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
Sam Jo sefsberg
Aliso n Kaprielian
Yufang Ko h
Ryan Neho ray
James Shechet
Bridget McAnany
Victo ria Kasar
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
7
2.
E-mail Address (o ptio nal)
T e xt Re spo nse
Sjo sefsb@USC.edu
fpakrava@usc.edu
akapriel@usc.edu
yufang.ko h@usc.edu
neho ray@usc.edu
shechet@usc.edu
bmcanany@usc.edu
vkasar@usc.edu
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
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
0
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
8
10 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
8
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
57
Max Value
57
Mean
57.0 0
Variance
0 .0 0
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
To tal Respo nses
8
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
6
75%
3
Senio r
2
25%
To tal
8
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
2
Max Value
Mean
3
2.25
Variance
0 .21
Standard Deviatio n
0 .46
To tal Respo nses
8
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 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 13
May 20 13
Fall 20 13
Spring 20 14
Spring 20 14
May 20 14
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
6.
What is yo ur majo r?
T e xt Re spo nse
Business administratio n
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Acco unting, Business
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
BUAD // IRGB
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
7.
What is yo ur co ncentratio n (Business majo rs o nly)?
T e xt Re spo nse
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Emphasis in Cinematic Arts (BCA)
Marketing
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
6
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
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 13
Spring 20 13
Spring 20 13
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
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
0
2
6
8
4.75
St at ist ic
1. Yo ur o ve rall sat isf act io n wit h t he pro gram .
Min Value
4
Max Value
5
Mean
4.75
Variance
0 .21
Standard Deviatio n
0 .46
To tal Respo nses
8
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
0
0
3
5
8
4.6 3
3. To what extent was yo ur participatio n in the pro gram a valuable
learning experience?
0
0
1
2
5
8
4.50
#
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
4
3
Max Value
5
5
Mean
4.6 3
4.50
Variance
0 .27
0 .57
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .52
0 .76
8
8
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
0
0
1
7
8
4.8 8
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
4
Max Value
Mean
5
4.8 8
Variance
0 .13
Standard Deviatio n
0 .35
To tal Respo nses
8
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
3
1
4
0
8
3.13
6 . Ho w co mparable was the quality o f instructio n and academic demand o f
classes to that o f USC?
0
6
1
0
1
8
2.50
#
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?
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?
Min Value
2
2
Max Value
4
5
Mean
3.13
2.50
Variance
0 .9 8
1.14
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .9 9
1.0 7
8
8
To tal
Respo nses
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.
0
1
2
4
1
8
3.6 3
8 . I was able to register fo r all the classes that I wanted.
0
2
2
3
1
8
3.38
#
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
2
2
Max Value
5
5
Mean
3.6 3
3.38
Variance
0 .8 4
1.13
Standard Deviatio n
0 .9 2
1.0 6
8
8
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
0
0
3
5
8
4.6 3
2
10 . To what extent do yo u feel yo u were immersed in the culture o f the
ho st co untry?
0
0
0
1
7
8
4.8 8
3
11. To what extent did yo u gain a better appreciatio n o f the ho st
culture's perspectives?
0
0
0
1
7
8
4.8 8
#
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
4
4
4
Max Value
5
5
5
Mean
4.6 3
4.8 8
4.8 8
Variance
0 .27
0 .13
0 .13
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .52
0 .35
0 .35
8
8
8
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
1
2
4
1
8
3.6 3
13. Please rate yo ur o verall satisfactio n with the quality o f
instructio n.
0
1
4
3
0
8
3.25
#
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
4
Mean
3.6 3
3.25
Variance
0 .8 4
0 .50
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .9 2
0 .71
8
8
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
1
4
1
2
8
3.50
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
5
Mean
3.50
Variance
1.14
Standard Deviatio n
1.0 7
To tal Respo nses
8
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
0
1
6
1
8
4.0 0
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
3
Max Value
5
Mean
4.0 0
Variance
0 .29
Standard Deviatio n
0 .53
To tal Respo nses
8
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?
7
1
0
0
0
0
8
1.13
2
17. Ho w were yo ur language skills after the pro gram?
7
0
1
0
0
0
8
1.25
3
18 . Yo ur living situatio n aided yo ur language
acquisitio n.
7
0
0
0
1
0
8
1.50
#
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
Max Value
1
1
1
2
3
5
Mean
1.13
1.25
1.50
Variance
0 .13
0 .50
2.0 0
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .35
0 .71
1.41
8
8
8
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
0
0
8
0
0
8
3.0 0
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
3
Max Value
3
Mean
3.0 0
Variance
0 .0 0
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .0 0
To tal
Respo nses
8
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
0
2
0
3
3
8
3.8 8
2
21. On-site o rientatio n
0
0
1
2
5
8
4.50
3
22. On-site academic facilities (e.g. classro o ms, libraries,
co mputer labs), excluding ho using.
