
St at ist ic
1. Yo ur o ve rall sat isf act io n wit h t he pro gram .
Min Value
3
Max Value
5
Mean
4.31
Variance
0 .39
Standard Deviatio n
0 .6 2
To tal Respo nses
36
10.
No t at all
so
So m e what
so
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
so
Ve ry m uch
so
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
2. To what extent did the pro gram meet yo ur expectatio ns?
0
4
2
21
9
36
3.9 7
3. To what extent was yo ur participatio n in the pro gram a valuable
learning experience?
0
1
2
15
18
36
4.39
#
Que st io n
1
2
St at ist ic
2. T o what e xt e nt did t he pro gram m e e t yo ur
e xpe ct at io ns?
3. T o what e xt e nt was yo ur part icipat io n in t he pro gram a valuable le arning
e xpe rie nce ?
Min Value
2
2
Max Value
5
5
Mean
3.9 7
4.39
Variance
0 .77
0 .53
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 8
0 .73
36
36
To tal
Respo nses
11.
#
Que st io n
1
4. To what extent wo uld yo u reco mmend
this pro gram to o ther USC students?
Wo uld no t
re co m m e nd at
all
May re co m m e nd
wit h re se rvat io ns
Ne ut ral
Wo uld sure ly
re co m m e nd
Wo uld
re co m m e nd
m o st st ro ngly
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
0
5
1
10
20
36
4.25
St at ist ic
4 . T o what e xt e nt wo uld yo u re co m m e nd t his pro gram t o o t he r USC st ude nt s?
Min Value
2
Max Value
Mean
5
4.25
Variance
1.11
Standard Deviatio n
1.0 5
To tal Respo nses
36
12.
II. ACADEMIC PROGRAM
No t at
all so
So m e what
so
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
so
Ve ry
m uch so
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
5. To what extent were yo ur co urses intellectually challenging?
0
6
11
16
3
36
3.44
6 . Ho w co mparable was the quality o f instructio n and academic demand o f
classes to that o f USC?
1
14
8
10
3
36
3.0 0
#
Que st io n
1
2
St at ist ic
5 . T o what e xt e nt we re yo ur co urse s int e lle ct ually
challe nging?
Min Value
2
1
Max Value
5
5
Mean
3.44
3.0 0
Variance
0 .77
1.14
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 8
1.0 7
36
36
To tal
Respo nses
6 . Ho w co m parable was t he qualit y o f inst ruct io n and acade m ic de m and o f
classe s t o t hat o f USC?
13.
St ro ngly
disagre e
Disagre e
Ne ut ral
Agre e
St ro ngly
Agre e
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
7. The grading system used in the co urses was
explained.
3
8
7
13
5
36
3.25
8 . I was able to register fo r all the classes that I wanted.
1
9
6
10
10
36
3.53
#
Que st io n
1
2
St at ist ic
7 . T he grading syst e m use d in t he co urse s was e xplaine d.
8. I was able t o re gist e r f o r all t he classe s t hat I want e d.
Min Value
1
1
Max Value
5
5
Mean
3.25
3.53
Variance
1.45
1.51
Standard Deviatio n
1.20
1.23
36
36
To tal Respo nses
14.
No t at all
so
So m e what
so
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
so
Ve ry m uch
so
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
9 . To what extent were yo u prepared fo r the co ursewo rk?
0
5
2
19
10
36
3.9 4
2
10 . To what extent do yo u feel yo u were immersed in the culture o f the
ho st co untry?
4
11
2
10
9
36
3.25
3
11. To what extent did yo u gain a better appreciatio n o f the ho st
culture's perspectives?
0
8
3
14
11
36
3.78
#
Que st io n
1
St at ist ic
9 . T o what e xt e nt we re yo u
pre pare d f o r t he co urse wo rk?
10 . T o what e xt e nt do yo u f e e l yo u we re
im m e rse d in t he cult ure o f t he ho st co unt ry?
11. T o what e xt e nt did yo u gain a be t t e r
appre ciat io n o f t he ho st cult ure 's pe rspe ct ive s?
Min Value
2
1
2
Max Value
5
5
5
Mean
3.9 4
3.25
3.78
Variance
0 .9 1
2.0 2
1.26
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .9 5
1.42
1.12
36
36
36
To tal
Respo nses
15.
Ve ry
dissat isf ie d
So m e what
dissat isf ie d
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
sat isf ie d
Ve ry
Sat isf ie d
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
12. Please rate yo ur o verall satisfactio n with the co ntent o f
the co urses yo u to o k.
0
8
6
21
1
36
3.42
13. Please rate yo ur o verall satisfactio n with the quality o f
instructio n.
0
8
7
20
1
36
3.39
#
Que st io n
1
2
St at ist ic
12. Ple ase rat e yo ur o ve rall sat isf act io n wit h t he co nt e nt o f t he
co urse s yo u t o o k.
13. Ple ase rat e yo ur o ve rall sat isf act io n wit h t he qualit y o f
inst ruct io n.
Min Value
2
2
Max Value
5
5
Mean
3.42
3.39
Variance
0 .76
0 .76
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 7
0 .8 7
36
36
To tal
Respo nses
16.
#
Que st io n
1
14. Please rate the o verall level o f faculty interest in
students.
Ve ry
lo w
So m e what
lo w
Ave rage
Highe r t han
ave rage
Ve ry
high
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
0
7
22
7
0
36
3.0 0
St at ist ic
14 . Ple ase rat e t he o ve rall le ve l o f f acult y int e re st in st ude nt s.
Min Value
2
Max Value
4
Mean
3.0 0
Variance
0 .40
Standard Deviatio n
0 .6 3
To tal Respo nses
36
17.
#
Que st io n
1
15. Please rate yo ur o verall satisfactio n with the
academic pro gram.
Ve ry
dissat isf ie d
So m e what
dissat isf ie d
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
sat isf ie d
Ve ry
sat isf ie d
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
0
2
12
21
1
36
3.58
St at ist ic
15 . Ple ase rat e yo ur o ve rall sat isf act io n wit h t he acade m ic pro gram .
Min Value
2
Max Value
5
Mean
3.58
Variance
0 .42
Standard Deviatio n
0 .6 5
To tal Respo nses
36
18.
III. LANGUAGE PREPARATIONIf yo u did no t take a fo reign language
class this semester, please cho o se "No t applicable" fo r each questio n.
No t
applicable
Po o r
Ne e ds
im pro ve m e nt
Fair
Go o d
Exce lle nt
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
16 . Ho w were yo ur language skills befo re the
pro gram?
8
11
6
7
3
1
36
2.6 9
2
17. Ho w were yo ur language skills after the pro gram?
4
5
6
12
6
3
36
3.56
3
18 . Yo ur living situatio n aided yo ur language
acquisitio n.
7
13
2
6
5
3
36
2.9 4
#
Que st io n
1
St at ist ic
16 . Ho w we re yo ur language skills be f o re
t he pro gram ?
17 . Ho w we re yo ur language skills af t e r
t he pro gram ?
18. Yo ur living sit uat io n aide d yo ur language
acquisit io n.
Min Value
1
1
1
Max Value
6
6
6
Mean
2.6 9
3.56
2.9 4
Variance
1.9 3
2.0 8
2.6 8
Standard
Deviatio n
1.39
1.44
1.6 4
36
36
36
To tal
Respo nses
19.
#
Que st io n
1
19 . If yo u studied a fo reign language o n the pro gram, please rate yo ur
o verall level o f satisfactio n with the language educatio n co mpo nent o f
the pro gram.
Ve ry
dissat isf ie d
So m e what
dissat isf ie d
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
sat isf ie d
Ve ry
sat isf ie d
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
2
6
14
5
9
36
3.36
St at ist ic
19 . If yo u st udie d a f o re ign language o n t he pro gram , ple ase rat e yo ur o ve rall le ve l o f sat isf act io n wit h t he language e ducat io n
co m po ne nt o f t he pro gram .
Min Value
1
Max Value
5
Mean
3.36
Variance
1.44
Standard
Deviatio n
1.20
To tal
Respo nses
36
20.
IV. SUPPORT SERVICESPlease rate yo ur level o f satisfactio n with the
fo llo wing catego ries:
#
Que st io n
Ve ry
dissat isf ie d
So m e what
dissat isf ie d
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
sat isf ie d
Ve ry
sat isf ie d
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
1
20 . On-site academic advising
2
7
15
10
2
36
3.0 8
2
21. On-site o rientatio n
2
5
10
12
7
36
3.47
3
22. On-site academic facilities (e.g. classro o ms, libraries,
co mputer labs), excluding ho using.
3
6
8
16
3
36
3.28
4
23. Co mmunicatio n with the USC Marshall o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
0
8
13
15
36
4.19
5
24. Overall impressio n o f o n-site suppo rt services
1
10
9
16
0
36
3.11
St at ist ic
20 . On-sit e
acade m ic
advising
Min Value
1
Max Value
5
Mean
3.0 8
3.47
3.28
4.19
3.11
Variance
0 .9 4
1.28
1.23
0 .6 2
0 .8 4
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .9 7
1.13
1.11
0 .79
0 .9 2
36
36
36
36
36
To tal
Respo nses
22. On-sit e acade m ic f acilit ie s (e .g.
classro o m s, librarie s, co m put e r labs),
e xcluding ho using.
23. Co m m unicat io n wit h t he
USC Marshall o f f ice in Lo s
Ange le s
24 . Ove rall im pre ssio n
o f o n-sit e suppo rt
se rvice s
1
1
3
1
5
5
5
4
21. On-sit e
o rie nt at io n
21.
V. HOUSINGPlease rate yo ur level o f satisfactio n with the fo llo wing
catego ries:
#
Que st io n
Ve ry
dissat isf ie d
So m e what
dissat isf ie d
Ne ut ral
Mo st ly
sat isf ie d
Ve ry
sat isf ie d
T o t al
Re spo nse s
Me an
1
25. Ho using co o rdinatio n
3
3
4
23
3
36
3.56
2
26 . Lo catio n o f student ho using
2
5
2
16
11
36
3.8 1
3
27. Quality o f ho using
arrangements
1
4
3
20
8
36
3.8 3
St at ist ic
25 . Ho using co o rdinat io n
26 . Lo cat io n o f st ude nt ho using
27 . Qualit y o f ho using arrange m e nt s
Min Value
1
1
1
Max Value
5
5
5
Mean
3.56
3.8 1
3.8 3
Variance
1.11
1.42
1.0 0
Standard Deviatio n
1.0 5
1.19
1.0 0
36
36
36
To tal Respo nses
22.
VI. OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS 31. Why did yo u cho o se this pro gram?
T e xt Re spo nse
Relative lo catio n, reputatio n o f the business scho o l, management co ncentratio n.
I wanted to learn mo re abo ut French culture and impro ve my French. HEC Paris is also the #1 business scho o l in Euro pe. Plus, it's the clo sest thing to Paris o ne can get!
Because I was o bsessed with Paris and French culture.
I have studied French fo r 8 years, so it seemed appro priate to go to Paris where I co uld practice my language skills while also studying business.
HEC is in paris, and the best business scho o l in euro pe. I happen to study business.
I liked that it was in France and a go o d scho o l.
I wanted to be in Euro pe
Paris baby, such a kickass city
I cho se a Euro pean destinatio n because I already had experience with Asian and Australian cultures, and cho se HEC bo th because o f its academic reputatio n and because
it was lo cated near Paris and centrally lo cated in Euro pe.
The business scho o l has an excellent reputatio n. I have also never been to Euro pe befo re so go ing to France wo uld be a very new experience fo r me.
I cho se to go to HEC because no t o nly did I want a Euro pean perspective o n business after essentially a two year fo cus o n Asia at USC, but because I wanted to so lidify
my French and learn abo ut French culture.
HEC Paris is the to p-ranked business scho o l in Euro pe, and I also like ho w it is very diverse with many internatio nal students.
Seco nd cho ice behind Barcelo na, like mo st peo ple. Tho ught it was clo ser to Paris than it actually was.
One o f the to p scho o ls in euro pe + french mino r
I cho se this pro gram because it was in Paris. Having taken french classes fo r many years and visited France many times, I knew I wanted to study abro ad there.
I wanted to go to Euro pe, and I learned that HEC has a high ranking in business scho o ls in Euro pe.
Wanted to go to France
Wanted to impro ve my French skills, knew peo ple fro m HEC fro m their study abro ad at USC, interested in Management which is what HEC specializes in
Scho o l had a go o d name. Wanted to practice French language, meet so me French students, and ho pefully learn mo re abo ut their culture.
I cho se this pro gram because I wanted to experience what it is like to go to co llege in ano ther co untry. I also wanted to keep up my french language skills and go ing to
Paris, I was able to practice and reinfo rce my fluency. I also cho se this pro gram because very familiar with the French culture and have a lo t o f friends in Paris.
Being situated near Paris was an impo rtant facto r, as I wanted to learn mo re abo ut Parisian and French culture. Also , HEC`s prestigio us reputatio n was very impo rtant to
me. I also liked that it was a campus, as o ppo sed to spread aro und a city.
I cho se this pro gram mainly because it is lo cated near Paris. HEC is also o ne o f the to p universities in Euro pe. I had never been to Euro pe and I wanted to be lo cated
so mewhere where it wo uld be easy to travel and where I can study at a go o d university.
I wanted to go to France to better my French language skills; also very interested in their culture and seeing what the academic culture was like in the best business scho o l
in Euro pe
N°1 Business Scho o l in Euro pe
It was the o nly pro gram o ffered in France, which was where I wanted to study.
I cho se it mo stly fo r the academic fo cus o f management and the scho o l's prestige and ranking within Euro pean educatio n
I cho se this pro gram because no t o nly is HEC the best business scho o l in Euro pe, but because I wanted to study at a scho o l in France so I co uld impro ve my French and
learn mo re abo ut my family's culture.
I cho o se this pro gram because I wanted to immerse myself in the French culture, understand their so ciety's infrastructure and ho w their institutio ns functio n, while learning
abo ut their CSR and so cial enterprises.
I wo uld like to experience living with peo ple fro m o ther culture/ backgro und.
I cho o se this pro gram because i wanted to understand and internalize the French perspective and culture, experience French day-to -day life co mpared to my American
upbringing, and learn abo ut French so cial businesses and fo cus o n co rpo rate so cial respo nsibility.
I had been to Paris o nce befo re with family and lo ved it, and had always wanted to go back and learn mo re abo ut the peo ple and the culture, to learn the language
I cho se it fo r its reputatio n and its pro ximity to Paris. I was also mo re interested in getting a co llege experience rather than just to uring aro und the surro unding area.
St at ist ic
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23.
32. Please co mpare these aspects o f yo ur pro gram with study at USC.
#
Que st io n
Equivale nt
USC/Abro ad Be t t e r
USC/in L.A. Be t t e r
T o t al Re spo nse s
1
2
1) Quality o f instructio n
8
3
21
32
2.41
2) Co ntent o f co urses
12
7
13
32
2.0 3
3
3) Intellectual challenge o f co urses
11
4
17
32
2.19
4
4) Faculty interest in/suppo rt o f students
5
3
24
32
2.59
5
5) Individual assistance pro vided
6
1
25
32
2.59
St at ist ic
1) Qualit y o f
inst ruct io n
2) Co nt e nt o f
co urse s
Min Value
1
1
Max Value
3
3
Mean
2.41
2.0 3
2.19
2.59
2.59
Variance
0 .77
0 .8 1
0 .8 7
0 .57
0 .6 4
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 7
0 .9 0
0 .9 3
0 .76
0 .8 0
32
32
32
32
32
To tal
Respo nses
3) Int e lle ct ual challe nge o f
co urse s
Me an
4 ) Facult y int e re st in/suppo rt o f
st ude nt s
5 ) Individual assist ance
pro vide d
1
1
1
3
3
3
24.
33. Ho w much study time per week do yo u reco mmend in o rder to keep
up with classes?
T e xt Re spo nse
4 ho urs
Up to a few ho urs, but it varies greatly.
2 ho urs
Depends o n the class- mo st classes require a lo t o f gro up wo rk, 2 hrs a week. Regular wo rk maybe 2 ho urs a week.
5-8
7 ho urs plus....depends ho w many classes being taken
15 - 20
less than a few ho urs, very easy--until finals. Beware o f finals and final papers
~2-4 ho urs?
5 ho urs.
It depends upo n what co urses yo u take, but my wo rk lo ad was no mo re than 8 to 12 ho urs a week (with gro up wo rk).
4 ho urs per week with typical assignment and readings, but mo re if there's a big pro ject.
1 to 2 ho urs
3 Hrs
2 ho urs
4-5 ho urs
10
5
2 ho urs
depends o n the week. usually aro und 5 - 10 ho urs
3 to 5 - no t much studying invo lved, except during exam time.
5 ho urs
3-5 (depending o n gro up pro ject)
3-5 ho urs
5 ho urs per week
3-4 ho urs
I reco mmend aro und 5 ho urs o f study in terms o f keeping o n track with the readings and pro jects.
4-5 ho urs to tal
I believe that 4-5 ho urs per week was sufficient in o rder to pass the co urses.
If yo u are taking co re classes with the HEC students, study fo r an ho ur o r so a day (o r the crammer's equivalent o n Sunday). If yo ur classes will be primarily electives, if yo u
do the readings and pay attentio n in class yo u'll be fine just do ing a 2-4 day refresher befo re exams.
4
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25.
34. Ho w, if at all, do es the structure o f the co urses differ fro m tho se at
USC? Did yo u like o r dislike these differences?
T e xt Re spo nse
The structure differs by co urse. I like the mo re structured co urses.
MUCH less ho mewo rk! Usually, just a co uple tests and case studies/presentatio ns. I liked it, but it made difficult co ncepts (Co rpo rate Finance) harder to learn.
Generally less wo rk; it's o nly a 10 week semester! And there are 5-week co urses. Overall it's much, much easier - like o ne presentatio n fo r the entire grade and that's it! I
did like these differences.
Bimestre scheduling- yo u have two series o f 5 week 20 ho ur elective co urses, and o ne 20 ho ur weekend co urse. Mo re intensive, but yo u can co mplete mo re co urses.
Enjo yed this o ptio n.
Lo o se structure. No feeling to wards a different structure. pro s and co ns to bo th
A lo t o f the grade depends o n gro up pro jects and o ne final exam, I did no t like these differences.
Well the timing o f the co urses at HEC is so mething I have never befo re experienced. Co urses run o ver o ne bimester perio d (5 weeks)o r two bimesters (12 weeks) o r
maybe o ne and a half. Additio nally, final examinatio ns are pretty much at the discretio n o f the administratio n. I finished a co urse in Supply Chain Management the first week
o f May and wo n't be taking the final exam until June 10 . The scheduling o f classes and examinatio ns are co mpletely arbitrary and no t co nducive at all to my perso nal
learning.
No ho mewo rk, very few quizzes, heavy emphasis o n final and a final paper/pro ject. Disliked this
The co urses at HEC rely much mo re o n the final exam than co urses at USC. They also tend to be significantly easier fo r vario us reaso ns.
In general, pro fesso rs do n't give a lo t o f ho mewo rk. It's mainly sho w up to lectures, learn the material, and either take a final exam o r make a final presentatio n. The
majo rity o f the grade is based o n that final.
At HEC, there are very few quizzes, tests, pro jects, presentatio ns, and things like that. Ho wever, it has a majo r do wnside. Yo u will never have an idea o n ho w well yo u are
do ing in the class until after yo ur grade co mes o n yo ur transcript. Fo r so me, it drives them crazy thro ugho ut the semester. Fo r o thers, like me, it is just a lo t o f stress when
yo u are do ing pro jects that are wo rth 10 0 % o f yo ur grade. Mo st co urses are case based, so they are o ften mo re fluid and impro mptu than tho se at USC. Here, it has
seemed to me that the class interest determines the co ntinued directio n o f the co urse. It can be frustrating at times searching fo r a reaso n why yo u are sitting thro ugh a
class, but at the same time there is the po tential fo r the class to get much better in the future this way.
With exceptio n to finance classes, there is no little quizzes o r ho mewo rk assignment to pace yo u in the class. Mo st classes have pro jects and o nly o ne final in the end o f
the semester; I actually prefer HEC's style since it allo wed me to learn at my o wn pace (o r cram at my o wn leisure so I can have time to travel). I feel I learned a lo t fro m the
pro jects, and I believe I did fairly well o n the exams. Basically, if yo u attend all the co urses, yo u sho uld get an A even with minimal reading since yo u wo uld have lecture
no tes fro m class. Altho ugh so me may be scared by the fact that their entire grade is determined by basically o ne test at the end o f the co urse, the final test students o n
co nceptual kno wledge that yo u wo uld no t be able to cram o vernight because it is already ingrained in yo ur mind thro ugh the length o f the co urse. I like ho w there are no t
many multiple cho ice and T/F questio ns since yo u can explain yo ur reaso ning when yo u write in essay fo rm.
Yes, no ho mewo rk, grading system seems pretty flexible.
Co urses at HEC based o n case analyses mo re than based o n learning fro m a textbo o k. Even acco unting. Liked this difference.
many o f the classes were based o n cases and i liked that better than at USC because i felt it was mo re practical and i co uld learn mo re fro m co mpany cases as o ppo sed to
bo o ks
Almo st all my classes were case-based, which I preferred o ver reading theo ry o ut o f a textbo o k.
Co urses were mo re discussio n-based and less o f po werpo int-based teaching abro ad. The structure o f the co urses at USC and abro ad bo th have its strengths and
weaknesses.
The o nly difference is that the who le grade co mes fro m the final exam and maybe a final pro ject. I preferred this system because it places mo re respo nsibility o n the student
and allo ws the student to decide what is impo rtant fo r them to learn at what is a waste o f time. No busy wo rk.
So me o f the classes have o nly o ne majo r assessment to wards the end o f the semester, several o f them gro up pro jects. Pro fesso rs do n't give yo u an idea o f where yo ur
grades stand. I do n't mind having fewer assessments/pro jects, but I wish they wo uld give yo u mo re o f an idea o f where yo u stand in terms o f yo ur grades.
classes abro ad were lo nger (3 ho urs) but o nly o nce a week. I wo uld rather have it split into two classes because after 2 ho urs o f class i start to get tired and no t pay
attentio n.
It to o k so me time to get used to the French system: fewer assignments, greater emphasis o n a final exam o r pro ject, a flexible schedule (pro fesso rs wo uld add o r change
class times if they needed), and especially the allo tment o f grades (the standard between US and French grading - where hardly any A's are distributed at HEC).
USC's co urses are a lo t mo re structured and require a lo t mo re wo rk. At HEC yo u are no t given as many assignments and mo st o f yo ur grade is usually based o n o ne o r
two assignments o r just o n the final. The co urses at HEC are also mo re theo retical based rather than applicatio n. I prefer the USC metho d because I learn mo re by
applicatio n rather than theo ry. I also like having assignments spread o ut because it gives perspective o f ho w I'm do ing in the class and there is ro o m fo r impro vement.
Mo st classes were very theo ry heavy, which was different fro m USC's applicatio n basis. Also , midterms and finals were a larger percentage o f yo ur o verall grade (if no t
yo ur entire grade).
There is a lo t mo re emphasis o n the final. Very little ho mewo rk. The classes are also a lo t mo re theo retical than they are at USC.
The classes are lo nger but less frequent. Mo st o f the classes aren't interactive and are mo stly extremely bo ring lectures so yo u just have to make sure yo u turn yo ur
assignments in o n time. Grading system is also much different. Yo u can receive A, B, C, D, E, F, FX, o r no t pass. The students at the scho o ls to ld me mo st peo ple get
lo wer than Cs, and a C is go o d. The French mindset is different, I guess?
The classes are o nce a week in three ho ur blo cks. They were no t scheduled co nveniently with the ho urs o f the cafeteria and so so metimes dinner wo uld have to be o n
yo ur o wn.
Classes at HEC usually meet fo r three ho urs, o nce a week (o r rarely, fo r an ho ur and a half, twice a week). Because the classes are so lo ng, yo u get a 10 to 15 break in the
middle o f the class which is just eno ugh time to get co ffee o r snack. Altho ugh it was nice to have mo re free time during the week, as classes met less o ften, it was very
difficult to stay fo cused fo r the duratio n o f the three ho urs. Perso nally, I prefer the class structure at USC, yet fo r the sake o f traveling, I think the structure o f HEC is much
mo re co nvenient. The o ther big difference is that the semester is divided in half. Because mo st classes exchange students take are electives, they o nly meet fo r half the
semester o r 6 class sessio ns.
The individual classes co uld last up to 3 ho urs with o nly a 5 minute break after 1.5 ho urs o f learning. Also , the co urses were structured in a way that was primarily lecture
based dependent upo n students initiating co nversatio n based o n the high percentage participatio n co unted to wards their grade. I liked the lo nger co urses o ver a sho rter
perio d o f time because it reduced o ur ho mewo rk o utside o f class as well as allo wed us to take 10 co urses o ver the semester. Ho wever, I believe that students fail to gain
the depth necessary to generate tho ught-pro vo king co nversatio n because it is difficult to pay attentio n and retain 3 ho urs wo rth o f info rmatio n.
So me o f the co urses are very sho rt (bisemester structure). Fo r so me o f the bisemester classes, the learning pro cess can be very fast. A lo t o f classes have a three-ho ur
meeting. And that can be very bo ring and I do n't think will add any value in learning.
I believe all o f the quarter classes were 3 ho urs lo ng, and divided into a lecture-based po rtio n and a case study/gro up pro ject po rtio n where yo u had to apply the theo ry yo u
learned. I enjo yed the fact that they inco rpo rated case study analysis within the co urse; ho wever, by lengthening the class time, it was easier to lo se fo cus and
co ncentratio n. They kept changing the classro o ms where the pro fesso rs taught, which was perso nally diso rienting fo r me. Other than that, the classes tended to be mo re
teamwo rk-based, which has it's pro s and co ns.
Succeeding in classes are mo re abo ut yo ur o wn willpo wer and co mpetitiveness than anything. They use almo st a pure ranking system which basically means yo u can fail
with a 9 0 % if everyo ne/mo st peo ple in the class gets abo ve that. Participatio n po ints can help co unter a bit o f the negative effects o f ranking, so raise yo ur hand and
vo lunteer a lo t so the pro f learns yo ur face and name. Serio usly, do n't slack o ff to o hard; it'll be tempting because so me o f the class wo rk will seem ridiculo usly easy. Do n't
be fo o led because so me o f tho se exams will DESTROY yo u if yo u let them.
Classes feel mo re like a speaker series. Mo st electives do n't use a standard bo o k which makes it a lo t harder to abso rb info rmatio n. I liked the speaker series fo r so me
classes because yo u go t to hear fro m real experts.
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26.
35. Are there co urses o r pro fesso rs that yo u wo uld particular
reco mmend? Please explain:
T e xt Re spo nse
Strategy - Marco To rto riello . Mainly case studies do ne in class. Mo derate pace. Highly interactive. Do ing Business in Euro pe - Graham Bro wn. Go o d o verview o f Euro pean
business. Glo balizatio n and Human Reso urces - Vesa Pelto ko rpi. Mix o f case studies and readings (mix o f business and IR)
Wo rld Trade Organizatio n, Do ing Business in EU To day. Bo th are interesting co urses with engaging pro fesso rs and o nly o nce a week (tho ugh fo r fo ur ho urs). Yo u also
can't get co urses like these thro ugh Marshall.
Strategy w/ Marco To rto riello - The best business class I've ever taken. Do ing Business in Euro pe To day w/ Graham Bro wn - Great "Euro pe" class. Glo balizatio n and HR
w/ Pelto ko rpi - Ano ther interesting, easy class.
Strategy with To rto riello . The best teacher I have ever had.
Strategy co urse fro m HEC. Co nstant case analysis and case wo rk in teams has taught me mo re than all o f my USC co urses put to gether.
Legal management was extremely interesting alo ng with my Pro fesso r
I reco mmend taking French. The pro fesso rs are very patient and suppo rtive in yo ur learning so that o ne feels free to practice and therefo re learn mo re.
STRATEGY with Kevin Bo udreau! Take this class
EU Law (Alberto Alemanno ) - the best intro ductio n to the EU o ne co uld get fro m a university-level co urse
Co nflicts and Nego tatio ns taught by Pat Delaney. This co urse was unlike any co urse I have ever taken at USC. It's co mpletely interactive. The pro fesso r has students ro le
play vario us scenario s in o rder to illustrate different nego tiatio n strategies. I learned a tremendo us amo unt fro m this co urse and tho ught it was a great learning experience.
Also , the pro fesso r is o ne o f the nicest and mo st perso nable pro fesso rs I have ever had. She is also very kno wledgeable and experienced in her field.
Euro pean Unio n Law (Pro f. Alemmano ) Regulating Risk in Euro pe (Pro f. Alemmano ) These two co urses, while their titles may make it so und like the mo st bo ring two
co urses ever co nceived by a French institutio n o f higher learning, they were pro bably the mo st interesting co urses I have taken. Very few peo ple walk into this ro o m with
prio r kno wledge o f the Euro pean Unio n, but yo u co me o ut with an exceptio nal kno wledge o f where the member states are go ing and ho w it effects business and American
life. Do ing Business in Euro pe To day (Pro f. Bro wn) There is no ne a funnier and mo re cynical pro fesso r o n this campus than Pro f. Bro wn. His co urse is a stro ng, witty,
interesting co urse o n do ing business in Euro pe, and is a perfect co mplement with the mo re o ptimistic perspectives pro vided by Alemanno . It was entertaining, and o f
co urse there was little wo rk o ut o f the classro o m. Co nflicts and Nego tiatio ns (Delaney) While it is o n the weekend (and yes the French have weekend class, and chances
yo u will have o ne is pretty high), it was a go o d way to spend the weekend. The co urse is really valuable in what life skills it teaches yo u. And o f co urse, it is entertaining.
I definitely reco mmend taking EU LAW and RISK MANAGEMENT by Pro f Allemanno . He is an excellent pro fesso r, who is no t o nly well-spo ken but is also passio nate
abo ut the material he teaches. He gets his students to be engaged in the class, and he really cares abo ut them.
Nils Plambeck fo r Strategy. Ken Bechmann fo r Co rpo rate Finance. Bechmann is just a visiting pro fesso r fro m Co penhagen, but is a very go o d and enthusiastic pro fesso r.
HR with Elie Matta. Strategy with Plambeck. Principled Nego tiatio n fro m Harvard.
Strategy with Phelps (best class), Legal Management with Lisann,
STRATEGY with Nils Plambeck. FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN RESOURCES with Ellie Matta - so me co mplain that he's harsh, but he's very kno wledgeable and I learned a
lo t.
Eli Matta (?)'s Glo balizatio n and Human Reso urces co urse: discussio n led by the pro fesso r was very challenging. and yo u HAVE to read the cases to prepare. Teamwo rk
was also necessary fo r assignments. Strategy class by an o ld French male pro fesso r who went to No rthwestern (so rry can't remember the name). He had a lo t o f insightful
perspectives and experiences to pro vide to us. Also a very, very nice and easy go ing man.
Pro fesso r Berbain, who teaches in French, is an amazing pro fesso r. She really engages the students and makes even the dullest subjects entertaining to learn. Also she
take the effo rt to help o ut students fo r who m French is no t a native language. Pro fesso r Do herty teaches a weekend seminar class o n nego tiatio ns. It's a very interesting
subject and the instructio n pro vided are very much based o n self realizatio n to help the students develo p their o wn nego tiating styles.
Liked the subject matter o f EU Law (great pro fesso r, lo ts o f fun); Kno wledge Management (interesting subject that yo u do n't hear much abo ut, teaching co uld be better);
Strategic Mgmt o f Inno vatio n (again, interesting and highly applicable subject matter, class is run pretty much like an American class); and Strategy (pretty much a case
class, do n't take with Pro f. Mindruta, but everyo ne else seems fine). Go o d to take classes in the language if po ssible, since it's a go o d way to practice witho ut it feeling like
practice, and they're usually mo re challenging/intensive.
Glo balizatio n and HR with Vesa Pelto ko rpi: this class was aweso me because o f the teacher. he was my favo rite teacher at HEC. also , the co urse co ntent was interesting. It
was mo stly harvard cases which were all very interesting. Fo r the final paper, yo ur gro up is able to pick the co mpany o f yo ur cho ice to analyze. Marketing du spo rt = fo r
tho se who are able to take classes in french, take this o ne, especially if yo u are interested in spo rts. guest speakers co me almo st every class.
Co mpany Law (Lisann) - excellent American pro fesso r who explains co ncepts very tho ro ughly; altho ugh, I wo uld reco mmend taking this co urse with Co ntracts & To rts
since they are clo sely related. French language - yo u have to speak o r learn so me French if yo u live in France. No do ubt abo ut it! I learned a lo t in my 3 mo nth-lo ng co urse
and highly reco mmend every internatio nal student take French. A Study o f French So ciety (Meyer) - very interesting co urse o n the current state o f affairs in France; yo u learn
abo ut the stereo types, gender rules, laws, gastro no my, etc., that is very useful in trying to understand the co untry yo u'll be living in fo r fo ur mo nths.
Nego tiatio n with Pacheco - This co urse was really well structured and the pro fesso r was great. The class was interactive and interesting. Co mpany Law with Lisann- Lisann
was a great teacher and the class was discussio n based. The entire co urse was also structured aro und American Law so it was applicable and interesting. Strategy was
also o ne o f the better co urses o ffered at HEC but the pro fesso r was really bo ring.
Nego tiatio ns (Go ncalo Pacheco de Almeida) - Definitely the best class I to o k at HEC; very engaging and interactive class; the pro fesso r is amazing Psycho lo gy o f
Decisio n Making (Selin Atalay) - Similar in grading structure to USC; mo re like a basic marketing class
The inno vatio n and nego tiatio n classes were very go o d.
No ne... They're all medio cre at best.
1. Wine Marketing because yo u gain a better understanding o f the French culture, learn abo ut pro ductio n and different types o f wine and really understand current events in
the wine industry. 2. Strategy with Pro fesso r Mani - basically the same class as BUAD49 7 so it's a go o d review/intro ductio n depending o n if yo u have taken the class at
USC yet
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF NEGOTIATION GAMES with Go nçalo PACHECO DE ALMEIDA is pro bably o ne o f the best classes I have ever taken. No t o nly is the class
interesting, but every class yo u have an o ppo rtunity to practice and impro ve yo ur nego tiatio n skills as every lecture includes a different nego tiatio n fo llo wed by a class
debrief. Everyo ne in the class agreed that this class was simply amazing! If this class is o ffered, SIGN UP FOR IT! I pro mise yo u wo n't regret it!
I really enjo yed the so cial business: entreprise et pauvrete co urse because it is basically a preview o f their entire so cial business master specialize and feel like it
addresses an increasingly impo rtant aspect o f business in terms o f shifting to wards a mo re so ciety-o riented perspective. I wo uld also reco mmend taking a seminar
because the pro fesso rs are engaging with the smaller classes, especially o ver such a sho rt perio d o f time.
I really enjo yed taking Strategic Nego tiatio n and Games. It was really fun and helpful. I also liked "Understanding Industrial Develo pment Strategies - Battle Plan fro m
Gro wth". The pro fesso r wo rked at big co nsulting firm in Euro pe. Yo u can learn a lo t fro m his sample slides. It can be helpful if yo u want to wo rk/ intern in co nsulting firms.
I wo uld definately reco mmend taking a French-spo ken co urse if yo u can co nverse in French because it's a very different dynamic when co mpared to an English-speaking
co urse in terms o f ho w the pro fesso r interacts with the students and vis versa. Fo r French classes, I wo uld suggest "Geo po litique des crises internatio nales" as well as
"So cial Business:; So ciete et Pauvrete" (because this is a co urse catered to enco uraging students to pursue the master specialize = well do ne). Fo r English-speaking
co urses, I wo uld have to admit that my o nly weekend seminar, Harvard Nego tiatio ns, was really well tho ught o ut and educatio nal (so much so that it was wo rth sacrificing a
weekend). Ho wever, I've also heard that "Analysis o f Nego tiatio n Games" during the week is a go o d substitute.
1) New Pro duct Develo pment! Such an interesting class, it's extremely fast paced but all o f the assignments were interesting. 2) EU Law o r any class with Alberto Alemano -he's really passio nate abo ut his subjects but do esn't get so in depth that yo u're lo st. Gets a little dry at times but o verall a go o d class and he's no t as awful as so me o f the
o ther pro fesso rs abo ut no t giving A's. 3) Wine marketing - yo u get a wine tasting in class, and do a presentatio n abo ut wine in so me part o f the wo rld so yo u learn a go o d
bit abo ut it. no te: make sure yo u write do wn the kind o f wine each area she mentio n "specializes" in, and characteristics o f the wines she mentio ns (ex: dry, sweet, wo o dsy,
etc)
New Pro duct Develo pment, Managing Public and Private Interests. The seco nd has a lo t o f ho mewo rk but is extremely interesting. The first has a pro fesso r that will grab
yo ur attentio n within the first three minutes o f speaking.
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36 . Are there co urses o r pro fesso rs that yo u wo uld advise against taking?
Please explain:
T e xt Re spo nse
Supply Chain Management - Ro bo tis (o r just supply chain in general. I hear ho rro r sto ries abo ut the French pro fesso rs as well) Lesso ns barely explained. Test questio ns
are vague. Co urse is badly o rganized. No t eno ugh depth fo r the subject.
N/A.
Co rpo rate Finance w/ Thesmar - Maybe the wo rst business class I've ever taken. I'm no t learning anything, it's a bunch o f wo rk, and it's awful. Intl. Business Develo pment Easy, but incredibly, incredibly bo ring.
Co rpo rate Finance with Thesmar. He is a famo us financial researcher, but a terrible teacher, and his exams are very co nfusing. That is, the questio ns are no t clear yet he
will no t explain them, yo u are suppo sed to understand the unspo ken assumptio ns.
stay away fro m electives at HEC
Weekend classes are no t to o interesting, supply chain management, and management o f info rmatio n systems
Supply Chain Management is far to o difficult to succeed in. The co urse requires far to o much fro m its students in the way o f memo rizatio n.
Psycho lo gy o f Decisio n Making. very bo ring
Principled Nego tiatio n Harvard - the regular Nego tiatio n class is much better
Emerging Co untries and Capital Markets taught by Tauzin. I learned mo stly fro m the researching fo r my o wn presentatio n, no t fro m his lectures as they co ver co mpletely
unrelated to pics. His lectures are inco herent and hard to fo llo w. The pro fesso r also has very stro ng o pinio ns and is no t willing to listen to different ideas and perspectives.
Emerging Capital Markets (Pro f Tauzin) If yo u like upper level finance, yes take this co urse. Ho wever, beware. The pro fesso r can o ften times fo rget he is teaching
undergraduates, and has stro ng biases during the final presentatio n.
Expo rt and Impo rt Finance taught by Pro f Tauzin was an abso lute waste o f time fo r me. Altho ugh the pro fesso r is nice, it is difficult to understand his scrambled po werpo int
and to stay awake with his mo no to ne vo ice.
Decisio n Analysis. Pro fesso r is no t go o d and the class is po intless.
Co rpo rate Finance. Badly structured co urse.
Supply Chain Management - lo ts o f wo rk, Marketing Mo dels fo r Practical Decisio n Making - same as BUAD 310
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATION with Tho mas Astebro - unless yo u are pursuing a career in techno lo gy, I wo uldn't reco mmend it; very dry.
EU Law class by Leila (fo rgo t her last name) - she wasn't to o prepared fo r classes. I felt like I didn't get as much o ut o f it as I co uld have. The co urse wo uld have been better
taught by ano ther pro fesso r. Theatre class.. I do n't kno w why, but I understo o d this class as a po ssible credit to wards business units. It wasn't. The class was so mewhat
interesting and amusing, but still it was a pain to be in class o n two saturday afterno o ns, especially when it's almo st at the end o f the semester when everyo ne else is o ff
traveling o r in Paris.