0
0
0
7
1
8
4.13
4
23. Co mmunicatio n with the USC Marshall o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
1
1
0
6
8
4.38
5
24. Overall impressio n o f o n-site suppo rt services
0
0
2
4
2
8
4.0 0
St at ist ic
20 . On-sit e
acade m ic
advising
21. On-sit e
o rie nt at io n
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
Min Value
2
3
4
2
3
Max Value
5
5
5
5
5
Mean
3.8 8
4.50
4.13
4.38
4.0 0
Variance
1.55
0 .57
0 .13
1.41
0 .57
Standard
Deviatio n
1.25
0 .76
0 .35
1.19
0 .76
8
8
8
8
8
To tal
Respo nses
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
1
0
3
1
3
8
3.6 3
2
26 . Lo catio n o f student ho using
0
0
1
2
5
8
4.50
3
27. Quality o f ho using
arrangements
0
0
2
2
4
8
4.25
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
3
3
Max Value
5
5
5
Mean
3.6 3
4.50
4.25
Variance
1.9 8
0 .57
0 .79
Standard Deviatio n
1.41
0 .76
0 .8 9
8
8
8
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
Lisbo n seemed like an aweso me city that pro vided me with plenty o f travel o ptio ns.
Heard great things abo ut Po rtugal, go t to kno w the 2 exchange students at USC fro m No va the semester befo re, warm weather, go o d beaches, o ne o f the cheaper
Euro pean co untries
Originally, I was co nfident that I wanted to travel to Euro pe fo r my semester abro ad - I had never left the co untry befo re and I knew that Euro pe wo uld pro vide the o ppo rtunity
to explo re o ther co untries while I was o verseas. When I learned mo re abo ut Lisbo n fro m the past students, so mething clicked. I knew this was the place fo r me. Po rtugal
was described as "a gem," meaning it was a place that was so undergro und and underrated by Americans, but it has so many wo nderful things to o ffer. Fo r me, Lisbo n
co mbined all o f the qualities that I lo ved fro m different cities - a beach/surf culture like So uthern Califo rnia, a cultured city set up like San Francisco , beautiful weather year
ro und, and, mo st impo rtantly, the feeling o f intimacy that surro unds yo u. While the city seemed to be so big, I always felt as if I was at ho me. The biggest deciding facto r fo r
me to cho o se the pro gram in Po rtugal, ho wever, was the authentic experience that the past students described. I wanted to BE Po rtuguese during my time abro ad, and I feel
like this co untry enabled me to immerse myself in the culture and experience the magic that makes these peo ple, this language, and this city "a gem."
I cho se to go to Lisbo n because I wanted to go so mewhere o ff the radar, where I wo uld truly be immersed in the culture.
Reco mmendatio n fro m a friend + desire to go to atypical Euro pe lo catio n
The reputatio n o f the academic pro gram, the lo catio n, culture, co st o f living, weather, and o ppo rtunity fo r travel
I cho se this pro gram because I wanted to expand my educatio n beyo nd the classro o m. Obvio usly I to o k business classes while abro ad and learned a lo t abo ut do ing
business glo bally, but mo stly, I wanted the chance to explo re and disco ver a new culture and living in an unfamiliar enviro nment.
Had heard great things abo ut Lisbo n and NOVA--seemed to be the perfect size and atmo sphere fo r study abro ad.
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
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
Me an
1
2
1) Quality o f instructio n
1
0
7
8
2.75
2) Co ntent o f co urses
2
0
6
8
2.50
3
3) Intellectual challenge o f co urses
1
0
7
8
2.75
4
4) Faculty interest in/suppo rt o f students
1
0
7
8
2.75
5
5) Individual assistance pro vided
2
0
6
8
2.50
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
3) Int e lle ct ual challe nge o f
co urse s
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
Mean
2.75
2.50
2.75
2.75
2.50
Variance
0 .50
0 .8 6
0 .50
0 .50
0 .8 6
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .71
0 .9 3
0 .71
0 .71
0 .9 3
8
8
8
8
8
To tal
Respo nses
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
1 ho ur
2-3 Ho urs
A co uple ho urs per week
3 (i think? i do nt really kno w)
10
4 ho urs at mo st
Depends o n the class yo u have. I wo uld say in general abo ut 4 ho urs a week.
4
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
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
There's really very little wo rk. Do well o n the final (and so metimes midterm) and yo u'll pass the co urse. I liked it o verall.
Grading system o f 1-20 as o ppo sed to letter grades. The final exams are wo rth the majo rity o f yo ur final grade. Classes are much mo re pro ject-based than at USC. It's
interesting to wo rk in gro ups with students o f different backgro unds.
The structure was different in that mo st o f the co urses relied o n a final pro ject and a final exam. A co uple o f my co urses invo lved gro up (which they ensured that yo u wo uld
be wo rking with Po rtuguese students), so there were several o ppo rtunities to co llabo rate with my classmates, which is very similar to ho w Marshall o perates. The classes
in general, ho wever, were no t at interative as they are at USC, but that co uld be because many o f the Po rtuguese students do no t attend class (it's cultural?).