Management o f Info rmatio n Systems is definitely a class to avo id. It do es no t teach anything, the instructio n co mes right o ut o f a po o rly written textbo o k and the test are
based o n yo ur ability to memo rize the irrelevant minute details that the pro fesso r canno t even explain. Marketing Mo dels is a class to avo id unless yo u like an understand
statistics. It is entirely based o n statistical metho ds. The class is fairly easy, but the pro fesso r do es no t explain anything, so be prepared to figure things o ut o n yo ur o wn.
FYI - there is no textbo o k.
Pro fesso r Mindruta fo r Strategy (but the class is still a go o d o ne); French language classes seem like a jo ke.
Managing Public o r Private interesting was just a really really bo ring class. Do n't advise yo u to take it.
Philanthro py: The Eco no mics o f Charity (Segalla) and Best in France (Segalla) - bo th classes, tho ugh they so und interesting o n paper, are no t o rganized no r well-taught.
There was a lo t o f wasted class time, and the co urses did no t live up to my no r my peers' expectatio ns.
Best in France with Segalla- This class was co mpletely useless in my o pinio n. I do n't feel like I learned anything o f value abo ut French business and the pro fesso r taught
based o ff o f stereo types. EU Law with Co rruble- The class was interesting but the pro fesso r was difficult to understand and went o ff o n many tangents.
Best in France (Segalla) - Pro bably the mo st po intless class I've taken in co llege; Pro f o ften makes inappro priate co mments; do n't actually learn abo ut business practices
in France Decisio n Analysis - theo ry heavy Strategic Decisio n Making - VERY theo ry heavy; o ften co urse wo uld go ro und in circles; all students in class felt very
unprepared fo r final exam that co unted fo r majo rity o f grade
the game theo ry class was very co nfusing
No ne... They're all well-intentio ned and nice. They just have no teaching skills since mo st o f the pro fesso rs are part-time pro fesso rs with o ther jo bs.
Marketing Mo dels with Pro fesso r So tgiu because the co urse is no t so much abo ut understanding but mo re abo ut where to click fo r the spss pro gram that market
researchers use
CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUR ORGANISATION TO SECURE YOUR TRANSFORMATION with Nick LANDROT is a class yo u sho uld avo id. The class was no t
engaging o r useful. When the time came aro und to present the final pro ject, the entire class was co nfused abo ut the purpo se o f the class and had difficulty executing the
pro ject simply because o f lack o f instructio n and directio n. Yes, it was an easy class, but very po intless.
I wo uld advise against taking the Intro ductio n to Entrepreneurship class because they flat o ut to ld us that they were no t go ing to teach us the framewo rk o f beco ming an
entrepreneur, but rather ho w an entrepreneur go es abo ut "getting his/her ideas." This class was taught by a pro fesso r who failed to initiate a successful co mpany 5 times,
and was simply giving us the psycho lo gy o r questio nable traits o f an entrepreneur. Also , so me o f the regio nal classes tend to have a o vert racial o r ethnic bias, such as
L'Occident et Le Cho c de Civilisatio n o r Enjeux de So ciete.
I do n't like Management Info rmatio n System. It's no t hard, but quite bo ring.
I wo uld advise that yo u do n't take "Fo undatio ns o f Entreprenuership" because it's a new co urse that they have failed to really develo p in terms o f added value.
1) Glo bal Business Enviro nment is just macro with a sexier name b/c peo ple weren't signing up fo r it, which she will tell yo u o n the first day. 2) Stephane Albernhe: DON'T
DO IT. Alliances might so und pretty co o l, but really it's just him bashing entrepreneurs and CEOs fo r 3 ho urs o nce a week. I will say that o n the very last day after he's given
every gro up their grade he give so me really insightful, tho ught-pro vo king advice fo r do ing business in Euro pe. Yo u can do well in his class if yo u use all o f the kinds o f
charts/graphs/tables he's sho wn yo u thro ugho ut the semester in yo ur final presentatio n, and he likes presentatio ns that aren't just pro fessio nal, but that also reach peo ple
"emo tio nally" (gets them excited abo ut the idea/pro ject/merger.) 3) if yo u do n't already speak french, do n't take it with Brika. she do esn't speak English but she teaches a
beginners co urse. Take Mark, o r Chris, o r so meo ne who speaks english at first and then weans yo u o ff o f it.
Internatio nal Banking and Expo rt & Pro ject Finance. They are taught by the same teacher. He is extremely unclear, biased, and so metimes just do wnright mean to his
students.
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28.
37. Has participatio n in this pro gram influenced yo ur academic o r career
go als? Ho w?
T e xt Re spo nse
The pro gram has allo wed me to apply mo re o f my business kno wledge. It helped me identify what I was mo re interested in. (co nsulting)
It has made me mo re interested in internatio nal relatio ns and fo reign po licy. I will be jo ining the Peace Co rps after graduatio n, so the study abro ad experience was quite
applicable.
No pe.
It has made me serio usly co nsider an MBA pro gram, specifically, CEMS.
reinfo rced my decisio n to go into co nsulting thro ugh the strategy co urse at HEC.
No
This pro gram has certainly made me think o f a career o n the internatio nal level. Of co urse my fo reign language skills are go ing to have to impro ve, but I feel co nfident
eno ugh no w to take o n the challenge o f perhaps mo ving to ano ther co untry and making a career there.
I want to wo rk abro ad no w. The trip really glo balized my o utlo o k o n life.
I have a bro ader perspective, an impro ved internatio nal netwo rk and Euro pean experience, so the pro gram has po sitively influenced my career go als. Academically, the
pro gram was no t challenging.
My participatio n in this pro gram did no t made me change my academic o r career go als, but it definitely made me realize that subjects that I tho ught I wo uld never be
interested in (like law) co uld actually be quite interesting.
Yes, because it so lidified my go als to start my career in Euro pe. Also , kno wing French students and MBA students pro files, I am changing my go als at USC to be mo re
fo reign language based.
After spending a semester abro ad, I have gained a glo bal o utlo o k o n life; I feel the wo rld is a small place, where yo u can get anywhere within 24 ho urs. Seeing different
cultures and meeting unique peo ple have changed my perspective o n the wo rld, and I no w lo o k fo rward to a career invo lved in internatio nal business.
N.A.
Yes, wo uld co nsider wo rking abro ad after graduatio n.
I wo uld lo ve to wo rk abro ad
I gained a stro nger interest in careers in human reso urces.
I wo uld ho nestly say that I have beco me to take a mo re relaxed attitude to wards academic go als when I returned to USC. Tho ugh the who le experience was enjo yable and
bro ught many po sitive aspects in my life, academic-wise, I think I wo uld have been better o ff studying harder at USC at this critical po int o f a career. (fo r me the 2nd
semester o f junio r year)
I to o k a wide array o f classes fro m different co ncentratio ns, which helped me disco ver which fields I wo uld and wo uld no t like to co ntinue studying. It's very helpful, because
do ing the same at USC wo uld have wasted a semester fo r me witho ut fulfilling my requirements in the majo r.
It has definitely given me mo re o f an internatio nal o utlo o k o n business. Go t to see ho w the French think and functio n in terms o f business. Think it wo uld be interesting to
wo rk fo r o r start a multinatio nal business.
yes. because o f reading the wall street jo urnal everyday (which i never did at USC because it is no t available fo r free in main buildings as it is at HEC) as well as the cases
that I have explo red in classes have led me to better shape my career and academic go als.
I definitely want to live o r wo rk abro ad, after meeting so many students with such internatio nal kno wledge (many spo ke 4 langauges, fo r example) and experience. It also
helps yo u realize yo u are an American (tho ugh I am o nly partly so ) and ho w o thers perceive Americans, bo th po sitively and negatively.
I learned a lo t being abro ad and it helped me realize certain areas o f business I am mo re interested in than o thers.
Yes, made me co nsider wo rking abro ad because I saw all the different academic backgro unds that peo ple came fro m (bo th HEC students and o ther exchange students)
Yes. It allo wed me to be mo re expo sed to so me parts o f co nsulting therefo re so lidifying my career go als.
It actually has.... I realized that I sho uld enter the high fashio n/luxury brand industry after ibanking. It'll suit my perso nality and interests better.
Yes because there were a lo t o f presentatio ns and case studies which are helpful fo r any business majo r, especially since yo u wo rk with o ther internatio nal students. Much
o f the exchange po pulatio n are Euro peans.
Yes, I wo uld say this experience had a significant impact o n my career go als. After wo rking so clo sely with peers fro m aro und the wo rld and learning mo re in depth abo ut
ho w glo balizatio n is affecting co mpanies, co mmunicatio n, and gro up interactio ns, I kno w that I want to pursue a career in internatio nal business and wo uld lo ve to spend
the first few years o f my career wo rking in a fo reign co untry. This is so mething I hadn't been very o pen to prio r to this experience, but no w, it has beco me my prio rity to wo rk
fo r a co mpany that will o ffer me the o ppo rtunity to wo rk abro ad at o ne po int in my career.
Yes, I have definately bro adened my o pitio ns regarding ways to integrate CSR and the so cial well-being aspect into my future career. Thro ugh my co urses, I have figured
o ut that I will pro bably no t go into law scho o l, but will instead ho ne my nego tiatio n skills and search fo r so cial businesses
Yes. So me o f the classes are very interesting and very helpful.
Yes, I have always been interested in co rpo rate so cial respo nsibility, but my co urses at HEC have really develo ped my understanding o f ho w the so cial co mpo nent that US
businesses are no w just gradually implementing have viable and real-life applicatio ns in Euro pe thro ugh the creatio n o f so cial businesses as well as the implementatio n
o f a ESG standard fo r po rtfo lio investments. Therefo re, this co urses expanded my o ptio ns in terms o f my po tential future career.
Yes. I definitely want to wo rk o utside o f the US at so me po int in my career. Also , if I learn eno ugh German to get aro und, I might try to do a graduate pro gram in Germany (in
English). And finally, I am determined to get pro mo tio ns and/o r raises every year so I can affo rd to keep visiting my new friends all o ver the wo rld. :-)
No t particularly.
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29.
Please tell us abo ut yo ur experience with the fo reign language o f yo ur
ho st co untry: 38 . Besides English, what is (are) the language(s) mo st
pro minently spo ken o n the campus o f the university where yo u studied?
T e xt Re spo nse
French
French!
French
French
French, Spanish, German
French
French
French
French, German
French
French
French, German, Mandarin Chinese
French
French
French
French
French
French, Russian
French
French (and spanish in my building because there was a gro up o f spanish students)
French (mo re so than English)
French
French
French
It's mo stly English, French, and Germans since there are so many German exchange students. My French actually go t wo rse since everyo ne speaks English there all the
time.
French
French
French, Po rtuguese
French
French, Po rtuguese
French, German, Canto nese, Mandarin
French
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30.
39 . Did yo u speak the ho st language, o r receive any language training in
the ho st language prio r to , o r during yo ur semester abro ad? If yes, please
explain:
T e xt Re spo nse
No .
I to o k o ne semester o f French at USC which was very beneficial. Once at HEC, I to o k a beginner French class and practiced any chance I co uld.
I studied o n my o wn o ver the summer, and to o k a French class here. Generally speaking French wasn't part o f the experience here.
Yes. I studied French fo r 8 years prio r to the pro gram. During the pro gram I to o k a French class, but it was a business o riented class. I also spo ke French with the students.
To o k a french co urse, also jo ined the so ccer team which helps learn the language.
Yes, studied it in highscho o l
I had no prio r lesso ns in French befo re co ming to HEC. I to o k beginner level French while studying there.
I to o k a crash co urse in French at ho me using Ro setta Sto ne. I fo und it helpful to kno w a few wo rds befo re yo u get here. I stro ngly suggest taking the French language
co urses here if yo u get the chance. I knew very little French befo re I went here and am pleasantly surprised with my pro gress and no vice co mmand o f the language
No
I did no t speak French befo re the pro gram so I decided to sign up fo r a French co urse while abro ad.
Yes, I speak French and I spent the summer befo re exchange with a ho st family in Paris. I also to o k a co urse at HEC to help me gain better grammatical skills. I to o k a
semester at USC as well.
I to o k French fo r fo ur years in high scho o l, but all students spo ke English so we always co nverse in English. I also speak Mandarin fluently, and there were many students
fro m Mandarin speaking co untries like China and Taiwan.
no
Spo ke so me French, but was able to practice mo re by studying here. Was able to practice in Paris and with so me o f the French students.
yes, i to o k french class in high scho o l and o ne semester at USC
I to o k French thro ugho ut high scho o l. Also to o k French (level B2) at HEC.
I studied French in highscho o l, so had the basics do wn but my speaking wasn't as go o d as it co uld have been. I was enro lled in French language class at HEC. It was
helpful to learn o f French natives' perspectives o r phrases and wo rds that yo u co uld o nly learn fro m a French native there.
I've studied French fo r five years prio r to leaving fo r France. I did no t take any French classes at HEC because I wanted to fo cus o n business.
Yes, studied French in middle scho o l, high scho o l and co llege.
yes. I was fluent in french befo re co ming. I went to high scho o l in No rmandie, France fo r the seco nd half o f my grade 10 year.
I to o k the beginner French co urse, which I highly reco mmend! I did no t speak any befo re.
I do no t speak French but I to o k a French language co urse there.
Spo ke co nversatio nal French (finished French 3 at USC)
I spo ke the ho st language
Yes, I studied 8 years o f French.
HEC Paris o ffers French language class, which can be helpful depending o n which pro fesso r yo u get, so it's kind o f based o n yo ur luck.
I had o nly taken a few mo nths o f French prio r to studying abro ad and it definitely was no t eno ugh to be able to carry co nversatio ns o r even understand the language. After
taking language co urses while abro ad, I wo uld say my ability has impro ved.
Yes, I had kno wn up to a French 3 high scho o l pro ficiency when I was accepted to USC. Befo re I went o n study abro ad, I to o k three mo re co llege co urses to further refine
my French-speaking skills. During my time at HEC, I tested in to French Business-level pro ficiency co urse, as well as taking three o ther co urses spo ken in French (where I
co nduced pro jects and presentatio ns in French).
Yes, I to o k o ne-week French crash-co urse. It was very helpful fo r basic needs. I to o k the mo st begginer French class in HEC. The pace were really slo w and. If yo u want to
take French class in HEC, I suggest yo u learn basic French and take o ne level higher fro m the mo st begginer class.
I had a French 3 pro ficiency befo re my study abro ad pro gram, and co ntinued to impro ve upo n my French by placing in a Business-level French co urse (#4/15) as well as
presenting in and passing my 3 French-speaking co urses (So cial Business: Entreprise et Pauvrete; Geo po litique des Crises Internatio nales, and Enjeux de So ciete). Other
than that, I tried to practice my French with my HEC friends.
Received training in my French co urse and my friends taught me a little bit.
I so metimes spo ke French when talking to waiters and staff members but besides that everyo ne spo ke English. The thing abo ut this pro gram is that there are to ns o f
students o n exchange fro m all aro und the wo rld. The co o l thing is that yo u get to meet peo ple fro m all aro und the wo rld, the bad is that if yo u want to co mmunicate, yo u end
up speaking english.
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31.
Then rate:
#
Que st io n
Exce lle nt
Go o d
Fair
Po o r
T o t al Re spo nse s
Me an
3.22
1
1) Yo ur language skills befo re the pro gram:
2
5
9
16
32
2
2) Language training o n the pro gram:
6
12
8
6
32
2.44
3
3) Yo ur pro ficiency after the pro gram:
5
5
17
5
32
2.6 9
St at ist ic
1) Yo ur language skills be f o re t he pro gram :
2) Language t raining o n t he pro gram :
Min Value
1
1
1
Max Value
4
4
4
Mean
3.22
2.44
2.6 9
Variance
0 .8 9
1.0 3
0 .8 7
Standard Deviatio n
0 .9 4
1.0 1
0 .9 3
32
32
32
To tal Respo nses
3) Yo ur pro f icie ncy af t e r t he pro gram :
32.
40 . Did cultural/so cial activities spo nso red by the pro gram assist yo u in
language acquisitio n?
T e xt Re spo nse
So mewhat, yes.
No t to o much, but they intro duced me to o ther students very well.
No .
yes
no
No
No
Yes, very much so
No - mo st French students spo ke English with exchange students
No .
No , no t really because mo st IS events are in English. Because the peo ple at HEC are so me o f the best in Euro pe, all o f them speak English fluently and prefer speaking in
English to internatio nal students.
No t really, since students all spo ke English, and we didn't get to meet that many French students since they kept to themselves, and I guess the exchange students kept to
o urselves.
No
No
no
No
No t so much
Yes, because French students participated very o ften
Yes, meeting with French students at parties helped me practice a little
no t really. all the activities were fo r the internatio nal students who all spo ke english between themselves
No t really.
So mewhat. We meet French students but everyo ne spo ke English.
No t really
n/a
N/A
No
Yes
Definately, hearing the French speaking aro und campus, listening to French music, and the IS asso ciatio n really helped me gain a better grasp o f the language.
No t really. Since majo rity o f peo ple spo ke English
The Internatio nal Students o rganizatio n (IS) o ffered to help us practice o ur French, and the HEC club bo o klet also o ffered vo cabulary that was specific to the scho o l.
No t really. I did so me vo lunteering with IS (internatio nal students asso ciatio n) but they were trying to practice their English so they mo stly answered me o r spo ke to me in
English. Same thing with my French "buddy."
no
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33.
41. Did o utside/o ther activities help? Please explain.
T e xt Re spo nse
Yes. A lo t o f expo sure to French culture.
Abso lutely--they pro bably helped me the mo st. I jo ined a co mmunity service o rganizatio n that intro duced me to French students and I travelled to many o ther cities and
practiced my French everywhere I went. I also utilized co uchsurfing (co uchsurfing.co m) o n my travels and cho se ho sts that o nly spo ke Intermediate English and Advanced
French, so I co uld learn the language better.
No .
Yes, hanging o ut mo stly with French students o bliged understanding the language!
playing o n the so ccer team.
a little, talking to lo cals and such
No
Obvio usly, go ing into the city o f Paris helps with yo ur language skills.
Visits to Paris and living in a Parisian to wn (immersio n) helped so mewhat
Go ing into the Paris and picking up a few wo rds spo ken by lo cals here and there helped a little bit.
No , no t really.
It was go o d practice to just stro ll aro und Paris o r Versaille o n yo ur o wn because then yo u can practice speaking French as many citizens do n't speak English.
No
Just visiting the city and practicing
yes - being in Paris
Yes - everyday activities in Paris, i.e. talking to taxi/bus drivers, asking fo r directio ns, o rdering at restaurants, etc.
Being lo st in Paris helped.
Getting lo st in Paris witho ut a map is an excelent way to get o ver the fear o f speaking French
Go ing into Paris helped a lo t
yes. because I had many french friends who lived in paris who o nly spo ke french, whenever i met up with them, it fo rced me to speak french
Making an effo rt to befriend yo ur French neighbo rs o r classmates wo uld help. They so metimes prefer respo nding in English, o r speaking French to their friends, but it is
always wo rth a sho t.
Traveling and go ing into Paris helped in terms o f practice.
No t really; mo st students at the scho o l speak very go o d English
n/a
N/A
Yes, such as explo ring Paris in asking fo r directio ns fro m Parisians, dining o ut etc...
Yes! Every time I went to Paris, it was the perfect o ppo rtunity to practice my French.
Having French friends that I hung o ut with helped as well.
No t really.
Listening to peo ple talking in French, listening to the radio , sharing French video s and watching the French electio n really helped. I also attended several presentatio ns and
speakers seminars that helped expand my French vo cabulary in the to pics that interest me.
Yes. If yo u want to learn mo re, jo in a spo rt. The French students are REALLY into their Asso ciatio ns and if yo u sho w interest in them they really try to bo nd with yo u. I
played fo o tball (so ccer) andso me o f my friends who jo ined the ro wing team say it's
Yes. Simply go ing aro und Paris really helps yo u. Kno wing so me french go es a lo ng way with the public transpo rtatio n.
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34.
42. What percentage o f students o n the campus o f yo ur ho st co untry
(wo uld yo u estimate) actively speak English?