In terms o f taking classes in o rder to impro ve yo ur business educatio n, yo u definitely learn 10 0 0 % mo re at USC. Mo st o f the masters co urses were heavily weighted o n
the final exam/pro ject, which wo rked o ut really well fo r a study abro ad semester.
Master's level co urses have no day-to -day ho mewo rk. Entire grade co nsists o f o ne semester-lo ng individual assignment, o ne semester-lo ng gro up pro ject, and final
exam.
The length o f classes were lo nger. The o verall number o f classes per semester were sho rter. Classes included mo re gro up presentatio ns and papers. I am neutral to
these changes.
If yo u take masters co urses, yo u can take semester-lo ng classes (which is like a typical class at USC) o r yo u can take half-semester co urses (o nly 6 weeks lo ng). The
masters classes usually have an individual pro ject (paper, presentatio n, video , etc.), a gro up pro ject, and a final exam. There are usually no midterms o r any o ther tests o r
quizzes thro ugho ut the class. While I like that the amo unt o f wo rk was less abro ad than at USC, I felt a lo t mo re rushed to finish my assignments because so me o f these
classes are o nly 6 weeks lo ng so yo u have to find a gro up fo r gro up pro jects the first week. The time pressure makes it a little stressful, but the o verall wo rk lo ad is lighter
than mo st USC classes.
In general, I think there is less student-pro fesso r interactio n. It's a way smaller scho o l than SC, so it's still po ssible to go to o ffice ho urs, but class time in general seemed
to be less interactive than mo st co urses at SC. One thing that is the same is gro up wo rk--yo ull likely have at least 1 gro up pro ject in each class. And while students still
wo rk really hard at NOVA, I no tices a vast difference in the way gro up meetings are co nducted..no t to o pro ductive.
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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
No
I really enjo yed the Entrepreneurship class o ffered. The teacher was very helpful no t to mentio n he was also American. But he mo ved back to the states this summer.
Regardless, go o d class. Internatio nal Management was pretty interesting as well.
All o f my pro fesso rs and co urses were average this semester. I still learned a lo t, but I was no t blo wn away by the level o f instructio n.
I actually really enjo yed o ur Law fo r Business and Eco no mics class. It really wasn't very business o riented at all but it was the o nly intellectually stimulating class. Jo ana
Sto ry teaches a CSR co urse and a Glo bal Human Reso urces Management co urse, and she is very energetic and pretty engaging.
Entrepreneurship New Pro duct Develo pment- very unique class, wo rk with a co mpany to understand real pro cess o f develo ping new pro duct Glo bal Human Reso urces
Management-super easy
E-Co mmerce and Digital Marketing taught by David Bernardo . Gave an incredibly co mprehensive and useful lo o k into the wo rld o f website marketing, co ntent, design,
usability, analytics, and lo gistics. Distributio n Channels taught by Jo rge Velo sa. Very kno wledgable and dynamic pro fesso r. Gave great o verall view o f channel design and
impro vement, co nflicts, and clo sing gaps.
If yo u can (o r if they even o ffer it), try to take Sustainable Internatio nal Business with Daniel Traça--he was engaged and was really interesting. I wo uld also reco mmend
David Bernardo who teaches E-Co mmerce and Digital Marketing. He do esn't teach all the time, tho ugh, so get him if yo u can and the class was o nly 3 weeks lo ng!
I ejo yed my Mo deling Business Decisio ns co urse--learned a lo t abo ut excel, the pro fesso r So fia Franco gets mixed reviews fro m students, but I liked her. Co nsumer
Behavio r and E-Marketing were also interesting classes with co o l pro fesso rs.
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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
Anything law sho uld be avo ided as it do esn't relate to the US at all
Do n't take Law fo r Eco n and Mgmt. It revo lves aro und Euro pean and Po rtuguese law that is basically po intless to kno w.
All o f the pro fesso rs were very kind and helpful, especially to wards the exchange students. While so me o f the lectures co uld get repetitive at times, I do n't think any o f them
are wo rth trying to avo id.
Entrepreneurship with Vio letta! So no t wo rth it!!!!
Sustainability Internatio nal Trade
New Pro duct Develo pment with Luis Lages. His class did no t really relate to the title o f the co urse. We o nly made yo utube video s that suppo rted the cause o f his o nline
initiative (Glo Cal Visio n) and were graded based o n the number o f o ur views and likes.
I wo uld reco mmend no t taking Marketing Research with Elizabeth Cardo so . While she was kno wledgable in her field, the class was bo ring and she was terrible at
co o rdinating o ur semester-lo ng pro ject.
Whatever yo u do , DO NOT TAKE INTERNATIONAL TRADE. In general check with o ther students o r yo ur buddies abo ut what classes to take befo re yo u enro ll o r stay in a
class.
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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
Pro vided me with go o d insight into Euro pean business culture and the cultural mentality as a who le
Definitely. Interacting with students fro m aro und the wo rld and learning abo ut the impo rtance o f glo balizatio n makes yo u realize ho w big o f an o pen market Euro pe is.