T e xt Re spo nse
50 %
75-9 0 %.
75
70
9 5%
70 %
60%
80%
40 % - the 40 % o f the campus that are exchange, internatio nal o r CEMS students
40 %
10 0 %
10 0 %
90%
9 5%
90%
90%
Almo st 10 0 %
All o f them, the scho o l requires students to take classes in bo th English and French
50 % o r mo re
75%
30
80%
99%
9 5%
10 0 %
70 %
All o f them
75%
Almo st all o f them.
I believe that aro und 70 % o f the student bo dy actively speaks English.
8 0 %. But o nly abo ut 9 % o f the no n-internatio nal students will initiate co nversatio n with yo u if yo u do n't speak French.
50 %
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35.
43. Ho w wo uld yo u reco mmend that students prepare fo r language
differences abro ad?
T e xt Re spo nse
Do n't stick aro und the internatio nal students. Keep trying to speak the native language; if yo u're persistent, they'll start speaking back in their native to ngue instead o f
switching to English with internatio nal students.
Start at ho me! Take a co urse o ver summer o r at USC the semester befo rehand if po ssible. If yo u have the basics, it's ALOT easier to pick up the language and get by o nce
abro ad.
Fo r this scho o l, I highly reco mmend learning a go o d deal o f French befo rehand. I really regret no t trying harder to learn it befo re I go t here. I think being able to speak and
so cialize in French wo uld've made this a much, MUCH richer semester fo r me. Of all the friends I made here, maybe 2 o f them are French.
Just accept that yo u wo n't understand mo st o f it, and do n't be bo thered by that.
Go abro ad, o n yo ur o wn, witho ut the co mfo rt o f yo ur friends.
Kno w the basics
This is a silly questio n. Yo u can study a language fo r ten years befo re co ming to Marshall and applying fo r IEP. Then yo u realize that the o ne university yo u wanted to go to
and use that ten years o f language class is full and yo u have to go so mewhere else. There is no way to beco me pro ficient in the new language and yo u're stuck mumbling
in English and ho ping that so meo ne will talk to yo u. The o nly cho ice is to tell yo urself to go with the flo w and try to learn key phrases as yo u go . Marshall do esn't send
students anywhere where they do n't speak English at all. So do n't wo rry abo ut it.
Take a crash co urse in Ro setta Sto ne o r so mething similar
Fluency in French helps greatly with co mmunicating with no n-students, but bridging the gap between do mestic and internatio nal students requires mo re than that. There is a
stro ng campus divide between internatio nals and do mestic students - the "exchange bubble"
Learn a few basic phrases o n yo ur o wn befo re go ing to the ho st co untry.
The best way is to o bvio usly learn the language befo re co ming abro ad. I suggest do ing two o r three semesters, and try to spend a mo nth befo re in France with a ho st
family if yo u can. The thing is, the campus speaks English, but to get respect and co o peratio n fro m so me French students, kno wing French is key.
Take so me classes befo rehand so yo u kno w the basics, but do n't expect to impro ve yo ur language ability much as English is widely used in mo st co untries.
no idea
Putting o n a french accent even fo r wo rds that are the same in english helps a lo t
be o pen
At least learn simple phrases (hi, please, thank yo u) - I felt that French peo ple highly valued po liteness.
It's definitely a plus if yo u can speak, o r even try to speak French with yo ur French classmates. But it do esn't bring yo u any minuses either even if yo u do n't speak a single
wo rd o f French (and yo u'll pick up so me in that sho rt perio d)
In terms o f staying o n campus, there is no preparatio n necessary. Paris itself is fairly bilingual. Ho wever, it wo uld be go o d to take the classes pro vided by HEC to get so me
idea o f basic French.
Learn it. Ro setta Sto ne(?). Felt like I definitely benefitted fro m kno wing the language after speaking to my friends who studied in o ther co untries and had no idea what was
go ing o n fo r 4 mo nths.
take language classes, watch mo vies in the language that yo u need to learn
Study French fo r a co uple o f weeks befo rehand (I just read a 10 Minutes a Day bo o k fo r useful French wo rds and phrases in the week prio r to go ing abro ad), just so yo u
wo n't be co mpletely lo st. I wo uld also reco mmend reading "Sixty Millio n Frenchmen Can't Be Wro ng," which is an excellent bo o k o n French so ciety and cultural habits and
values. Itès best to enter with an o pen mind, but to also have an educated perspective o f the co untry.
Take a class befo rehand o r practice the language o n yo ur o wn.
French is no t necessary to survive o n campus, ho wever it is very useful fo r day to day activities when yo u go into Paris o r into Jo uy (the to wn that HEC is in). If yo u've taken
French in high scho o l o r at USC, yo u pro bably kno w eno ugh to survive. If yo u've never taken a French class befo re, I wo uld definitely try and learn so me basic phrases and
grammar befo re yo u leave fo r HEC.
Try to learn so me basic sentences and greetings. If yo u try to speak their language, peo ple are a lo t nicer and a lo t mo re likely to help yo u.
They do n't have to wo rry since everyo ne o n campus speaks English. Even when yo u travel within western Euro pe, all the peo ple at the help desk speak English and public
transpo rtatio n is fairly easy to maneuver.
Yes it will be but it's no t necessary
If yo u can, try to learn as much French as yo u can befo re go ing abro ad. Listen to the radio in French o r watch mo vies to get used to no t just the so und, but the speed at
which they speak! No t sure ho w to prepare fo r any specific differences, but just try to speak the language and yo ur effo rt will be appreciated (this mo stly applies o n campus
when speaking with the HEC students)
Definitely, yo u will need to prepare no t o nly fo r erro rs in translatio n, but also to have to mo dify yo ur speech patterns, wo rding, and to ne.
Learn so me wo rds & sentences fo r daily life (Buying fo o d & stuff, asking directio n) befo re hand.
I believe that having a basic understanding o f French wo uld be useful fo r setting up bank acco unts and understanding bills. Other than that, I wo uld stro ngly reco mmend but
no t require previo us kno wledge o f French fo r scho o l activities.
Ro setta sto ne, practice with friends o r family members who speak the language, watch tv in that language so yo u can start to understand and imitate the accent. Fo r me the
hardest thing was that French is no t a pho netic language, so when i lo o ked at a wo rd I co uldn't tell what it so unded. Have so meo ne write o ut the so unds o f phrases and
sentences yo u think yo u'll need a lo t befo re yo u get go o d eno ugh to speak and fo rm yo ur o wn and keep it in yo ur pho ne--really saved me a co uple times.
Learn as much as yo u can befo re. They have a buddy pro gram where yo u get a French buddy. Yo u teach him english and in exchange he/she teaches yo u french. Getting a
head start can make this easier.
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
32
36.
Click to write Co lumn 2
#
Que st io n
No t Available
Available But No t Use d
Available And Use d
T o t al Re spo nse s
Me an
1
Ho using co o rdinatio n
1
2
29
32
2.8 8
2
On-site perso nal advising and info rmal suppo rt
4
18
10
32
2.19
3
Orientatio n in Lo s Angeles
6
3
23
32
2.53
4
Instructio nal facilities
0
4
28
32
2.8 8
5
Medical/dental facilities
1
15
16
32
2.47
6
Recreatio nal facilities
1
15
16
32
2.47
7
USC Financial Aid
9
10
13
32
2.13
8
Co mmunicatio n with o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
12
20
32
2.6 3
St at ist ic
Ho using
co o rdinat io n
On-sit e pe rso nal
advising and inf o rm al
suppo rt
Orie nt at io n
in Lo s
Ange le s
Inst ruct io nal
f acilit ie s
Me dical/de nt al
f acilit ie s
Re cre at io nal
f acilit ie s
USC
Financial
Aid
Co m m unicat io n
wit h o f f ice in
Lo s Ange le s
Min Value
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
Max Value
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Mean
2.8 8
2.19
2.53
2.8 8
2.47
2.47
2.13
2.6 3
Variance
0 .18
0 .42
0 .6 4
0 .11
0 .32
0 .32
0 .6 9
0 .24
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .42
0 .6 4
0 .8 0
0 .34
0 .57
0 .57
0 .8 3
0 .49
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
To tal
Respo nses
37.
Click to write Co lumn 2
Unacce pt able
Be lo w
Ave rage
Ave rage
Abo ve
Ave rage
Acce pt able
T o t al Re spo nse s
Me an
Ho using co o rdinatio n
0
3
16
9
4
32
3.44
2
On-site perso nal advising and info rmal
suppo rt
1
9
17
3
2
32
2.8 8
3
Orientatio n in Lo s Angeles
0
0
15
12
5
32
3.6 9
4
Instructio nal facilities
0
4
14
8
6
32
3.50
5
Medical/dental facilities
1
12
14
4
1
32
2.75
6
Recreatio nal facilities
2
11
15
2
2
32
2.72
7
USC Financial Aid
2
2
19
1
8
32
3.34
8
Co mmunicatio n with o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
1
7
12
12
32
4.0 9
#
Que st io n
1
On-sit e pe rso nal
advising and inf o rm al
suppo rt
Orie nt at io n
in Lo s
Ange le s
Inst ruct io nal
f acilit ie s
2
1
3
2
5
5
5
5
Mean
3.44
2.8 8
3.6 9
3.50
Variance
0 .71
0 .76
0 .54
0 .9 0
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 4
0 .8 7
0 .74
32
32
32
St at ist ic
Ho using
co o rdinat io n
Min Value
Max Value
To tal
Respo nses
Re cre at io nal
f acilit ie s
USC
Financial
Aid
Co m m unicat io n
wit h o f f ice in
Lo s Ange le s
1
1
1
2
5
5
5
5
2.75
2.72
3.34
4.0 9
0 .71
0 .8 5
1.27
0 .73
0 .9 5
0 .8 4
0 .9 2
1.12
0 .8 6
32
32
32
32
32
Me dical/de nt al
f acilit ie s
38.
44. Did yo u live in...
#
Answe r
Bar
Re spo nse
%
1
Do rm
32
10 0 %
2
Apartment
0
0%
3
Other
0
0%
To tal
32
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
1
Max Value
1
Mean
1.0 0
Variance
0 .0 0
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
To tal Respo nses
32
39.
45. If yo u used STA Travel fo r transpo rtatio n arrangements, were yo u
satisfied? Please explain.
T e xt Re spo nse
No t used.
I did no t use them fo r transpo ratio n, but they helped me figure o ut my itinerary fo r backpacking pre-study abro ad. Free and go o d!
No .
N/A
NO
Did no t use
Yes. I wo uldn't rely o n them to do anything particularly helpful fo r yo u if pro blems o ccur. So keep it simple when dealing with them.
n/a
N/A
I did no t use STA Travel.
did no t use them
I used StudentUniverse, and I was able to bo o k a cheap ticket, making essentially happy.
na
n/a
na
Did no t use.
N/A
Did no t use them
N/A
n/a
Yes, I go t a go o d deal fo r flights.
Yes they were very helpful
N/A
na
N/A
Didn't use STA
N/A
Did no t use them.
I didn't use STA
Did no t use
N/A
Didn't.
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40.
46 . Is there any aspect o f the pro gram that yo u wo uld like to see changed
o r different? (VERY IMPORTANT!)
T e xt Re spo nse
Better co mmunicatio n with fo reign o ffice fo r ho using and co urse registratio n.
HEC Paris required to o many classes/units fo r exchange students. I wo uld allo w each individual university to determine the amo unt o f units each student needs to take o r
at least have HEC lo wer the units required. Online registratio n fo r classes wo uld also make things much simpler. It wo uld also be nice to have a schedule o f spo rts and
dance classes distributed at o rientatio n.
The main kno ck o n HEC is that it's in the middle o f no where, which can't be changed. The o ther main pro blem with the scho o l is that it's no t run very well generally which
CAN be changed. I'd like a little mo re o rganizatio n in this scho o l - I didn't kno w my classes until the week they started, and even then I had to wait in the IS o ffice fo r ho urs to
wo rk my schedule o ut. Also it wo uld be nice if this scho o l o ffered regular transpo rtatio n into the city o n the weekends, as yo u have to leave Paris at abo ut 9 o r 10 at night to
make it back to campus by train.
The HEC/USC unit co nversio n requirement made it extremely difficult to fulfill the 15 unit business credit requirement - I do n't think any Marshall student was able to fulfill
this - mo st had aro und 13 units after the co nversio n. The pro blem is that we do n't have the ability to create o ur o wn schedules, but can o nly request certain classes and
ho pe we are placed in them befo re they fill.
NO
LESS classes, taking seven classes is ridiculo us and o ften there is mo re wo rk per class than fo r classes I have at USC
Co mmunicatio n with the ho st university is really the mo st difficult thing deal with at HEC. This isn't really so mething within my o r USC's co ntro l so I do n't kno w ho w the
pro blem can be fixed. But, I think it is impo rtant to no te ho w spo radic, undetailed, and unrespo nsive the HEC ho using and academic advising o ffices are. It made the
experience o f mo ving in and getting settled so difficult and very nerve racking.
No t really, it was a great experience. The French are very hard to wo rk with because they are insanely slo w and inefficient but it's all part o f the experience. The trip has
taught me incredible patience. It has also taught me a lo t abo ut mo tivating peo ple.
- Pre- and po st-decisio n o rientatio ns PER SCHOOL (i.e. every scho o l has an o rientatio n led by past students who had co me fro m that scho o l)
I wo uld like mo re interactio n with the French students because the pro gram put all the internatio nal students to gether so it was really hard to reach o ut and meet the o ther
students. Also , an o rientatio n prio r to the start o f classes wo uld be helpful.
Fo r me, a lo t o f the changes can be made simply thro ugh o ur students kno wing ano ther language. All the english classes co ntain a lo t o f fo reign exchange students, if no t
all. In class, yo u rarely have French students, and if yo u do have them, they tend to be the o nes who least wanted the English co urse. Fo r me, I wish there was mo re
integratio n fo r tho se co urses in English. Yo u can gain that integratio n by taking French co urses, which o ften times can be better and mo re rewarding fro m my
understanding fro m students fro m UPenn and UTexas (they are fo rced to take so me French classes).
I wish there were mo re integratio n o f the exchange students into the actual university students. It wo uld also be great if USC had ano ther partner scho o l that is clo ser to
Paris city center like La So rbo nne. I also think it wo uld be better if students fro m exchange were mixed with students fro m different co untries o n each flo o r. HEC had a
tendency to place students to gether by their backgro und...so all the Americans were in o ne building, and the Germans in ano ther...etc... It wo uld be nice if there are mo re
classes to cho o se fro m as well.
No thing really abo ut the pro gram. Just sho uld be mo re clear with students ho w difficult it can be to get back to campus late at night after the trains have sto pped running.
Putting internatio nal students with french students at HEC who actually want to meet internatio nal kids. It helps with the cultural immersio n, but so me french students do n't
seem to want to meet internatio nal students at all.
it was a great pro gram
Of co urse it wo uld be nice if the campus was in Paris....but the scho o l and the Internatio nal Students club (IS) put a HUGE effo rt in making the campus fun with things to do .
1. Different lo catio n o f the campus - to o ne actually IN PARIS. (I think this go t added, tho ugh) 2. Mo re and clear info rmatio n o n ho using, academic pro gram, and all that
befo re departure to the scho o l 3. Mo re o ptio ns o f co urses in English & if po ssible, mo re credits allo wed per tho se co urses
It wo uld be nice if certain classes o ffered in French but no t in English still be applicable fo r transfer to USC. But o ther than that, I think the pro gram was very well structured.
Wish that previo us USC students wo uld write a detailed o rientatio n packet fo r inco ming students. (If necessary, I'd definitely be willing to help with this.) Wish that there was
mo re interactio n with French students o r peo ple instead o f being sectio ned o ff by the administratio n. Classes are fine, meeting peo ple fro m vario us co untries was co o l. But
all in all, definitely wish I was better prepared and knew what to expect befo re arriving.
a better way o f co mparing HEC credits to USC credits. it was very co nfusing and difficult to calculate if i had the right amo unt o f credits that were able to transfer back to USC
I wo uld have liked an explanatio n o f the grading system at HEC, since it is so different fro m USC's.
I wo uld make the campus mo re accessible to Paris. The trains and transpo rtatio n was o ften very inco nvenient but the scho o l co uld have o ffered shuttles. In terms o f
classes, so me o f them co uld have been better structured and challenging but fo r the mo st part so me classes were interesting.
Fo r ho using, they made it seem like we wo uld have different o ptio ns, but they put all exchange students into a 3rd party o wned campus do rms to fulfill a prio r agreement
they have with a co mpany. The students who came in the fall were no t put here and were put in several do rms (thus making it easier to interact with the HEC students
themselves).
na
I'd like to see mo re co urses o ffered to the exchange pro grams instead o f mainly electives being o ffered. I've heard that the pro fesso rs fo r no n-electives co urses are
actually very impressive but I wasn't able meet any thro ugh my pro gram.
The BNP Paribas partnership with Bank o f America is really no t as great as it seems. BNP had an affiliatio n with HEC Paris, which was why everyo ne was urged to create an
acco unt with them (fo r ho using depo sit purpo ses), but I wo uld rather advise students to no t use BNP acco unt and just use their atm fo r cash withdrawals and use
CapitalONE credit card.
Unlike the majo rity o f the French language classes that were split into two sessio ns, mine was o nce a week. Because there as a week between every class, it made it very
easy to fo rget to co ntent. I think this class sho uld o nly be o ffered as an ho ur and half class because having three ho urs o f French language fro m 6 -9 pm is no t ideal o r
practical. Ano ther thing is that the o ffice in charge o f the internet was hard to get a ho ld o f. I believe they changed their lo catio n halfway thro ugh the semester and many o f us
were co nfused abo ut ho w to co ntact them. Better co mmunicatio n abo ut ho w to get these services wo uld have been great.
I wo uld like it if Marshall had an equivalent to the HEC Internatio nal Students Asso ciatio n that can help the study abro ad students acclimate to their new surro undings. Other
than that, I believe that Marshall sho uld better co o rdinate with HEC in no t charging an additio nal medical insurance as well as ensuring that the students who do no t kno w
ho w to speak the language have reso urces they can refer to if they have an emergency (service they can call, co ntact perso n who kno ws the language)
No t really. I enjo yed my semester in HEC.
I wo uld like USC to expand their IEP pro gram to be as thro ugh as the IS o rganizatio n at HEC. Also , I believe that the USC exchange students sho uld have the cho ice o f
whether they want their study abro ad grades to be letter grade o r pass/fail, even if it were graded o n a curve.
Def make it explicitly clear that it's no t in Paris, and it' no t a quick trip to get to Paris. It's no t bad o r difficult, but I think peo ple will be better o ff kno wing exactly what they're
getting into , and stating to plan befo re they even get there what they will do if they want to leave Paris after 21h50 but befo re 5h30 the next mo rning because cab drivers will
laugh at yo u and refuse to drive yo u back to Jo uy-en-Jo sas, o r else say yes and get lo st and charge yo u mo re than yo u have in yo ur wallet. I also think HEC wo uld benefit
fro m an electro nic class selectio n and co nfirmatio n system such as USC has so po o r Do uget do esn't have to do it all, and we do n't have to wait fo r him to answer the
tho usand emails sent to him befo re he gets to o urs. Also , maybe no thing USC can do abo ut it but the fridges in the shared kitchens in AP buildings are TINY and really no t
realistic fo r 50 + peo ple to use and they have no o ven.
No no t really.
St at ist ic
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41.
47. Additio nal co mments o n services and co o rdinatio n.
T e xt Re spo nse
Difficult to wo rk with campus o fficials. System's no t to o efficient.
N/A.
No ne.
NO
Services o n campus are efficient fo r France - but France is much less efficient than the US in terms o f having things o pen 24/7 o r having things accessible o nline
No t really.
Being such a diverse campus, it wo uld make sense fo r HEC to pro vide so me ethic fo o d o ptio n besides just pasta and pizza.
na
everything was well co o rdinated
Experience less pro blems with the typical "French bureaucracy" than anticipated. But still be prepared to deal with silly po licies and co nstraints. I.e. the medical center was
o nly o pen twice a week fo r a co uple ho urs, and yo u are in the middle o f no where!