Abso lutely. Since my time in Po rtugal, my glo abl perspective has mo tivated me to pursue a career either fo cusing o n internatio nal markets o r relo cating myself to a different
co untry after I graduate. My semester abro ad really o pened my eye and my mind to new o ppo rtunites, and I wo uld lo ve to apply this to my pro fessio nal develo pment. Plus,
I am currently studying the Po rtuguese language so that I can return to Po rtugal o r go to Brazil again in the future.
It helped me co nfirm that I sho uld take mo re risks to achieve the glo bal career experiences I have always wanted. Talking to my Euro pean friends also reinfo rced the idea
that we sho uld be in no rush to wo rk, but rather to spend quality time finding o ur passio ns and wo rk who leheartedly in whatever that area might be.
made me want to spend time wo rking internatio nally during my career
It has reinfo rced my desired career go als by allo wing me to realize ho w much I miss being aro und my desired industry and related co urses.
I to o k a variety o f co urses at No va, but the classes that I to o k so lidified my co ncentratio n in Marketing and o pened me up to po ssibly wo rking in so cial business and so cial
entrepreneurship (after taking Sustainable Internatio nal Business with Daniel Traça).
Yes! I learned a go o d deal abo ut ho w business students in Euro pe see their career go als, which put the atmo sphere at Marshall into perspective. Our career services o ffice
and the jo b market in CA gave me a lo t to be thankful fo r.
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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
Po rtuguese
Po rtuguese, Spanish
Po rtuguese... but everyo ne speaks perfect English.
Po rtuguese
Po rtuguese
Po rtuguese
Po rtuguese!
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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 ne at all
I did no t speak the language, ho wever, I did meet with a few lo cals as a language exchange - I learned so me Po rtuguese while they learned so me English.
I did no t speak any Po rtuguese and did no t take any language classes while I was there, tho ugh I wish I did-- it's such a beautiful language!
no
No
No
DIdn't have any fo rmal training but attempted to use my Spanish to help me speak Po rtuguese. Really difficult language tho ugh.
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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
4.0 0
1
1) Yo ur language skills befo re the pro gram:
0
0
0
7
7
2
2) Language training o n the pro gram:
0
0
2
5
7
3.71
3
3) Yo ur pro ficiency after the pro gram:
0
0
3
4
7
3.57
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 :
3) Yo ur pro f icie ncy af t e r t he pro gram :
Min Value
4
3
3
Max Value
4
4
4
Mean
4.0 0
3.71
3.57
Variance
0 .0 0
0 .24
0 .29
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
0 .49
0 .53
7
7
7
To tal Respo nses
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
No
Yes, being aro und the Po rtuguese was mo re than helpful. They are so pro ud o f their beautiful language and lo ve to teach o thers ho w to speak it.
The NOVA Internatio nal Club helped us engage with a lo t o f Po rtuguese students.
n/a
Yes
I didn't take any classes, but hanging o ut with Po rtuguese peo ple (like o ur assigned buddies at No va) o r just being in Po rtugal, yo u will pick up so me key phrases.
No
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33.
41. Did o utside/o ther activities help? Please explain.
T e xt Re spo nse
No
The tandem language exchange pro gram was a go o d way to meet new peo ple and teach each o ther o ur native language.
Just speaking to the Po rtuguese students and learning a co uple phrases to get by really helped.
go ing to lo cal bars and cafes
Yes. i learned mo re o ut o f curio sity and necessity.
No
Trying to speak with as many peo ple as po ssible, and listening to peo ple speak.
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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
10 0 %
10 0 % - It is a requirement that all o f the Po rtuguese take a certain number o f co urses in English in o rder to graduate.
10 0 %
10 0 %
10 0 %
10 0 % o f students (especially in the masters pro gram) have to speak English. Ho wever, if yo u're just hanging o ut o n campus, mo st students speak Po rtuguese.
90%
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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
Varies by co untry, learn to co mmunicate with respect i.e saying go o d mo rning/evening/night was very impo rtant to peo ple in Po rtugal
Spanish helps A LOT in trying to learn the language. Ho wever, it is NOT the same. The pro no unciatio n is co mpletely different and the Po rtuguese are no t always thrilled
when yo u auto matically start speaking Spanish to them. But they are SO willing to help, because I am co nfident that the Po rtuguese peo ple are the mo st co mpassio nate
peo ple in the wo rld. Befo re go ing abro ad, I reco mmend that students lo o k o ver and practice ho w to say key phrases - like "thank yo u" o r "ho w are yo u." But there are plenty
o f o ppo rtunities to learn while yo u are there because many o f the public transpo rtatio n drivers and o lder generatio ns o f peo ple do no t speak English. I didn't kno w any
Po rtuguese befo re hand, but I learned to LOVE the language and I am trying to learn it no w fo r when I return!