N/A
Co o rdinatio n o n the HEC side is terrible, so it's nice to have so meo ne at USC to guide yo u.
The internatio nal o ffice was helpful. We were also just given o ur ho using assignments (they put all the internatio nal students to gether in the mo st expensive ho using) but it
wo uld have been nice to be able to cho o se o ur buildings and if we were mixed up a bit.
Registering fo r classes can be very frustrating. Yo u are emailed a list o f available classes befo re yo ur arrival and have to email the co o rdinato r which classes yo u want to
take. Yo u aren't guaranteed all o f them, but he tries to give yo u what he can. Ho wever, anytime yo u want to add o r dro p a class, yo u have to email o r see the co o rdinato r.
Also , the last day to add o r dro p a class is very early.
na
The printers o ften didn't wo rk which made it difficult to print o ut assignments o r plane tickets.
I believe that Marshall sho uld o ffer a mo re extensive pro gram to the exchange in o rder fo r them to integrate better with USC students.
The techno lo gical services were very difficult to find, and the IT department made it intentio nally difficult fo r us to have ro uters in the ro o m in o rder to have wifi, which sho uld
have been explicitly stated rather than simply cutting o ff the Internet to the ro o m.
DON'T FORGET TO TO GET YOUR HOUSING SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK BEFORE YOU LEAVE FRANCE! They wo n't remind yo u and they take their sweet time getting it
back to yo u if yo u send the electro nic RIB. Yo u need to buy to kens to do yo ur laundry fro m the ho using o ffice, which is no t o pen o n weekends. And so metimes they run o ut
o f to kens and no o ne o n campus can do their laundry that weekend unless they find so meo ne willing to sell.
St at ist ic
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19
42.
Please tell us abo ut yo ur travel experiences. 48 . Ho w did yo u find yo ur
arrangements to the ho st institutio n?
#
Answe r
Bar
Re spo nse
%
1
Travel Agent
2
6%
2
Online
28
88%
3
Other:
2
6%
To tal
32
Ot he r:
Parent, Scho o l
Mo m wo rks in airlines
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
1
Max Value
3
Mean
2.0 0
Variance
0 .13
Standard Deviatio n
0 .36
To tal Respo nses
32
43.
Wo uld yo u reco mmend this metho d?
T e xt Re spo nse
Yes. Catered to yo ur o wn needs.
Abso lutely.
Yes
yes
With at least minimal experience in euro pe, I wo uld reco mmend do ing it o nline yes.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes.
I used studentuniverse.co m, which o nly accepts users with an .edu acco unt. I paid less than 70 0 do llars fo r my ro und trip flight to Euro pe using them, while o thers paid
mo re.
Yes
na
Yes.
easy
Yes.
Sure
Yes
Yes.
yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, self bo o king was always cheaper.
Yes
I reco mmend
Yes
yes
yes
Yes, It was very easy to bo o k everything o nline.
Yes
Sure
Yes.
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44.
49 . What was the average co st fo r ro und-trip tickets to yo ur ho st co untry?
T e xt Re spo nse
10 0 0
I backpacked fo r two weeks prio r to arriving to the ho st co untry. Ro und-trip to Athens in September and return fro m Paris in late December was $120 0 .
$150
120 0
~$10 0 0
Do n't kno w
$8 0 0
150 0
N/A (used parent's air miles)
$8 0 0
70 0 do llars fo r my ticket, but the average that I heard was 9 0 0 -10 0 0 do llars
750 USD
10 0 0
$20 0
frequent flyer miles
N/A - used airline po ints.
I flew fro m Asia so it was way o ver $10 0 0 . Can't remember to the hundreds tho ugh.
9 50 USD
$50 0 - $8 0 0
i bo o ked o n po ints
US70 0
abo ut $8 0 0
Used air miles there and back
na
140 0
$30 0
fro m US, $1,0 0 0 . Within Euro pe, $70
I had to return thro ugh a different co untry o n the way back
$120 0 -$140 0
I do n't kno w because I dro ve fro m Ro mania to France, then returned to the US fro m France
Mine co st abo ut 10 0 0 , but we bo ught it waaaaay in advance.
Abo ut $20 0 0 .
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
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32
45.
50 . Ho w o ften did yo u travel and to where?
T e xt Re spo nse
(Almo st) every weekend. Greece, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria
I backpacked Greece and Italy fo r two weeks prio r to studying abro ad. I to o k weekend trips half the time and spent the o ther half in Paris/Versailles.
I to o k 4 trips in a 12 week pro gram to Lo ndo n, Amsterdam, Spain, and Dublin. After finals, I plan to visit Belgium and Germany.
Two weekend ro ad trips: No rmandy and Burgundy. Two weekend flights: Barcelo na and Ro me. One weekend train: Lo ndo n
4 times. Germany, Netherlands, England and aro und France
Twice a mo nth, Prague, Berlin, o ther places in France, Amsterdam
I travelled three weekends and o ne perio d o f ten days during my semester at HEC. I visited Bretagne, No rthern Spain, Co penhagen, and Lo ndo n.
No t very o ften. I really wanted to enjo y Paris, but I did travel aro und a bit. I dro ve to Britagne fo r a weekend To o k the TGV to Champagne fo r a day Dro ve to Amsterdam Flew
to Prague fo r Spring Break then flew to Berlin fo r 2nd half o f spring break--aweso me city btw
2-3 o ut-o f-to wn trips per mo nth Mo st trips were o ut o f France Co untries visited: Belgium, Italy, Germany, Great Britain
I traveled mo stly at the start o f the semester and during fall break. I visited Prague, Brussels, Brugges, Dublin, Nice, and Champagne during the weekends. Fo r fall break, I
went to Italy and traveled to Venice, Ro me, Flo rence, and Pisa.
I traveled to Germany, Belgium, and Italy.
Just abo ut every weekend...all o ver Euro pe: So uth o f France, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, and Belgium. I also went to Mo ro cco .
No t o ften, but o n all the breaks and befo re classes began. Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy
2 Spring break trips and so me weekend trips to clo ser places. Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Lo ndo n, Ro me, Sicily, Nice, Cannes.
amsterdam, milan, budapest, prague, berlin, italy, so uth o f france
1-2 times per mo nth. Mo stly within France. Of co urse a lo t o f plans were canceled due to the vo lcanic eruptio n in Iceland. 1st trip: Manchester, Lo ndo n, Prague. 2nd trip:
Munich France: Lyo n, Nice (& Cannes, Mo naco , Antibes), Avigno n
ro ughly o nce/twice a mo nth. - Went to Luxembo urg and Germany within the first mo nth (end-March) - Spain and UK during the spring break (mid-Apr) - So uth o f France
(beginning? mid-May) - Mo ro cco (end-May/beginning o f June)
Aro und France every chance I go t. HEC o ffers two o ne-week-lo ng spring breaks. The first o ne I spent in Lo ndo n; the seco nd traveling aro und Italy.
Maybe 2-3 times a mo nth.
i travelled every weekend except fo r 4 weekends. I traveled aro und France to Lyo n, Mo ntpellier, Lille, Alenco n, Verno n, Metz and To ulo use. I also travelled to Mo ro cco ,
Tunisia, Germany (fo r Okto berfest), Czech Republic, Luxembo urg, Belgium, Netherlands, Iceland, and Spain. I cho se these places because they were o nes that I haven't
been to befo re o r places that I lo ved so much I had to go back to .
I to o k two 10 -day trips (Eastern Euro pe and Italy), a weekend to Belgium, a day trip to Giverny, and two weekend trips aro und France (Dijo n and La Ro chelle)
I wo uld travel o nce o r twice a mo nth depending o n ho w much time I had o ff. I went to Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Lo ndo n, Barcelo na, French Riviera (Marseille, Cannes,
Mo naco , Nice), and Israel. I wo uld also make so me day trips to to wns aro und Paris.
1-week (Winter Break) - Budapest, Vienna, Prague 1.5 weeks (Spring Break - Italy Weekend trips to Dijo n and Berlin 2 weeks in Lo ndo n befo re pro gram; 3 weeks in Munich
and Barcelo na after pro gram
Yes, aro und Euro pe, mainly Eastern and So uth Eastern Euro pe. I reco mmend it. It is a lo t cheaper and it is truly beautiful and mo st o f it is still unspo iled.
I was lucky to have 4-5 day weekends almo st every week so I pretty much traveled almo st every weekend to mo st western Euro pean co untries.
Mo st weekends in Octo ber and so me in No vember, to Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, So uth o f France, Ireland
I mo stly traveled during o ur breaks (there were two , o ne week vacatio ns) and o ther than that, o nce o r twice a mo nth. I went to Lo ndo n, Marrakech, Barcelo na, the so uth o f
Spain, Ro me, Venice, and Flo rence. The IS (Internatio nal Students asso ciatio n/club o n campus) also planned a trip to No rmandy, France and Les Chateaux de la Lo ire.
I wo uld travel abo ut o nce every 3-4 weeks. I traveled to England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Ro mania. Internally, I visited Mo nt St. Michel and Chateaux des la
Lo ire with the HEC IS asso ciatio n.
I o nly traveled o n lo ng ho lidays. HEC has 2 big breaks. I went to Spain, Po rtugal, Greece, So uthern France.
I traveled abo ut o nce a mo nth. Since we started HEC in late January. Fo r o ur winter break in February, I traveled to England (Lo ndo n), Ireland (Dublin, Galway), and the
Czech Republic (Prague). Went to Spain (Malaga, Granada) in March. Then, spent spring break in April in Ro mania (Bucharest, Braso v). Also went o n bo th IS trips to Mo nt
St. Michel and Chateaux de la Lo ire/To urs.
I had a lo t o f weekend classes and a fairly tight budget so I did two big trips thro ugho ut the semester but no t much besides tho se. Met up with a friend and my mento r in
Lo ndo n, and did a to ur o f Italy: Milan, Venice, Flo rence, Ro me. I didn't get to everywhere I wanted to go but mo st o f them I'd rather do in summer time, and when I'm no t
pinching pennies. No w that I'm wo rking I'm go ing to save up and visit my friends--this way I stay free and I'll get sho wn aro und by a lo cal.
They have a o ne week break where we go t to travel wherever. Mo st o f the time if yo u want to go so mewhere, yo u can find peo ple to go with. I managed to go to Edinburgh,
Lo ndo n, Dublin, Munich, Amsterdam, Flo rence, and Ro me
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46.
51. Did the structure o f the ho st institutio n's co urse schedule fo ster travel
o ppo rtunity o r prevent it? Why?
T e xt Re spo nse
Bo th. It was easy to schedule all classes o n 4 days, but class attendance was mandato ry.
Abso lutely! Altho ugh there are weekend classes, I cho se to have Fridays and the weekends o ff. Fo r the first bimestre (HEC has two bimestres each semester, similar to the
quarter system), I also had Wednesdays o ff to explo re nearby Versailles, Paris, o r the lo cal to wn (Jo uy-en-Jo sas).
Abso lutely. No classes o n Friday and few classes o n Mo nday. Ho wever, mo st classes in the middle o f the week attendance was mandato ry (yo u fail if yo u miss 3
sessio ns) - if yo u go t o ne o f tho se o n M o r F it co uld be a pro blem. Also , yo u mo st likely have to take a weekend co urse, which will keep yo u o n campus fo r 2 o r 3
weekends. This wasn't a pro blem fo r me but it co uld be fo r o thers.
Fo stered it, as mo st students do n't have class o n Friday.
There is a "miss class" rule, after 3 absences yo u auto matically fail.
Prevented it, classes o n fridays, thursdays, weekends, and to o much ho mewo rk
To tally prevented it simply because we were no t even info rmed o f o ur o fficial co urse dates and/o r exam sessio ns until right befo re.
Fo ster it. France has an o utrageo us amo unt o f ho lidays. It is also no t that hard to o nly have classes M-Th. So me even had class o nly M-W. The Internatio nal So ciety o n
campus also plans several weekend trips
The co urse schedule fo stered travel by allo wing very flexible schedules - peo ple co uld cho o se to have weekends free in the fall and make up the co ursewo rk in the winter
when it was mo re difficult to travel
Prevent it because o f weekend co urses and alternative test days scheduled o ver the weekends.
Prevented it so metimes. When yo u have weekend classes, they can kno ck o ut two to three weekends o f traveling. Ho wever, it do es make yo u stay in Paris, which is o ne o f
the best cities in Euro pe to be in, as well as the mo st time co nsuming to really see.
It was perfect fo r traveling because I had classes M-Th, and I o nly had 2 weekend seminar class so I had a three day weekend just abo ut every week. There's also a
vacatio n break in end o f Octo ber fo r a week o f traveling. I didn't have any finals during final week so I went to Mo ro cco during that time.
Yes, there were two breaks. Fo r peo ple who did no t have class o n Friday, it was very easy to travel.
Prevented it! Mo st peo ple didn't have mo re than a 3 day weekend. So me had class o n Friday mo rning. Mandato ry Saturday class.
2 week lo ng breaks, many lo ng weekends
Fo ster - I go t into all my classes that I was interested in, and so meho w I didn't have class Wed/Fri.
Fo stered so mewhat that I was able to have Fridays o ff and use it fo r traveling. But final exam dates were unclear and this caused a delay in travel arrangements
Yo u can make yo ur o wn schedule as yo u see fit. So if it just so happens that all the classes yo u take meet o n Tuesday thro ugh Thursday...
It depends o n ho w yo u cho o se yo ur classes, but I definitely fo und it easy to travel. Had lo ts o f lo ng weekends.
My co urse schedule let me have lo ts o f time to travel. It just wo rked o ut that the classes I was interested in taking were scheduled at go o d times and days.
There are fewer class ho urs than at USC, so I had Wednesdays, Thursday (daytime), and Fridays free to go to Paris o r so cialize and travel.
So mewhat, but it was very difficult to manage a schedule where I wo uld have eno ugh free time and have eno ugh units. It is also difficult to co mpletely avo id weekend
co urses. I to o k two weekend co urses so that was fo ur weekends that I co uldn't travel.
Mo stly fo ster since classes are rarely o n Fridays. Also , so me classes o nly meet fo r half the semester and they also o ffer weekend classes (give up 2 Fridays and 2
Saturdays, but yo u finish a who le class).
As lo ng as yo u pay attentio n to ho w yo u schedule yo ur classes, yo u sho uld be able to have 3-4day weekends to do yo ur traveling and there are also quite a few ho lidays.
It fo stered travel since yo u didn't have to study much.
Prevent it because it was no t lo cated in the city center Paris but greater Paris area.
Definitely helped. Because the classes o nly met o nce a week, it was very co mmo n to have three, o r if yo u were lucky, fo ur day weekends fo r at least half o f the semester.
Really fo stered travel o ppo rtunity because, fo r us, it was easy to schedule co urses so yo u co uld have at least o ne full day o ff,,,ho wever, it wo uld so metimes be at the
expense o f the quality o f the co urse.
Yes and No . It depends o n what classes are yo u taking. The classes I wanted didn't really have a go o d schedule. I had class o n Mo n-Tue and Thurs-Frid. Ho wever, a lo t o f
my friends structured their classes to o nly Mo n-Wed.
Definately fo stered it because they used the weekends, when all the French left campus to go back to Paris, to allo w us to explo re different parts o f France. The IS
o rganizatio n cho se places that taught us abo ut French culture, French histo ry, and French custo ms.
Yes, I just didn't have the best schedule fo r it because 1) when I was selecting my classes I didn't want to take anything super math-based o r early in the mo rning, and 2) I
didn't want to select subjects I was no t interested in learning just because they gave me a nice schedule fo r traveling
Didn't really do either. The co urse schedule is pretty much the luck o f the draw. Fo r me it wo rked o ut perfectly, but fo r o thers no t so much.
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47.
52. Do yo u have any tips o r info rmatio n abo ut traveling while abro ad that
yo u wo uld like to share with upco ming exchange students preparing fo r their trip?
T e xt Re spo nse
Buy a rail pass. Plan to travel by yo urself (so metimes o rganizing in big gro ups is to o difficult) and have o ther peo ple fo llo w if they want. Kno w the main places yo u want to
go to .
HEC starts really late co mparative to o ther universities, so take the o ppo rtunity to travel befo rehand! Think abo ut investing in a Eurail pass. Or, if yo u plan o n travelling alo t
in France (yo u sho uld as it's yo ur new ho me!), then yo u can also pay 50 euro s fo r the 12-25 card. It allo ws students to travel o n any train fo r 50 % o ff. Also , try Co uchsurfing
(www.co uchsurfing.co m). Yo u can meet lo cals and save o n acco mmo datio n!
Bo o k earlier than later. Skyscanner.net was the best website fo r flights. Also co nsider the bus - Euro lines.co m - I'm go ing to Belgium fo r like 25 euro ro und trip and it's o nly
a 4 ho ur busride. Buy a travel bo o k - I like Rick Steves - it really made a big difference fo r like 20 bucks. Pay 5 euro mo re fo r a ho stel that has a go o d rating. So me ho stels
are called like "o ne o f the 10 best in Euro pe." If they have that try to stay there - it'll make yo ur trip much nicer. Travel in small gro ups, and try to find so meo ne who matches
yo ur travel preferences. It can really make a wo rld o f difference if yo u have o ne perso n who wants to just go and drift and let a co untry take them, and ano ther who 's all
abo ut o rganizing, scheduling, and maximizing their time.
Take advantage o f the o ppo rtunity, but also , do n't travel every weekend!! Especially at the beginning, when yo u have the best chance to meet o ther internatio nal students o r
lo cal students.
Train > airplane. always
no
Plan ahead if yo u can to avo id unnecessary co sts.
Do so me serio us research abo ut yo ur city befo re yo u go . It's fun to wander aro und and find things o n yo ur o wn but I wish I had read up abo ut Paris a bit mo re befo re I go t
here. BEST WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT PARIS: blo gs, yo u can link to them fro m tripadviso r.co m... http://www.tripadviso r.co m/Travel-g18 7147c3231/Paris:France:Paris.Websites.html
- Budget mo re than yo u think yo u will spend in Euro pe (because o f the weak USD) - Co nsider ALL transpo rt co sts (no t just the base airfare/train ticket) when bo o king - Use
Kayak and Skyscanner to co mpariso n-sho p - BUY EARLY: Prices can do uble o r triple in a week's time - Plan ahead, but no t to o far ahead: so me o f the best travel is
spo ntaneo us - Co nsider that the best travel plan fo r the weekend may be in the city o r to wn that yo ur scho o l is lo cated in
Travel within the ho st co untry first. Do n't travel to o o ften as yo u will get tired and sick o f traveling. Travel with peo ple yo u like. The co mpany o f the peo ple yo u travel with is
o ften mo re impo rtant than the destinatio n itself.
Fo r fall exchange: Okto berfest - Right after yo u find o ut yo u are go ing to France, make sure yo u bo o k a ho tel in February fo r Okto berfest in September. It was by far the
mo st rewarding trip that I to o k and I highly suggest do ing it. Cars - If yo u are o ver 21 and kno w ho w to drive standard (stick-shift), renting a car in Euro pe fo r smaller trips like
to belgium o r the netherlands (o r Munich fo r Okto berfest) can be significantly cheaper than buying train tickets o r plane tickets. Yo u can also meet new peo ple fro m the
exchange pro gram by selling seats in yo ur car. Plane Tickets - EasyJet and Ryan Air are excellent airlines but there are few things yo u need to keep in mind. Buy yo ur
tickets early. If yo u arrive in Sept and kno w yo ur classes, buy the tickets fo r all the weekends yo u are go ing so mewhere in Sept. They make their mo ney by charging o n the
last mo nth. Fo r example, tickets to Mo ro cco in No vember were 8 €, but two weeks later went to 75€. Also , kno w their baggage po licy. They are kidding when they say they
will no t bo ard yo u unless its under the weight and size limit.
Be aware that flying is no t the mo st dependable way to travel as flight are kno wn to just be canceled with no reaso n. My friend's plane fro m Madrid to Barcelo na go t
canceled, and she basically had to fly back to Ro me after a day in Spain. I was stuck in Marrakesh Airpo rt fo r 10 ho urs because o f weather delay. Trains are better but
Euro peans like to strike so be sure to check ahead o f time fo r schedule changes o r delays. Always have a plan B in case life thro ws so me hurdles at yo u. Be o n the
lo o ko ut fo r thieves, especially in cro wded areas as they may distract yo u while they pickpo cket yo u. Avo id walking in dark empty streets by yo urself.
na
Do n't wo rk with French students in gro up wo rk. They wo rk less than exchange kids. Do n't schedule any trips befo re arriving abro ad. Planning trips with o ther exchange kids
is a great way to get to kno w them. If there are o ther USC kids at HEC, try to make an effo rt to make o ther internatio nal friends.
bo o k in advance! buy metro /train tickets do nt try to sneak o n we go t caught in germany!
PLAN AHEAD.
Learn ho w to drive auto matic so yo u can rent a car! =p
Try to plan ahead fo r vo lcano explo sio ns, they really wreak havo c o n travel plans.
Do n't bo o k o n a whim. Allo w yo urself adequate time to get to and fro m airpo rts. HEC is so rt o f in a fo rest, so it's no t that easy to get aro und. Co uchsurfing and Airbnb are
aweso me.
the earlier yo u plan yo ur trips, the cheaper they will be. Co uchsurf! I did this 4 times and saved a to n o f mo ney (o f co urse, yo u have to really read the pro files o f the peo ple
who yo u cho o se to message). If yo u are in paris, do no t use ryanair. Altho ugh it is cheaper, yo u have to allo cate abo ut 3 ho ur to get to the airpo rt fro m Jo uy-en-Jo sas
(where HEC is lo cated) and the bus that takes yo u fro m po rte maillo t to Paris Beauvais airpo rt co sts 15 euro each way. So really yo u do nt end up saving that much mo ney.
Easyjet is a much better o ptio n.
Do no t travel to o much, serio usly. It's tiring and expensive, fo r o ne thing. Do n't think that this will be yo ur last time in Euro pe, o r Asia;, o r wherever yo u are, because
chances are yo u will return. Ho wever, it will be yo ur last time "studying abro ad" - meeting lo cal and internatio nal students, taking advantage o f the campus life, etc. I was
lucky in that HEC has a very fun and interesting campus life, and I wo uld no t have traded that fo r mo re traveling!
Yo u sho uld definitely take time to travel especially if yo u are in Euro pe but make sure yo u really get to kno w yo ur ho st city well. I spent mo st o f my weekends in Paris and o f
all the places I went I enjo yed being in Paris the mo st. To wards the end I didn't want to travel as much, rather I just wanted to spend mo re time at the scho o l with friends.
Also , travel with the peo ple yo u meet there, it is a great way to get to kno w them.
Avo id Ryanair (if go ing to HEC) because it takes a lo ng time to get there (~3 ho urs) by train. Bo vee is the nearest airpo rt, tho ugh getting to CDG is pretty strait fo rward
(tho ugh takes awhile to o ). Bo o k early if yo u kno w yo u have breaks and yo u kno w where yo u want to go as prices do go up. Bring a travel lo ck fo r ho stels.
Yo u can take advantage o f trips o rganized by the student o rganizatio n. They're cheap and yo u get to see the co untry thro ugh their eyes. Try to make a ro ute o f what yo u
want to do and see so that yo u do n't waste time figuring it o ut o nce yo u're there. Plan early and make a budget befo re yo u leave yo ur ho st co untry, it will help yo u stay o n
track.
Be careful o f pickpo cketing and keep yo ur hand o n yo ur purse at all times. I also learned that the best fo o d were so metimes the cheapest fo o d in to wn.
When travelling with Ryanair o ut o f Paris Beauvais Airpo rt, do n't bo o k early mo rning flights because co mmute fro m HEC campus to the airpo rt takes 3-4 ho urs.
Always print yo ur o wn co py o f yo ur ho stel co nfirmatio n and pro o f that yo u will be leaving that co untry! Trust me, so me co untries are especially strict abo ut this. Also ,
because yo u usually have to pay extra to take luggage, I wo uld reco mmend paying fo r o ne big luggage fo r yo ur lo nger trips and splitting it with a friend yo u trust. This will
no t o nly save yo u mo ney, but will make traveling fro m city to city a lo t mo re co nvenient. Ano ther great tip is treat yo ur meals like an attractio ns. Just ho w yo u wo uld check to
see the mo st interesting things to see and do in each city, lo o k up great places to eat! This might so und weird, but it is so wo rth it! My friend used her iPho ne to check go o d
places to eat aro und each attractio n we were visiting and we had the mo st amazing fo o d I have ever eaten! Yo u can also do this to find the best deals in to wn as well.
Definately lo o k at yo ur schedule clo sely befo re planning a trip, try to bo o k yo ur flights and ho stels to gether as a gro up,and carry a co py o f yo ur reservatio ns o n yo urself to
make sure they will let yo u pass the security checkpo int.
Prepare yo ur trip in advance, so yo u can get cheaper deal. It can really affect yo ur travelling co st if yo u can prepare all yo ur trips since early o f semesters.
Definitely always remember to print o ut yo ur reservatio ns and have the necessary identificatio n/mo ney with yo u at all times.
1) skyscanner.fr, o po do .fr, kayak.fr, co vo iturage.fr. and watch the fees o n certain easyjet o r ryanair flights, they'll get yo u. getting to ryanair airpo rts is so expensive and time
co nsuming yo u do n't really save anything (easyget airpo rts are o ut o f the way but they always pro vide so me so rt o f bus service to city center fo r to to o high a price). 2)
BOOK AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE. 3) go places yo u genuinely want to go even if no o ne else is interested---yo u enjo y it mo re that way. 4) do n't travel with peo ple
that anno y yo u even when yo u're no t trapped in an enclo sed space with them. 5) always find o ut what time the trains/bo ats/etc sto p running early in the day. 6 ) (related) find
o ut if the place yo u're staying is so far o ut o f the way that the cab drivers will laugh and yo u and refuse to take yo u ho me (like Jo uy!)
Buy a euro rail pass right no w. They have a special pass fo r visito rs. It'll make things a lo t cheaper when yo u get there.
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48.
53. EXPENSES: Ho w much spending mo ney FOR THE ENTIRE
SEMESTER wo uld yo u reco mmend that the next participants budget fo r this
pro gram?
#
Answe r
Min Value
Max Value
1
2
General (including fo o d, entertainment, lo cal transpo rtatio n)
0 .0 0
Ho using/rent
0 .0 0
3
General travel during semester
0 .0 0
4
Bo o ks & miscellaneo us supplies
0 .0 0
30 0 .0 0
8 0 .78
8 2.17
5
Other expenditures (please explain)
0 .0 0
3,0 0 0 .0 0
29 3.75
6 55.47
Ot he r e xpe ndit ure s (ple ase e xplain)
Metro /RER transpo rt into Paris
clo thes, gifts etc
clo thes
Emergency/co ntingency fund
sho pping
sho pping, so uvenirs, etc.
gifts
sho pping (these expenditures are in euro s)
gifts
Ave rage Value
St andard De viat io n
4,50 0 .0 0
1,8 54.53
1,124.26
4,0 0 0 .0 0
2,0 12.6 6
9 58 .8 9
10 ,0 0 0 .0 0
2,26 2.50
1,8 0 1.0 3
49.
54. Did yo u experience any fo rm o f crime, o r were yo u in danger at any
time (such as the victim o r witness o f assault, ro bbery, etc.)? If yes, please
explain:
T e xt Re spo nse
No .
Never. Being female, yo u sho uld always be careful, especially at night no matter where yo u are.
No
No
In paris, so me peo ple pick po cket here and there. No thing crazy
No
I was no t a witness to any particular crime, but students were the victims o f ro bbery o n several o ccasio ns in France and Spain. All crimes o ccurred o n trains where
so meo ne was pickpo cketed o r had an item fo rceably remo ved fro m their hand.
No
No - campus is much, much safer than USC campus
No .
My mo m almo st go t pick po cketed o n the metro train. A gro up o f yo ung wo men go t o n the subway behind us, and they kept pushing as they go t o n even tho ugh there was
no rush. Then they go t o ff the train again befo re the do o r clo sed. After they left, my mo m realized her purse zipper had been o pened. I reco mmend having a no n-designer
purse with a zipper that go es o ver yo ur sho ulder that yo u can carry in fro nt o f yo u.
no
No pe. The mo st fighting that happened was at the scho o l parties.
no , campus is very safe, be aware when yo u travel
N/A
Yes, in a shady neighbo rho o d in Paris, so meo ne tried to mo b my bag & camera. (pro bably a drug addict) I fo ught back & screamed fo r help and peo ple came running after
him.
No
No , except in Barcelo na, where pick-po cketing and mugging seem very typical. So metimes taking the RER can be very shady, but never enco untered any actual danger.
i saw a man sho plift in a mo no prix and get chased o ut the sto re but the security guard was so o ut o f shape it was very easy fo r the man to get away. my friends wallet was
also pick-po cketed in a club in barcelo na.
No
No
Friend go t her purse sto len in club in Prague (go t returned tho ugh mo ney and iPho ne were sto len). Campus itself is VERY safe. Be careful o n the subway o f pick po cketing.
No
I saw several pickpo cketing happen in fro nt o f me o n the Parisian metro s. Creepy guys kept creeping at the Parisian metro s to o but I always had my mini pepper spray that I
bo ught at USC so I felt relatively safe.
No
I didn't enco unter any crime while abro ad, but two o f my friend's go t their cell pho nes sto len o n the RER (the train yo u have to take to get into Paris). Just be cautio us abo ut
using electro nics o n the metro .
No , if yo u are go ing at night, do n't go alo ne.
During the first week o f scho o l, I had bo th my ro o m and car keys sto len o ut o f my co at po cket when I left my co at unattended fo r 5 minutes. I went to all the lo st-and-fo und
places and co ntacted the bar o wner, but unlike my friends I have never recuperated them. Also , during an HEC o rganized party called "BOOM HEC," I saw the bo uncers
grab o ne o f my USC friends and ano ther o ne o f the exchange students and thro w them into a metal railing because they weren't mo ving to the back o f a newly-fo rmed line
after having already waited 20 minutes to get inside. It was a dispro po rtio nal respo nse, and I was perso nally sho cked and o ffended when this wo uld o ccur at a scho o lspo nso red event.
No
No . Just use co mmo n sense. Do n't travel to shady areas in Paris (and they definitely exist so make sure yo u figure this o ut fro m lo cal students).
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50.
55. Befo re departure fro m USC, o r upo n immediate arrival to yo ur ho st
co untry, do yo u think yo u were adequately warned and/o r prepared to deal with
mo st incidents mentio ned in the Health and Safety sectio n o f this evaluatio n?
T e xt Re spo nse
Yes.
Yes.
Yes
Yes
yes
yes
Yes
yes
Yes
Yes.
so mewhat
yes
Yea
yes
Yes, mo re than prepared.
Yes
Yes
Yes
yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
yes
Yes, my mo m made Paris and Euro pe so und like a jungle due to the high levels o f pickpo cketing.
Yes
yes
Yes
I believe so , but it was mo re due to my o wn reso urcefulness than the USC material
Yes
Yes
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51.
56 . If yo u did no t feel adequately prepared (respo nse to questio n #55),
what do yo u think yo u needed to kno w o r hear in advance? Ho w co uld yo u have
been better info rmed and/o r prepared?
T e xt Re spo nse
N/A.
N/A.
I think o ne thing I wo uld've do ne differently is bring a bunch o f American medicine. I go t sick here and o btaining healthcare/medicine was a learning experience, but mo stly I
just wish I had had the Advil, vitamin C, Dayquil and Nightquil I knew I needed to just get o ver my co ld myself.
NA
k
no
N/A
n/a
I felt adequately prepared.
Basically, just be keep alert at all times just like yo u wo uld aro und USC o r any big city
n/a
n/a
na
N/A
N/A
N/A
n/a
N/A
n/a
N/A
na
Do n't be dumb.
N/A
The medical services are inadequate in the sense that a prescribing do cto r is o n campus o nly o nce a week (wednesday I believe), and yo u sho uld make sure to identify all
general practio ners and specialists aro und HEC in case yo u need actual medical services. Also , mo st o f the nurses do n't speak English, so make sure to research
befo rehand, o r go with so meo ne who speaks the language.
N/A
Felt prepared.
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52.
57. Were yo u kno wledgeable abo ut yo ur USC o verseas insurance
co verage po licy?
T e xt Re spo nse
Yes.
Yes.
So mewhat - I think I was triple-co vered and it go t pretty co nfusing to keep track.
Yes
No
yes
Yes
No t really
Yes
So mewhat.
so mewhat, but I am glad I didn't have to use it
no t really
n/a
yes
Yes.
I was aware o f it, but no t kno wledgeable. Never had to use the insurance, tho ugh
Yes
Yes
so mewhat
Yes
Yes
Generally, listen to Sean's advice during o rientatio n.
yes
So mewhat.
Yes
I knew we had it
Yes
yes
Fairly
Yes.
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53.
58 . Did yo u experience any negative treatment that yo u feel was related to
yo ur ethnicity, race, natio nal o rigin, gender, sexual o rientatio n, o r religio n? If yes,
please explain:
T e xt Re spo nse
No .
I did experience racism (being Asian) in the fo rm o f being igno red o r receiving igno rant co mments, but I never felt threatened. As a female, yo u sho uld also be prepared to
deal with cultures where the men are mo re "aggressive" than American males. Peo ple do lo o k at American as the wo rld po wer, so make sure yo u represent the U.S. in a
respectful and no n-judgmental way!
No pe.
No
no
yes, o ften aggressive males to wards females
No
Yes, Euro peans generally do no t like Americans at first; but they warm up to us o nce they get to kno w us. They have a general impressio n that we are igno rant and
untrustwo rthy
No
No .
No t really negative I guess, but many guys wo uld say "Ni hao o r Ko nichiwa" to me just because I am Asian o r they'll just say an "extra friendly" Bo njo ur then give yo u the
head to to e checko ut! And there's always the "Ciao Bella" in Italy, and I guess it is all friendly flirtatio n but so metimes it may be a bit anno ying and do wnright creepy if yo u
are walking by yo urself alo ne at night...I suggest heading into a brightly lit sto re.
no
Yes, so me French peo ple seem to hate Americans. Especially when we speak english. One guy even flipped us o ff in a park and to ld us to leave just when he heard us
speaking English. Speak French when po ssible.
no
So me french bo ys (particularly when into xicated at the 'POW' = party o f the week) are very aggressive to wards girls and lack respect.
I'm an Asian and experienced the stereo typical co mments that I'd get in USA as well.
No
Peo ple aro und Paris, o r Euro pe in general, are mo re "racist" witho ut trying to be o r kno wing that they are, but yo u so rt o f get used to it. Fo r example, the co rner sto re (7/11
equivalents) may be called "the co rner Arab" and yo u may be made discriminated against fo r being Asian. No thing to o significant tho ugh, and it can all be brushed o ff if yo u
do n't take it to serio usly. Just be aware that they have a different way o f lo o king at things, and they've gro wn up with a different mentality. What's co nsidered PC in Euro pe
will o ften cro ss the lines o f what is PC in America.
no
So me mino r co mments abo ut me being Asian (when I traveled), but no thing serio us.
No
No
no
Yes, the actual French (no t exchange students) are quite racist when their drunk and call every Asian o n campus Chino is/Chino ise and so metimes do this disgusting chant.
Thro ugho ut Euro pe, everyo ne rando mly says ni hao to yo u as well since they seem to think all Asians are Chinese.
Just mino r racism
No
So meho w. No t all Parisian peo ple are that friendly. Whenever yo u want to speak with so mebo dy, just do n't fo rget to say Bo njo ur. It really makes a difference). Do n't start
babbling everything in English.
During my Enjeux de So ciete class, the pro fesso r repeatedly used Ro mania as a negative example o f the EU, beyo nd the sco pe o f the lecture by co mmenting that it is a
co untry full o f "thieves, criminals," and o ther such co mments. Ho wever, he believed I was American, so he kept placing questio ns to me in a co ndescending manner so
that he co uld sho w the class that he knew mo re abo ut my so ciety than I did.
So me peo ple get really do uche-baggy abo ut/to wards Americans when they're drunk. Ho wever, since so me Americans also get really do uche-baggy when they're drunk, I
do n't think it's a cultural thing, just the individual. Also , so me Euro pean guys will expect American girls to be slutty/ try to co nvince yo u that yo u're slutty. Just remind the that
that is pro bably no t the best way to impress a girl and they usually shutup.
No t really.
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54.
59 . What was the best part o f the pro gram?
T e xt Re spo nse
Meeting students fro m all o ver the wo rld. Wo rking with them in gro up pro jects.
The HEC Internatio nal So ciety did a great jo b o f integrating us into the campus and thro wing many events so the internatio nal students co uld get to kno w each o ther. We
were o ne big happy family.
Meeting new peo ple and traveling.
Ho w different HEC is fro m USC; meeting students fro m aro und the wo rld.
The party o f the week every thursday.
meeting o ther students
The peo ple I've met.
meeting to ns o f internatio nal students. VERY diverse pro gram
Getting to kno w Euro pe bo th thro ugh travel and thro ugh meeting o ther Euro pean exchange students
Meeting all the o ther exchange students.
Being able to meet students fro m all aro und the wo rld, make lifelo ng friends, and travel aro und Euro pe to experience diverse cultures.
Meeting the French students and the o ther exchange students. Because Jo uy en Jo sas is so mewhat limited in its access to Paris, the exchance students really have a
chance to get to kno w each o ther.
Getting to kno w all the o ther exchange kids. Yo u're no t spread o ut in the city like o ther exchange pro grams, so yo u see the same peo ple at every meal in the cafeteria and
in classes. It was a really co o l gro up o f students.
campus life, because the pro gram had a campus o utside o f the city it was a great way to meet students. the internato nal student asso ciatio n was very welco ming and
helpful thro ugho ut the who le semester. POW = party o f the week, every thursday, yo u have to go to them!
Internatio nal Students club - they really put in a TON o f wo rk to make sure we were having a go o d time. I also really admired the pro fesso rs and their dedicatio n to the
scho o l. ALSO I o nly had to pay fo r ONE textbo o k, which I shared with a friend. HEC pro vides co urse readers fo r yo u fo r every co urse, which is where all the
reading/ho mewo rk/pro jects co me o ut fro m.
Beco ming friends with aweso me peo ple aro und the wo rld and having them stay as clo se friends after the pro gram. Getting to experience so me o f the best travel sites the
wo rld has to o ffer.
The diversity o f the pro gram - I had the chance to meet peo ple fro m every part o f the wo rld fro m England to Russia to So uth Ko rean to Japan to Australia to Argentina. The
internatio nal o rganizatio n at HEC plans events so that all the internatio nal students can get to kno w each o ther. It's fascinating to discuss the US po licy to wards No rth
Ko rea with a perso n who spent their entire life in So uth Ko rea.
Meeting peo ple, making friends, traveling and explo ring.
meet peo ple fro m all o ver the wo rld and having the o ppo rtunity to travel
The students! I miss everyo ne at HEC already. The best part was spending time with friends at the cafeteria o r at the weekly parties o r in the do rm. It has such an amazing
campus life that it makes the distance fro m Paris (it co uld take up to an ho ur o r so to get to the city by train) bearable. The beautiful Jo uy campus helps students bo nd, to o .
Altho ugh HEC is a little iso lated it was great being o n a campus with all the students. The best part was that I became friends with peo ple fro m all o ver the wo rld including
Argentina, Ireland, Canada, Mexico , Germany, and mo re. Because we were all living to gether and o n campus I felt that I go t to kno w a lo t mo re peo ple and I also became
friends with French students as well.
Overall campus enviro nment. Very different fro m USC and being in LA. Yes, HEC is NOT in Paris, but yo u can easily get into Paris everyday if that is what yo u want.
Ho wever, the campus life at HEC is definitely the best part. Since almo st everyo ne lives o n campus, it is VERY easy to meet peo ple and hang o ut with them all the time.
Yo u truly get to live the "co llege experience" here, but still have the ability to see everything yo u want to in Paris.