Practice yo ur Spanish if yo u kno w so me... it helps!
no t necessary
Ro setta Sto ne. Online research fo r basic phrases.
I wo uld maybe buy a little Po rtuguese phrase bo o k to get yo u acco mmo dated at the beginning. Ho nestly, tho ugh, mo st peo ple speak English here (they have a lo t o f
to urists that visit) so yo u do n't need to do any classes o r preparatio n if yo u do n't want to . Yo u'll definitely kno w a few Po rtuguese wo rds/phrases by the end o f yo ur
semester here, tho ugh, because yo u're just aro und it all the time.
Get a Po rtuguese language app to get basics do wn. the accent is the tricky part.
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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
5
0
2
7
1.57
2
On-site perso nal advising and info rmal suppo rt
0
1
6
7
2.8 6
3
Orientatio n in Lo s Angeles
2
0
5
7
2.43
4
Instructio nal facilities
0
0
7
7
3.0 0
5
Medical/dental facilities
1
6
0
7
1.8 6
6
Recreatio nal facilities
2
2
3
7
2.14
7
USC Financial Aid
0
5
2
7
2.29
8
Co mmunicatio n with o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
2
5
7
2.71
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
Min Value
1
2
1
3
Max Value
3
3
3
3
Mean
1.57
2.8 6
2.43
3.0 0
Variance
0 .9 5
0 .14
0 .9 5
0 .0 0
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .9 8
0 .38
0 .9 8
7
7
7
St at ist ic
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
2
2
2
3
3
3
1.8 6
2.14
2.29
2.71
0 .14
0 .8 1
0 .24
0 .24
0 .0 0
0 .38
0 .9 0
0 .49
0 .49
7
7
7
7
7
Me dical/de nt al
f acilit ie s
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
1
1
3
0
2
7
3.14
2
On-site perso nal advising and info rmal
suppo rt
0
1
1
4
1
7
3.71
3
Orientatio n in Lo s Angeles
0
0
1
4
2
7
4.14
4
Instructio nal facilities
0
1
2
2
2
7
3.71
5
Medical/dental facilities
0
0
6
0
1
7
3.29
6
Recreatio nal facilities
0
1
3
1
2
7
3.57
7
USC Financial Aid
0
0
4
2
1
7
3.57
8
Co mmunicatio n with o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
0
1
3
3
7
4.29
#
Que st io n
1
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
2
3
2
3
2
3
3
Max Value
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
St at ist ic
Mean
3.14
3.71
4.14
3.71
3.29
3.57
3.57
4.29
Variance
2.14
0 .9 0
0 .48
1.24
0 .57
1.29
0 .6 2
0 .57
Standard
Deviatio n
1.46
0 .9 5
0 .6 9
1.11
0 .76
1.13
0 .79
0 .76
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
To tal
Respo nses
38.
44. Did yo u live in...
#
Answe r
Bar
Re spo nse
%
1
Do rm
0
0%
2
Apartment
7
10 0 %
3
Other
0
0%
To tal
7
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
2
Max Value
2
Mean
2.0 0
Variance
0 .0 0
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
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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
Didn't use
n/a
Yes! I had to go ho me befo re go ing to Lisbo n, and then had to bo o k a flight fro m Lisbo n to LA witho ut kno wing the date that my internship wo uld be starting, so it was very
stressful. They helped me find very reaso nably priced tickets that had flexible change dates.
n/a
N/A
N/A
n/a
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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
Assistance in finding ho using wo uld be really helpful in this city.
The o nly negative thing I have to say abo ut the pro gram in Lisbo n is the number o f undergraduate co urses that were transferrable. Initially, registratio n was a headache
because I co uldn't decide if masters co urses were go ing to be to o difficult o r no t. Therefo re, I felt safer to o nly take undergraduate classes - but there was minimal flexibility
in the schedule. Having studied with students in my pro gram who to o k bo th undergrad and masters, I wo uld reco mmend that students next year lo o k mo re into masters.
The classes are mo re interesting and o ffer mo re ro o m fo r a better schedule! But I had no pro blem with any o f my undergraduate co urses. My schedule was no t ideal, but
everything still wo rked o ut just fine.
I wish there were mo re classes that transferred o ver to SC-- we had to take fo ur undergraduate co urses o ut o f five that we co uld cho o se fro m, which was very difficult
schedule-wise.
make it easier to study abro ad multiple times during undergrad career
Mo re co urses that are accepted fo r USC Credit! Mo re assistance in the gathering o f materials, visa requirements, and the search fo r ho using prio r to travel.
The co urse registratio n pro cess was stressful because Fernanda Vicente (the co o rdinato r at No va in Lisbo n) did no t have us as pre-appro ved fo r Masters classes, so we
had to wait until the seco nd day o r even when we go t here to register. I wo uld say, just make sure Fernanda has everyo ne appro ved o f the level o f classes that the students
are planning o n taking. Otherwise, I think the pro gram was great!