Getting to kno w so many peo ple fro m all o ver the wo rld and traveling with them to new places.
Meeting many o ther Euro peans, no t o nly the French, and travelling every weekend.
Meeting peo ple fro m all o ver the wo rld
The peo ple! I abso lutely lo ved the peo ple o n exchange. No t o nly did we have an amazing, diverse, o pen-minded gro up o f exchange students, but the French students were
very welco ming and always included us in their campus activities and events! We really felt integrated into the culture o f the scho o l, o r at least part o f it and I think a lo t o f that
had to do with the fact that we were living amo ng the French students and go t a chance to participate in their scho o l campaign seaso n.
All o f it. It was o ne o f the best semester I had during my co llege year.
The best part was interacting with bo th the exchange and the French due to o ur luck with ho using. Fo r, the USC girls were placed in the first-year do rms, o n the same flo o r
as o ne o f the student go vernment (BDE) campaigns. Therefo re, a co uple o f us were able to actively participate in the campaign, and understand the wo rk and effo rt they put
into getting elected as well as what they earn if they succeed.
The peo ple. The o ther internatio nal students, the French students, just meeting peo ple, go ing o ut with them and learning abo ut their culture is an amazing experience.
Yo u'll make friends that yo u'll want to keep fo r life.
Meeting peo ple fro m all aro und the wo rld and having a true o verseas co llege experience.
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55.
6 0 . What was the mo st difficult part?
T e xt Re spo nse
Wo rking with them in gro up pro jects.
No t being in Paris! Fro m the time yo u step o ut o f yo ur do rm ro o m, it's 1.5-2 ho urs to get into the center o f Paris. Also , trains back to the university sto p a little befo re
midnight. Ho wever, yo u can stay with peo ple yo u (o r yo ur friends kno w), split a ho tel, o r take a taxi back (o nly 40 euro s split between everyo ne). Or so me peo ple stayed
o ut until 5AM!
Being so far fro m Paris. This nearly ruined the experience. To be SO clo se (co mpared to LA) but still pretty far. I did no t feel at all like I was in Paris o r in France fo r that
matter during this exchange, and it was really a struggle because I came to Euro pe mo stly fo r that.
Living in a do rm again witho ut a kitchen!
Leaving
no t being able to travel due to scho o lwo rk
Getting questio ns answered - being in the dark abo ut things all the time
dealing with French inefficiency
Adapting to the French way - much higher prices fo r much po o rer service, and being unable to assimilate with the French part o f the scho o l
Leaving everyo ne. And the language barrier.
Trying to co mmunicate in French at times since many do n't o r do wnright refuse to speak English. There is also the who le cliques so rt o f deal where peo ple act like they are
freshmen again and go ssips start and such. I simply refrain fro m getting into such immaturity, and I try to meet as many peo ple as I can. Oh, and no t having Pinkberry o r
Red Mango was the saddest part fo r me!
Being in Jo uy
Co ming fro m Califo rnia, the mo st difficult part was the freezing weather fo r a co uple mo nths
since it is o utside paris, catching trains back to campus was difficult, made go ing o ut in paris very difficult, strikes are co mmo n in france - watch o ut!
Leaving o f co urse! ..And the fo o d at the scho o l cafeteria. It was difficult to co nsume.
Trying to find an internship back ho me/in USA.. Dealing with ho mesickness & lo neliness as everyo ne aro und yo u is new.
Wo rking with the French bureaucracy. There is a necessary medical visit during the middle o f the semester, certain do cuments that need to be sent to the co rrect o fficials at
the right times. Students are also required to purchase insurance fo r their do rms which necessitates the creatio n o f a French bank acco unt - and dealing with BNP is a
co mplete nightmare.
Transpo rtatio n, getting o ver the fact that we weren't in Paris pro per
getting into paris fro m jo uy-en-jo sas and the strikes
The language barrier, when wanting to get to kno w French students. Also , the administratio n is no t as helpful as I wo uld have liked. In general, adjusting to any new lo catio n
and culture is difficult, but yo u really have to tell yo urself that it is no t wo rse than America o r USC - it is just different, and yo u will begin to embrace and lo ve these
differences.
Lo catio n. I knew HEC was no t directly in Paris but I did no t realize ho w difficult it was to get there so metimes, especially at night. In the beginning the lo catio n was really
inco nvenient and anno ying but after so me time I figured o ut a quicker way to get there. It takes abo ut 45 minutes to an ho ur with train which isnt to o bad o nce yo u get used
to it but the trains sto p running at 10 pm so yo u will have to either take a cab (which is very expensive) o r stay o ut until the first train (5am). The mo st inco nvenient part
tho ugh is the walk fro m the train/ center o f the to wn to campus which is abo ut 15 minutes and yo u have to walk up a series o f steps. Also , there is no thing in Jo uy en Jo sas
except a gro cery sto re, 2 restaurants, and a bakery that seems to rarely ever be o pen. Altho ugh it may seem inco nvenient go ing to a fro m Paris and Versailles, push
yo urself and go o ut.
The fo o d. If yo u live o n campus, yo u will be go ing to the RU (the scho o l cafeteria) fo r mo st o f yo ur meals. The fo o d is NOT what yo u expect fro m French fo o d. Yo u will
miss EVK at po ints after eating here. Yo u can get fo o d delivered fro m Versailles, but it can be expensive to do this fo r all yo ur meals. Also , it's o nly o pen fo r limited ho urs
(tho ugh it seems like they mo stly tried to make it so that classes do n't o verlap to o much with the times it's o pen). There are maybe 2 redeeming facto rs o f the RU: 1) It's
REALLY cheap. Yo u'll pretty much never find a cheaper meal in Paris. 2) Yo u see everyo ne yo u kno w there due to its limited ho urs and being the main place to eat.
Leaving
Public transpo rtatio n to /fro m Paris to Jo uy-en-Jo sas, where HEC is lo cated. No t o nly is at least o ne line o n strike every week but yo u waste so much time fro m o ne trip
since the train go es aro und Paris no t strictly to /fro m Zo ne 1 Paris to Jo uy. Additio nally, there's no elevato rs in the do rm buildings. So if yo u live o n the 4th flo o r, yo u have to
hike do wn, then hike ano ther actual hill to get o ff campus thro ugh the sho rtcut, then walk thro ugh the Jo uy village to get to the train statio n. It's no t a pleasant trip, especially
if yo u have so me luggage o r gro cery bags. Plus, the last train fro m Paris to Jo uy is at 10 :30 PM so yo u can't really experience the Parisian nightlife unless yo u want to take
a cab, which is quite expensive. Furthermo re, the access to fo o d at HEC is TERRIBLE. There's o nly o ne dinky little cafeteria that serves fo o d that tastes wo rse than do g
fo o d o nly 3 times a day fo r 1-2 ho urs depending o n which day. The do rm ro o ms do n't have any refrigerato r o r micro wave so yo u can't sto re o r make yo ur o wn fo o d.
There's no o ther place to get fo o d.drinks o n campus unless yo u go to the vending machines o r hike do wn to the Jo uy village, where there's o nly 1 market and 2 bakeries
that o pen fo r limited ho urs and days. And even if yo u go to the gro cery, carrying yo ur fo o d up the hill is quite awful. I've never had a mo re malno urished time in my life than
my stay at HEC. I went to bed and wo ke up hungry everyday until my mo m send a care package, and I so metimes wo ndered if I'll starve to death.
Adapting to the culture, Parisian rudeness, French no nchalance, slo wer/mo re relaxed pace o f life, inco nvenience
No t being able to understand what peo ple said to me was frustrating at first. I o verestimated my ability to speak the language and the French language co urse yo u take at
scho o l fo cuses mo re o n writing than speaking and listening, which do esn't exactly help when trying to ho ld a co nversatio n in French.
Language. So me peo ple were friendly eno ugh to help the best they can. But, so metimes peo ple didn't bo ther to help yo u, if yo u can't speak French.
The two mo st difficult parts were presenting in French and figuring o ut bo th the BNP Paribas bank acco unt as well as the Orange telepho ne acco unt. The first o ne I had
anticipated, but dealing with the acco unts was difficult because we didn't understand ho w the system wo rked, and the IS failed to help us in dealing with these two
co mpanies.
Saying go o dbye and co ming back to yo ur o ld life. And living in Jo uy-en-Jo sas. It's kind o f depressing when yo u're there all the time, so go to Paris and Versailles o ften.
And make go o d hango ver friends to have nice quiet fo o d and co nversatio n times o n Friday afterno o ns after Po W (Party o f the Week)
The scho o l was in Zo ne 4 o f Paris. It made taking public transpo rtatio n to get into Zo ne 1 a pain.
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56.
6 1. Describe a situatio n that yo u experienced as a result o f culture sho ck
o r cultural misunderstanding. Ho w did yo u reso lve it?
T e xt Re spo nse
I accidentally made a co mment abo ut peo ple in Euro pe smo king to o much. Never mentio ned it again.
N/A.
I think all the sto res being co mpletely clo sed o n Sundays and fo r like 2 ho urs during lunch during the week was a bit o f a sho ck - but easily o verco me.
NA
They drank wine fo r fun. So i tried it and it turns o ut I can't handle mo re than a bo ttle at a time...
NA
I do n't think I have experienced a co nfro ntatio nal situatio n because o f cultural differences. The o nly o ne I can think o f is the difference in wo rk ethic between lo cals and
myself. This was frustrating in dealing bo th with the administratio n and French students. As a pushy American, when I send an email, I expect o ne back within 24 ho urs. And
if he o r she can't o ffer an answer to the email, I wo uld expect to receive o ne anyway saying "I'm wo rking o n it." That is no t so in France. Telepho ne calls and emails go
unanswered fo r weeks and when they finally do co me back, the answer is two lines that say no thing o f co nsequence.
Mo st peo ple drink much slo wer than the American students. Americans like to get drunk really fast while everyo ne else much prefers to pace themselves and stay o ut til 5
am. I really enjo yed the late night partying here; it was a welco med culture sho ck
I was initially aggravated at the slo w pace o f French so ciety - fro m buying things at a sto re to wo rking with French teammates. Over time, I adapted my expectatio ns to take
the slo w French pace into acco unt (budgeting extra time, having mo re patience)
The custo mer service in restaurants in France is very different fro m that o f the US. There were many times when I wo uld have to ask the waiter multiple times fo r water o r fo r
the bill and I co uld tell the waiter was o bvio usly very anno yed at my requests. I do n't believe this type o f cultural difference is reso lvable as it is part o f the French culture.
After a few weeks in France, I came to expect that fro m waiters in France. I also learned that mo st French peo ple eat fo r a lo ng time to enjo y that meal and wo uld much
rather be left alo ne to co nverse rather than be bo thered by the wait staff.
I fo und that the French o r Euro pean guys, in general, are very straight fo rward abo ut sex. At first, I tho ught it was o utrageo us fo r them to ask that within 5 minutes o f a dance,
but I so o n learn that that's just the way the culture is. Euro peans see no harm in talking abo ut sex o penly, but they do find it rude to talk abo ut salary levels as we frequently
do in US. So ladies, refrain fro m slapping the po o r guy; the is simply being ho nest. After all, American bo ys think the same way, but they are just mo re stealth abo ut it!
there really wasnt any
Example abo ve. Also , peo ple seem to think o ur lives revo lve aro und the beach and surfing and talking abo ut drama thanks to The OC and The Hills.
na
I o nce go t yelled at by a ticket sales lady at the train statio n because she didn't hear me say 'Bo njo ur' befo re I asked her a questio n...
N/A
I have been to France befo re multiple times, so I did no t experience culture sho ck during the visit. Ho wever there was a definite aspect o f culture sho ck when I returned back
to the States.
Lack o f fo o d variety, no t able to co o k yo ur o wn fo o d. Laundry is really expensive. Service in France is kno wn to be very po o r, whether at restaurants o r at scho o l.
mo st french students at HEC do no t care abo ut their grades. the internatio nal exchange students wo rk much harder than the french students because really, the french
student's grades do nt really co unt fo r anything. All they need to do is pass (which is an E) and get their diplo ma because they are set fo r life after that. They wo rk really hard
the two years befo re co ming because they need to get into the scho o l but after that, it do esnt seem like they really care abo ut their grades at HEC. gro up pro jects are
so metimes hard but yo u just have to get after them to do their part o f the pro ject.
N/A
The culture and lifestyle in Paris is very different than here because it is a lo t mo re relaxed. The o nly thing that I really experienced in terms o f difficulty was the language
barrier. If yo u at least try to speak French at a restaurant they will be a lo t nicer.
N/A
Administratio n o ffices clo se very early and no thing stays o pen 24/7, so yo u have to make sure yo u get everything do ne in time.
N/A
Co mmunicatio n issues with BNP Paribas
It is co mmo n fo r peo ple in the US to say things like "I hate yo u", "I lo ve yo u" o r o ther similar statements when jo king aro und with friends. Ho wever, these type o f
statements o r exaggeratio ns are taken serio usly abro ad, no t just by the lo cal students, but by exchange students fro m o ther co untries. After no ticing that the students fro m
co untries fro m places o ther than No rth America were taking these jo kes serio usly and seeing them as harsh, we quickly sto pped using these co mmo n US speech
patterns.
No t really.
When me and the o ther USC girls were in o ur Glo bal Human Reso urces Management class, we were given fo ur scenario s where we need to reso lve perso nnel co nflicts
as they were mo ving to different lo catio ns and trying to reintegrate into the co mpany. While we as a team believed that the co mpany sho uld strive to acco mmo date the
emplo yees by changing the rules to the circumstances, the rest o f the class believed that they sho uld wo rk o n a case-by-case basis to appease the individual rather than
set a future precedence. We bo th presented o ur views, and came to the realizatio n that depending o n the cultural co ntext, yo u value human capital differently due to whether
yo u measure gro up o r individual perfo rmance, and what (if any) o ther types o f benefits they already receive.
I tho ught my friend was gay because he wo re co lo rful flo wered scarves and had to o many o pinio ns abo ut my clo thes. I asked him while we were playing 20 questio ns and
it turns o ut he's just Italian and fashio nable. So I gave him my blessing to date my friend and everyo ne was happy :)
Peo ple can appear a bit rude. So me peo ple go t anno yed that waiters do n't speak to yo u o r take a lo ng time to give yo u yo ur fo o d. But that's just ho w peo ple there like to
eat. They do n't like interruptio ns by the waiter and they like sitting do wn fo r 2 ho urs and eating.
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57.
6 2. Describe so mething that yo u are pro ud o f having acco mplished during
yo ur stay.
T e xt Re spo nse
Making co nnectio ns all o ver the wo rld.
I impro ved my French and so me lo cals to ld me I spo ke it well!
Learning all the maps and metro s o f different cities - I really like navigating.
Co o ked an entire Thanksgiving feast.
integrating with the French HEC students.
making great friends to have at USC
Making it thro ugh in general. And my impro vements in the lo cal language.
Ho o ked up with the french girls...they're to ugh nuts to crack
Being able to explo re cultures, peo ples and places with pho to graphy while being a business student at a go o d scho o l
Learning the "biso us" and actually do ing it when I run into so me o f my French friends at scho o l.
I am pro ud fo r having further my perso nal develo pment. I feel I truly tested o ut my independence and respo nsibility during my stay abro ad. I am pro ud fo r having navigated
thro ugh the streets o f Paris o n my o wn and falling in lo ve with the diverse culture. After studying abro ad, I no w feel I am better prepared fo r a career abro ad.
Meeting peo ple fro m all o ver the wo rld
Getting do wn a go o d imitatio n o f French peo ple.
making friends fro m all aro und the wo rld!
Beco me much mo re fluent in French than when I arrived.
Traveling to Africa! Getting thro ugh the pro gram despite being lo st and helpless o n several o ccasio ns
I started talking to a perso n who o nly spo ke English, o nly to realize that I was actually speaking French witho ut a pro blem.
Made new friends fro m all o ver the wo rld. Traveled a lo t and tried to explo re the city whenever po ssible.
I am pro ud o f co mpleting 2 university marketing classes in french!
Learning French. I lo ved the language and my French co urse so much that I am no w do ing the USC Summer in Dijo n pro gram. I went fro m speaking zero French to having
very basic co nversatio ns, and it is go ing well so far. Kno wing a bit o f French helps yo ur adjustment to France tremendo usly; lo cals treat yo u better, and yo u find that yo u
can do much mo re if yo u at least attempt the language.
I'm pro ud that I was able to bo o k and plan my travels alo ne. it was a great experience traveling alo ne and meeting friends in different co untries and cities.
Travelling by myself. I definitely reco mmend that everyo ne try this, whether it be yo u just taking a trip into Paris fo r the day by yo urself o r go ing o n a week lo ng vacatio n.
I go t my Advanced OpenWater Diving license
Meeting so many different Euro peans and beco ming culturally mo re aware o f ho w they live.
Did well o n all my classes
Trying as hard as I co uld to immerse myself in the French culture and making friends with the lo cals.
Anytime I practiced my French, alhto ugh my French was quite terrible.
I am pro ud o f having adapted to the French lifestyle by appreciating the value o f co llective perfo rmance, learning ho w French so ciety functio ns o n a po litical, so cial, and
eco no mic level, and maintaining relatio ns with bo th the exchange students and the HEC students.
I went to the Harry Po tter so und stage! And also learned ho w to o pen a beer using the palm o f my hand and any hard surface. Still wo rking o n the German MacGyveranything-into -a-bo ttle-o pener technique tho ugh
Visiting so many places in a sho rt amo unt o f time.
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6 3. What do yo u wish yo u had kno wn abo ut befo re leaving?
T e xt Re spo nse
Ho w inefficient the French are.
Opening a bank acco unt will be frustrating! I was lucky and o nly needed it fo r ho using insurance. The USC Credit Unio n will charge NO fees fo r using their debit card and
o nly $1 fo r using a fo reign ATM. Get a USC acco unt wo uld be a reco mmendatio n!
I was well info rmed abo ut HEC's lo catio n, but I guess I wish I had been able to realize the effect it wo uld have o n my experience. Living o ut in a iso lated campus in a fo rest
that's no t even IN the small to wn it's near is no where near the cultural exchange I was thirsting fo r. It's hard to experience France when yo u're co ntained to campus instead
o f a city. The o nly French I really interacted with were the administratio n here o n campus. In general it was very difficult to meet and make friends with the French students partly because the internatio nal student gro up sweeps yo u up and kind o f iso lates yo u fro m them, partly because I didn't put the effo rt in to learn French befo re I go t here. I
really underestimated the ro le the language wo uld play.
That HEC really isn't in Paris, and it's no t that easy to get into Paris. BUT that it's no t that big o f a deal!
Ho w bad the cafeteria is at HEC.
ho w far it was fro m Paris, its very far
ho w to speak French
That the pro gram is a little mo re mello w than so me o f the o ther wild pro grams like Co penhagen.
I wish I had kno wn mo re abo ut the "exchange bubble" - the barrier between internatio nal and do mestic students, and between internatio nal students and the ho st culture
Basic French phrases.
It's no t a go o d idea to eat steamed mussels fo r three days in a ro w, no matter ho w delicio us they are!
the distance fro m Paris
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na
N/A
A lo t o f things, but no thing that particular. I'll email Sean if so mething strikes later.
All the pro cedures that wo uld be required fo r the visa after my arrival. It was unpleasant to figure them o ut as I went alo ng. I always had to wo nder if it was really part o f the
pro cedure o r just an expensive jo ke so meo ne was playing.
What to pack and ho w to get aro und.
that jo uy-en-jo sas actually takes o n average 40 minutes to get into paris and that the fo o d is HORRIBLE at the "restaurant"
Again, the grading system... Also , I knew that HEC was no t in Paris, but I did no t kno w that the trek into the city co uld take almo st 2 ho urs. Do no t cho o se HEC if yo u want to
be in the city, because yo u will be very surprised. Jo uy en Jo sas is a very small but charming French to wn (with an amazing bo ulangerie), so just be aware o f that.
I wish I had really understo o d ho w far the campus was. Also , I wish I knew a little French because it wo uld have been easier to co mmunicate and make friends with the
students there.