The o nline registratio n system at NOVA didn't wo rk fo r me a lo t o f the time--had to wo rk with the masters o ffice o n multiple o ccasio ns. Also if a class is really po pular
there's no t much o f a chance yo u'll get in--that's typical o f any uni tho ugh.
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41.
47. Additio nal co mments o n services and co o rdinatio n.
T e xt Re spo nse
Emphasize that it do esn't really matter at all if yo u take masters o r undergraduate co urses
Online registratio n befo re go ing to No va was a challenge because their web registratio n is so co nfusing! But do no t freak o ut if yo u do no t get the co urses yo u want - the
o ffices are acco mo dating to ensure that yo u get all o f the units yo u need to transfer back to USC. I had to redo my ENTIRE schedule when I arrived in Po rtugal.
They didn't pro vide ho using and did no t advise us abo ut it at all, but we fo und the mo st perfect place-- if yo u guys are planning o n go ing please please please talk to the
Spring '12 crew and we will ho o k yo u up!!
Sean is aweso me
Because ho using is no t pro vided by the university, it was be a pain to find a place to live (especially because Po rtuguese peo ple take a lo ng time getting back to yo u). If yo u
need reco mmendatio ns, please co ntact me o r o ther peo ple who were in the pro gram so we can give yo u so me ideas. I had to mo ve to a new apartment o nce I go t to
Lisbo n, so if I can help o ther peo ple no t make the same mistake, reach o ut to me!
I think it sho uld be clarified befo rehand that a Masters pro gram in the NOVA (and Euro pean) system is very different than that o f a MBA in the states. Undergrad =3 yrs and
then students can immediately go into getting their masters with an additio nal 2 yrs, which is no t the case o f an MBA. Just a po int o f clarificatio n because my perceptio n o f
taking masters classes was different than what they were in reality.
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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
29 %
2
Online
4
57%
3
Other:
1
14%
To tal
7
Ot he r:
Friend reco mmendatio n
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
1
Max Value
3
Mean
1.8 6
Variance
0 .48
Standard Deviatio n
0 .6 9
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7
43.
Wo uld yo u reco mmend this metho d?
T e xt Re spo nse
Yes
Our travel agent was a family friend. This wo rked just fine fo r me!
Yes, STA was great
yes
YES
Yes, I just went thro ugh American Airlines because I get po ints when flying with them.
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
N/A
$1,20 0 ro und trip - there are no direct flights fro m LAX so yo u'll have to sto p in Madrid, Lo ndo n, etc...
$250 0 ? I also had to fly to Asia befo re so my situatio n is a little different.
$120 0
$9 0 0
It co st abo ut $9 0 0 fro m San Francisco to Lisbo n (with 2 layo vers)
20 0 euro
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45.
50 . Ho w o ften did yo u travel and to where?
T e xt Re spo nse
Often. Within Po rtugal and thro ugho ut several Euro pean co untries.
I traveled o n the weekends. Fo r the first two mo nths, I made sure to stay in Po rtugal because 1) I never wanted to leave and 2) I wanted to immerse myself in the culture as
much as po ssible. Here are so me o f the places I went while I was abro ad: Marrakesh, Mo ro cco Sintra, Po rtugal To rres Vedras, Po rtugal Po rto , Po rtugal Marrakesh,
Mo ro cco Obido s, Po rtugal Sevilla, Spain Budapest, Hungary Vienna, Austria Prague, Czech Rep. Madrid, Spain Algarve/Lago s, Po rtugal Madeira, Po rtugal Ro me/Cinque
Terre/Flo rence/Venice, Italy
We didn't travel o ut o f Po rtugal at all the first mo nth, but there was a perio d o f time we didn't have a spare weekend. We went all o ver Po rtugal; to Mo ro cco , Madrid, Prague,
Budapest, Vienna, Italy... I had two o ther trips bo o ked but I wanted to stay in Po rtugal to spend time with my friends and appreciate the amazingness o f Lisbo n.
1-2 times a mo nth Lo ng spring break trip to Madrid and Mo ro cco (highly reco mmend) Lo ng trip to Italy Weekend trip to Prague+Munich Trip to Barcelo na+Sweden smaller
trips to o ther cities in Po rtugal
Every o ther free weekend and during the ho lidays. Within Po rtugal: Po rto , Co imbra, Fatima, Obido s, Sintra, Cascais, Carcavelo s, Lago s, and Albufeira. Outside o f Po rtugal:
Spain, Switzerland, Mo rro co , Hungary, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany
I traveled abo ut o nce a mo nth. I traveled to Ireland (Co rk), all aro und Spain (I did a ro ad trip o ver spring break and went to Seville, Granada, Valencia, and Madrid), Israel
(Tel Aviv and Jerusalem), and all aro und Po rtugal (fro m Po rto up no rth to Lago s in the so uth). After the pro gram, I'm also travelling to Zambia with my parents.
every co uple weekends--almo st wish I did less tho ugh! missed lisbo n every time I left. Po rto , Obido s, Fatima, Co imbra, Po rtugal Barcelo na, Spain Albufeira, Po rtugal
Seville, Granada Valencia, Spain (by car) Ro me, Flo rence, Venice, Italy Paris, France Amsterdam, Netherlands Madrid, Spain Lago s, Po rtugal Evo ra, Po rtugal Prague,
Czech Republic Berlin, Germany
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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
Didn't fo ster o r hinder. No attendance requirements fo r the mo st part so yo u co uld miss class to travel, had a few breaks fro m classes, and a few weeks o ff between the
end o f classes and the start o f finals.
When I was abro ad, I decided I had to "do as the Po rtuguese do " while I was in their co untry. Therefo re, missing an o ccasio nal class was no t an issue and I never fell
behind in my co ursewo rk.
I wo uld suggest that everyo ne take masters classes because tho se are 8 0 -10 0 % weighted upo n final exams/pro jects, whereas the undergrad classes were a little mo re
anno ying and had mo re perio dic wo rk due.
yes, made schedule to have class 3 days a week. there are so me ho lidays that give yo u extended breaks
It pro mo ted it fro m the length o f the Easter break and the flexibility o f class scheduling fo r lo nger weekends.
Yes, if yo u pick yo ur schedule right, yo u can have 3 o r 4 day weekends so yo u can travel o ften if yo u want to . Ho wever, if yo u're in the masters pro gram, so me classes may
o nly be 6 weeks lo ng, so yo u have to make sure they do n't have po licies abo ut being in a certain number o f classes.
I wo uld no t say it prevented it whatso ever-yo u can arrange yo ur classes to be 4, o r even 3 days a week. Get yo ur wo rk do ne ahead o f time.
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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
mo mo ndo .co m. Co o rdinate yo ur trips with co o l festivals/ho lidays
Many students have expressed co ncerns abo ut having the ability to travel o ften fro m Po rtugal. While I was o ff in the Iberian Peninsula, I had NO pro blems at all. I was able
to travel everywhere that I wanted to go - and then so me! There were disco unt airline flights that made travel very cheap and accessible. Skyscanner will beco me yo ur BEST
friend. And so metimes flying fro m Lisbo n was a LITTLE pricer that so mewhere mo re centralized; ho wever, what yo u pay extra in flights, yo u spend WAY less mo ney in
Po rtugal because it is SO cheap. So it all balances o ut in the end. But start saving yo ur mo ney because yo u do n't want to limit yo urself while yo u're o ut in Euro pe! Every
euro spent is abso lutely wo rth it.
If yo u're planning to travel all o ver Euro pe, Lisbo n is pro bably no t the place fo re yo u since it is the mo st western po int o f Euro pe and o ther destinatio ns are a little mo re
expensive to get to . But it was abso lutely amazing being able to explo re all o f Po rtugal. I wo uld never fly into Po rtugal just to go to Sintra, Obido s, Albufeira, o r any o f the
o ther smaller but incredibly beautiful cities there, so I was really glad I was able to see everything in the co untry.
spain is really expensive (beware) yo u'll realize that lisbo n is better than any city yo u will travel to ...make sure yo u spend eno ugh time there
Bo o k flights early, do plenty o f research, be creative in finding cheaper alternatives (indirect flights, trains, and buses fo r example), and seek advice fro m friends who are
actually fro m the destinatio n.
Definitely plan trips in advance if yo u can because yo u'll get better deals o n flights, ho stels, and whatever else. Take trips and travel so yo u actually have time to enjo y
where yo u are--do n't just plan trips to be in a city o ne day because it's no t wo rth the planning and mo ney. I made the decisio n to do a few big trips instead o f a lo t o f
smaller trips, but it's up to the individual. Because Lisbo n is really far west, it may be mo re difficult to get to so me places in Euro pe, so just explo re o ptio ns o f places to go .
Skyscanner.co m! In general yo u might pay a bit mo re fo r flights co ming o ut o f lisbo n. Easyjet is the best.
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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
Ave rage Value
1
General (including fo o d, entertainment, lo cal transpo rtatio n)
2
Ho using/rent
3
General travel during semester
4
5
50 0 .0 0
3,0 0 0 .0 0
1,714.29
8 59 .12
1,50 0 .0 0
3,50 0 .0 0
2,157.14
6 55.38
1,0 0 0 .0 0
5,0 0 0 .0 0
2,214.29
1,410 .0 0
Bo o ks & miscellaneo us supplies
0 .0 0
10 0 .0 0
41.43
43.37
Other expenditures (please explain)
0 .0 0
0 .0 0
0 .0 0
0 .0 0
Ot he r e xpe ndit ure s (ple ase e xplain)
I included this in EUROS
St andard De viat io n
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 t me - ro o mmate go t jumped o n the metro
No ne. I felt very safe in the city at all times. Just like in Lo s Angeles, ho wever, yo u have to be careful o n public transpo rtatio n at night o r walking thro ugh the smaller streets.
no
I witnessed two large gro ups o f peo ple get in a physical fight.