Euro pe is really expensive. Sean do es say this o ver and o ver again, but peo ple do n't believe him. But yo u sho uld. Yo u start thinking that euro s are the same as do llars,
o therwise yo u can't survive. Transpo rtatio n co sts add up (~$10 a trip to Paris by train I believe), tho ugh even flying can get expensive (no ne o f the exchange kids ever fo und
1 euro flights that everyo ne speaks o f). Fo o d is expensive to o (a falafel co sts 5 euro s, and that's the cheapest thing yo u'll find in Paris). Little co sts here and there add up
quickly.
na
The terrible fo o d situatio n.....
Ho w the SIM card system wo rks fo r French teleco mm co mpanies
Besides speaking mo re French, I wish I knew exactly ho w ho t is was go ing to get in France. Mo st o f us had to go buy summer clo thes because there were two rando m
weeks that were very ho t and no ne o f us were prepared fo r that kind o f weather. I also wish I had bro ught mo re medicine because due to the extreme co ld weather in the
winter, many o f us go t sick. I wish I had kno wn that the do cto r that is mo st o ften o n campus is no t actually certified to write prescriptio ns so I wo uld have been mo re
prepared.
I wish I knew that the campus was really in the middle o f no where. No t o nly it was 1-ho ur plus by train, the city where the campus was didn't have much entertainment. This
info can affect my cho ice in cho o sing between HEC and ESCP (the o ther Paris university which lo cated in Paris, no t suburban Paris)
I wish I had kno wn abo ut the HEC recruitment website/career co nnectio ns website and events befo re leaving.
Ho w expensive train tickets are when yo u do n't listen to Sean and go to STA Travel and buy a railpass in America befo re yo u leave. Plus also ho w hard it is to find a place
that sells railpasses in Euro pe to no n-Euro peans.
Banks there do n't exchange hard currency.
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6 4. Do yo u have any travel tips to share?
T e xt Re spo nse
Kno w yo ur key places to go .
Use www.co uchsurfing.co m if yo u can! It's the who le "travelers-taking-care-o f-o ther-travelers" mentality and it saves yo u o n acco mmo datio n. Lo o k into getting a Eurail
pass o r the 12-25 card within France (50 % o ff tickets fo r students). Highly wo rth yo ur mo ney! And do no t use RyanAir fro m Paris to Barcelo na (Gero na). No t wo rth it!
Bo o k flights early o n Skyscanner.net. The co o lest thing abo ut that website is yo u can put in yo ur departure lo catio n, a date (like a weekend) and click search. It will then give
yo u a list o f the cheapest destinatio ns fo r hte who le weekend. Also I'm a big fan o f hte bus - Euro lines.co m - it's really cheap, and co nvenient in certain situatio ns. Do n't
use RyanAir - it's just no t wo rth it. It's like living at USC and using the Orange co unty airpo rt. Also what I fo und a really fun activity in Euro pe (which yo u can't do in LA) is
walking to urs. They'll walk yo u all aro und the city, give yo u all this histo rical info rmatio n, and it's just really fun and cheap - so metimes free, never mo re than 10 euro .
no
trains and do nt o ver plan. No thing ever wo rks o ut anyway
NA
Pack light. And pay the little extra to stay in safe, centrally lo cated places.
GO TO BERLIN!! It's a city with to ns o f histo ry--WWII and Berlin Wall--but it's very yo ung right no w. The city is rebuilding itself and shaping its culture. Very fun place to be if
yo u're 20 -30 ...Definitely visit fo r 4 o r 5 days o ver spring break if the o ppo rtunity arises
- Pack mo re mo ney and fewer things - Pack multipurpo se items (e.g. ipo d to uch instead o f ipo d + lapto p) - Bring a go o d frame backpack fro m REI (check if it's carry-o n
size fo r Ryanair first!) - Trains are go o d fo r last-minute; planes are go o d fo r lo nger distances and lo nger lead times
Travel with go o d peo ple.
If yo u are go ing in the Fall semester in Euro pe, I reco mmend go ing a co uple weeks befo re yo ur semester starts so yo u can see the sights aro und the city and get
acco mmo dated to the lo cal area. Take trains when yo u can because they are o ften mo re dependable and faster than planes since yo u do n't have to go thro ugh security
check. Taking the bus is also a go o d and cheap alternative. Fo r go ing to Lo ndo n, bo o k Euro star way in advance fo r cheaper tickets. Or yo u can take the o vernight bus $10 0
ro undtrip...lo o k up Euro line, but I can't guarantee a go o d night sleep with the latter.
no
If yo u're go ing in Spring, go to French Open in Paris. It's great. Fo r flights to o ther co untries, use EasyJet.
easyjet was a go o d budget airline, trains are no t cheap, ho stels are o nly so metimes cheaper if u have a gro up o f at least 3 it may be cheaper to bo o k a budget ho tel bo o king.co m, get travel insurance... might have helped during the time o f the vo lcano eruptio n
www.skyscanner.co m Also , pack LIGHT. Check in bags at disco unt airlines co st a lo t mo re, but the carry o n bag size is smaller than regular airlines!
No thing in particular. Everyo ne already kno ws. Will email Sean if so mething strikes later.
Befo re staying in a ho stel, take the time to read the reviews, o r else yo u might run into so me unpleasant circumstances. If yo u are go ing to Italy and have blo nd hair, do no t,
ever, no t even fo r a seco nd, go anywhere alo ne.
Give yo urself at least 2 ho urs to get to the airpo rt. Do n't be afraid to explo re rando m cities o r areas. Make an effo rt to make French friends.
co uchsurf, easyjet, bo o k trips early
Do n' travel to o much, but do make sure yo u visit a few cities/co untries. There is so much to see.
Pack light and use skyscanner.co m.
Budget, budget, budget. Co sts add up quickly, so try and save mo ney where yo u can. Many places give student disco unts (including free admissio n at mo st museums in
Paris), so definitely always ask! (We even go t a disco unt o n ice cream o nce because we were students). Also , definitely stay at ho stels, but do yo ur research o n them to o . I
never tho ught I'd stay at a ho stel, but it really saves a lo t o f mo ney and a lo t o f them were very nice.
Try planning yo ur trips aro und festival dates. If yo u want to go to po pular co untries, go during the lo w seaso n, it's cheaper and there are less to urists (seems o bvio us, but
still).
Buy flight/train tickets in advance when they're cheap.
Spend wisely
Wherever yo u travel to , treat every meal like an attractio n! Use the ho tel wifi to lo o k up go o d places to eat near the places yo u will be visiting that day and experience the
mo st authentic, delicio us fo o d o f the city. Fo r lo nger trips, such as spring break, pay fo r an extra big luggage and share it with a friend. If yo u have an ipho ne, do wnlo ad the
map o f the area yo u will be visiting the next day and pin the lo catio ns o f the things yo u will be visiting. Even witho ut internet, it will sho w yo u yo ur lo catio n relative to yo ur
pins which makes it easy to navigate the city.
Yo u can save a lo t o f mo ney, if yo u plan in advance.
Have an idea o f what yo u want to do /see o n yo ur trip befo re go ing because it's easier to plan and enjo y, especially if yo u are travelling in a gro up. Also , check yo ur
academic schedule befo re bo o king anything.
Travel light. like just yo ur Lo ngchamp to te light. ho nestly yo u wo n't need any mo re than that o n yo ur little weekend o r week-lo ng trips. And go to target while yo u're still here
and buy tiny to o thpaste and tiny facewash and mo uthwash and shampo o /co nditio ner no bigger than 10 0 ml because they do n't sell tiny stuff there and they WILL thro w o ut
yo ur ridiculo usly expensive shampo o if yo u try to travel with it like they did to m friend Waka.
Travel light.
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6 5. What wo uld yo u like to say to the students go ing after yo u?
T e xt Re spo nse
Have a go o d time! :D Do n't wo rry to o much, and enjo y the time yo u have there.
Do n't spend mo re than half yo ur weekends travelling. Yo u are so clo se to Paris, so make sure yo u explo re it as much as yo u can! HEC is a place where yo u can really
build go o d relatio nships and a stro ng netwo rk all o ver the wo rld, so meet as many o ther students as yo u can and enjo y it! I lo ved it!
Frankly... do n't. Go to ESADE.
Get invo lved with this IS (internatio nal student) o rganizatio n. Yo u will meet so many co o l peo ple. Also , do n't hang o ut o nly with o ther USC students. Branch o ut as much
as yo u can.
Try so mething new.
Be aware ho w far it is fro m Paris, try to take less class than mo re
Yo u're making the right decisio n no t to let this o ppo rtunity go by. I wo uldn't give up my time abro ad fo r anything. It has meant so much to me.
Enjo y! Do n't o verplan, go with the flo w. Also , do n't let the distance fro m the city deter yo u fro m go ing o ut at night. Stay o ut all night if yo u have to , but do n't stay in and be
lame because it's no t super co nvenient to get ho me...Live it up!
Study abro ad isn't abo ut the things yo u learn in class (but do n't fail!) - it's abo ut the things yo u learn abo ut yo urself and abo ut o ther cultures
Have fun. Enjo y every mo ment. Smile o ften. And always say thank yo u.
Academic: Go to yo ur classes, do the assignments, and get to kno w yo ur pro fesso rs. Mo st impo rtantly, DON'T FAIL!!! (but if yo u just do what yo u are suppo sed to do it
wo uld be virtually impo ssible to fail) So cial: Meet as many peo ple as yo u can so yo u can build a netwo rk o f friends all o ver the wo rld. Party as the lo cals do ; go to so cial
events o n campus and ENJOY and take in the fun! Travel: Go see as many places as yo ur schedule o r budget will allo w yo u. Yo u are in a fo reign co untry; no w do the
Christo pher Co lumbus and go EXPLORE as much as yo u can!
Make sure yo u do yo ur research abo ut the lo catio n o f the scho o l relative to the city. I knew it was o utside the city, but I underestimated just ho w much a pain it wo uld be to
go into Paris mo re than 2 times a week.
Get to kno w as many o f the o ther internatio nal students as yo u can. It's really fun to hear all the cultural differences. And if yo u ever visit their ho me co untries, yo u've go t
friends to call up.
do nt let the fact that the scho o l isnt in the center o f paris put yo u do wn, if yo u caught the right trains it wo uld o nly take 45 minutes. having a campus is rare so take
advantage o f meeting the students and participating in all the events. there is a large gro up o f internatio nal students fro m aro und the wo rld that co me each semester and
the events the IS asso ciatio n put o n are great ways to meet them. the classes are no t hard, there isnt much wo rk, but yo u do fo r the mo st part have to attend them. go to
every POW (party o f the week) o n thursday and watch the french students get crazzzy (also a great way to meet new peo ple) o h and yo u have to go to a cusso n (wine
dinner) , the fo o d o n campus sucks but its super cheap...yo u get used to it but if yo u are debating between getting a do rm o r apartment i wo uld get the apartment because
yo u have a kitchen. travelling is great but spend time getting to kno w paris and france
Have the best time and go o ut and explo re Paris, it's wo rth the trek. Go as o ften as po ssible.
Go o d luck, study hard and play harder! Do n't be afraid to try new things and go crazy fo r o nce in yo ur life!
To use an o ld cliche - ro ll with the punches. There will be things that yo u will no t be able to understand because yo u are no t a native in yo ur ho st co untry. Do n't wo rry, the
10 0 so me internatio nal students there are in the same bo at.
Ask me questio ns befo rehand! Even tho ugh HEC may be o ne o f the best scho o ls in Euro pe, it's no t USC o r Marshall. Administratio n is po o r, the lo catio n is terrible, and
transpo rtatio n is a nightmare. The scho o l will no t tell yo u where to go o r what to do next, so independence is key. What's great abo ut HEC is that yo u meet a to n o f great
friends and yo u will bo nd with them o ver tho se terrible experiences.
yo u may want to invest in buying a fridge and a ho t plate
Have the time o f yo ur life, because time literally slips thro ugh yo ur fingers when yo u are abro ad! Have a great time, but do no t fo rget abo ut yo ur grades; do n't ever beco me
jaded no r spo iled by this fo ur-mo nth-lo ng dream; reco rd yo ur experiences with a blo g, jo urnal, scrapbo o k, etc.; get o ur o f yo ur co mfo rt zo ne but stay true to yo urself
(cheesy but very true); do n't criticize the culture o r co untry - learn to lo ve it; do n't live up to the negative stereo types peo ple may have o f Americans (no elabo ratio n
needed!); take advantage o f each day; befriend many; try to take advantage o f the high caliber o f students and pro fesso rs at yo ur university; learn the language.
Altho ugh the lo catio n may be a little difficult in the beginning especially because yo u will want to be in Paris the who le time, yo u will co me to lo ve HEC and the peo ple there.
Try to get to kno w as many peo ple as po ssible including internatio nal and French students. Go to the events the HEC IS gro up (Internatio nal student o rg) plans because it
is a great way to meet peo ple. Also , there are POW (party o f the week) each week o n campus and tho se are a lo t o f fun to o .
Definitely make an effo rt to get to kno w all the exchange kids at HEC. There is generally a very small number o f exchange kids at HEC in the spring because they also take
in a lo t o f CEMS students (special business pro gram in Euro pe) in the spring. While it's easy to meet all the US/Canadian kids, there are so many interesting peo ple fro m
aro und the wo rld who will be there to o and yo u can learn so much abo ut o ther cultures as well. Exchange no t o nly teaches yo u abo ut the culture o f the co untry yo u're
studying in, but also abo ut the culture o f all the peo ple yo u meet.
Maximize yo ur fun! Go o ut and meet peo ple. Make an effo rt to talk to the lo cal students and get to kno w peo ple o utside yo ur USC gro up: it makes the experience so much
better!
Bo n chance.... Serio usly. It's a different lifestyle there.
Yo u will have an amazing time despite all the challenges and frustratio ns o f cultural differences, co mmunicatio n styles, already-prevalent preco nceived no tio ns that peo ple
have o f Americans
Go ing to HEC fo r exchange was the best decisio n I have ever made. I wo uld reco mmend it to everyo ne! The students were very friendly and eager to include us in their
events and activities. I think that had a lo t to do with the fact that we went during their campaign seaso n (spring), but it was so nice to be a part o f the campus life. If yo u go
abro ad during the spring semester, do everything yo u can to be as active o n campus as po ssible. Participate in the BDE campaign as much as yo u can as it will be the
mo st unique, unbelievable experience, I can guarantee it! Make the mo st o ut o f yo ur experience! Yes, HEC Paris may no t be in Paris per say, but Jo uy-en-Jo sas is a cute
little to wn that is ho me to o ne o f the best bakeries. The lo catio n o f the campus gives yo u the perfect o ppo rtunity to be invo lved o n campus and to interact with the lo cal
students. Take advantage o f that because after speaking to o thers who went abro ad, it is rare to go o n exchange and to be able befriend as many lo cal students as we did
and to be so invo lved in their campus culture.
Yo u wo n't regret go ing to HEC.
I wo uld say that HEC is a unversity lo cated in the small village o f Jo uy-en-Jo sas, and it has its o wn scho o l culture that is very distinct and different fro m Paris/French
culture.
1) cho o se B&YOU o ver free fo r cell service. same price, better co verage better internet and easier/faster to clo se yo ur acco unt when yo u're leaving. check o ut the
differences at http://www.free.fr/adsl/index.html and https://www.b-and-yo u.fr/. 2) Set up yo ur bank acco unt ASAP so yo u can get a SIM card quickly. (take an unlo cked SIM
pho ne with yo u). It's easier to clo se an LCL bank acco unt than a BNP acco unt but there are fewer LCL ATMs that take depo sits. they charge yo u fo r having a debit card in
France.
It will be the best experience o f yo ur life so ENJOY!
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6 6 . Any final tho ughts...
T e xt Re spo nse
It's an amazing pro gram and an unfo rgettable experience.
N/A.
The fall semester is far, far to o sho rt to really co mmit to immersing yo urself in the culture. There were so many things I didn't bo ther to do because I knew I was leaving in
9 0 days - like buying a French cell pho ne o r putting the extra effo rt in learning the language. I'm very dissappo inted in the lack o f cultural exchange at HEC, and to be sure
it's partly my fault fo r no t pushing myself hard eno ugh, but the scho o l itself presents many challenges to this aspect.
It sho uld be advertised mo re at USC that HEC is rated the #1 Business Scho o l in Euro pe by Financial Times... I had no idea!
no
no pe
No
Very fun pro gram, definitely reco mmend it. Also , the French peo ple LOVE when they find o ut that yo u go to HEC. We go t so o o many disco unts, ho o kups, and o ther
advantages that mo st peo ple do n't get. It's a very entitled feeling
No ne, really
Truly o ne o f the best experiences o f my co llege life.
Studying abro ad is really an unbelievably amazing o nce-in-a-lifetime o ppo rtunity that everyo ne sho uld experience fo r themselves. I am grateful that USC was able to
pro vide me with an adventure with memo ries to last a lifetime :)
n/a
When the weather's nice, rent bikes. They've go t a great system that makes it super super cheap. It's a great way to get aro und the city abo ve gro und. They're aweso me.
say yes to all the o ppo rtunities that co me ... have an amazing time!
HEC is a lo t o f fun and will be experience yo u wo n't fo rget. Altho ugh being iso lated in Jo uy en Jo sas can seem frustrating at times, the peo ple yo u will meet o n campus are
aweso me and yo u will have a great time regardless. Highly highly reco mmend it!
Thanks!
Mo st no n-Americans do no t ho ld a favo rable view o f American citizens - do n't give them a reaso n to feel justified in their assumptio ns.
If yo u're lo o king fo r a Parisian experience, do n't go to HEC. If yo u're lo o king fo r a Euro pean university experience, yo u'll find it here.
Studying abro ad is the best thing ever!!!!
AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THAT I AM SO GLAD I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF!!
Enjo y every minute o f yo ur time abro ad. Do n't waste yo ur time feeling ho me sick o r in yo ur ro o m. Travel as much as yo u can and put yo urself o ut there to meet as many
peo ple as po ssible. Yo u never kno w who yo u may beco me go o d friends with.
Definitely study abro ad. This has been the best part o f my co llege experience. Yo u will learn academically and culturally, but yo u will also learn so much abo ut yo urself.
When yo u're in this to tally fo reign enviro nment, yo u really get to see ho w lucky yo u are go ing to USC and having all the o ppo rtunities we are given. At the same time, yo u
will see new sides o f yo urself and realize so much mo re abo ut yo urself then yo u ever realized.
Be careful what classes yo u cho o se. Do n't decide o n classes so lely based o n schedule. So me o f them are actually very interesting and HEC has so me co nsulting
co mpanies teach classes so yo u get to wo rk o n real cases with peo ple fro m PWC and Ro land Berger fo r example. It is a very go o d o ppo rtunity, so make the best o f it.
HEC is the #1 business scho o l in Euro pe so despite its lo catio n, it's wo rth go ing to .
Stay po sitive and o pen-minded
HEC might no t be in Paris, but it is full o f surprises. I co uldn't have asked fo r a better semester abro ad and I ho pe that any o f yo u co nsidering this scho o l will lo ve it as
much as I did. Do n't get caught up in the little things like the less than ideal dining hall o r the ho ur train ride to Paris. In fact, yo u will have so me o f the mo st interesting
co nversatio ns and fo nd memo ries o n tho se trains. Embrace the change o f scenery and enjo y the change o f pace. It is an amazing place and I canno t wait fo r mo re peo ple
to be able to experience life at HEC!
No .
Remember to fully enjo y learning the lay o f the land, tho ugh it may be frustrating at times due to French bureaucracy. Learn to accept the scho o l culture and embrace the
differences between HEC/USC and US/France ;)
TAKE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE TRANSLATED (CERTIFIED TRANSLATION) INTO FRENCH WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO SO YOU CAN DO CAF (they'll explain when yo u get
there) AND GET MONEY BACK FROM YOUR RENT EVERY MONTH. YOU WILL DEF WANT THAT CASH AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER.
HEC is an amazing scho o l to go to . Once yo u get o ver the fact that yo u're 40 minutes o utside central Paris it turns o ut to be amazing! The peo ple that yo u make friends
with there will be like yo ur family.
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