I never felt unsafe and I never experienced any crime while in Lisbo n o r while travelling, but o ne o f the students fro m USC was ro bbed twice while in Lisbo n. This o nly
happened very late at night while walking alo ne and no t in a pro per state.
No , but so me o thers clo se to me had been pick-po cketed.
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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
Abso lutely. I felt very prepared.
yes
Yes.
Yes
No t sure.
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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
n/a
N/A
N/A
Perhaps a po int o f o rientatio n o r in meetings co uld be to no te cities that have high prevalence o f pick-po cketing o r crime directed to ward to urists.
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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
So mewhat
Yes, Sean do es a great jo b at explaining ho w the insurance po licy wo rks.
yes
Yes.
So mewhat. I knew I had it, but I wasn't sure abo ut what exactly it co vered.
Mo re o r less.
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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
In Po rtugal, I never experienced any negative treatment. I did feel unco mfo rtable, ho wever, in Mo ro cco .
no
No .
No
No .
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54.
59 . What was the best part o f the pro gram?
T e xt Re spo nse
The experience as a who le. Ho nestly it seemed like a semester o ff to travel, meet peo ple, party, learn abo ut culture, etc.
The peo ple. I abso lutely lo ved making friends with bo th the lo cals and the o ther internatio nal students in my pro gram. Once yo u go o ut o f yo ur way to befriend the
Po rtuguese, they will intro duce yo u to all o f their friends and sho w yo u to all o f their lo cal spo ts. They are SO pro ud o f their co untry and will do anything to ensure yo u have
the best time there.
the peo ple i go t to met
The change o f culture, lifestyle, and interactio n with internatio nal students.
The best part was definitely the peo ple that we met and just being in Lisbo n fo r the who le semester. Yo u will definitely beco me clo se friends with the peo ple studying with
yo u (especially o ther Erasmus o r exchange students) and they will beco me yo ur Lisbo n family. Being in Lisbo n was just the mo st amazing experience: everyo ne who
visited me lo ved Lisbo n and wanted to stay lo nger. Even tho ugh there are a lo t o f big "sights" like yo u have in Lo ndo n o r Paris, Lisbo n is a great city that yo u stumble upo n
and fall in lo ve with.
The city o f Lisbo n is ho nestly perfect fo r studying abro ad. Big eno ugh to have everything yo u'd want (nightlife, beaches, parties, sho pping, cheap!) and small eno ugh to feel
intimate. I was able to make Lisbo n my ho me in 5 mo nths. Wish I had mo re time no w that I understand the city and the peo ple.
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55.
6 0 . What was the mo st difficult part?
T e xt Re spo nse
Language barrier, fo o d cravings
The mo st difficult part abo ut my pro gram was the class schedule. At first, it was frustrating, but the exchange co o rdinato r and my ho st buddy were instrumental in helping
me get all o f the units I needed.
managing a budget
The language barrier in a few situatio ns. Mo st peo ple speak English ho wever.
The mo st difficult part was being mo tivated fo r classes while being here. Especially at the end when the weather is nicer and yo u kno w mo re peo ple, yo u're no t go ing to
want to do yo ur scho o l wo rk. My advice: just do it because it's no t that hard and yo u'll regret it if yo u do n't do what yo u need to do and end up failing the class because yo u
spent o ne to o many days at the beach o r reco vering fro m go ing o ut the night befo re.
Learning Po rtuguese, learning to wait in line.
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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
Peo ple go t o ffended when yo u didn't o pen an interactio n with a greeting like go o d mo rning/afterno o n/evening. Overall just learned cultural no rms and co mmuncaio n
no rms and that helped a lo t.
I felt extreme culture sho ck the minute I stepped o ff the plane. I had never heard the language befo re, I had no idea where I was go ing, and I didn't realize ho w steep the hills
o f Lisbo n were as I was dragging my o versize luggage up them. I went to a restaurant that evening and was caught o ff guard when I had to pay fo r the bread and water and I
was trying my hardest to decipher the menu in Po rtuguese. Afterwards, I returned ho me and my new ro o mmates decided to take me o ut fo r the night. Yo ung peo ple were
drinking in the cro wded streets o f Bairro Alto . We headed to a night club at 3am. I returned ho me with the sunrise that next mo rning after sto pping at a secret bakery to an
early mo rning pasteis (pastry)... No t so mething yo u experience in America.
can't recall
Po rtuguese peo ple are usually no t strict with being o n time. This has been frustrating with gro up meetings. After addressing this situatio n to the gro up, the issue was
reso lved.
I think the biggest culture sho ck is just getting used to the difference sense o f time and respo nsibility, especially in a scho o l setting. Yo u'll be wo rking in gro up pro jects with
all kinds o f peo ple (Po rtuguese and o thers) and yo u'll have to be calm and patient when peo ple have different ways o f do ing things and go ing abo ut reso lving pro blems o r
do ing wo rk. I really had to be patient when gro up members wo uld sho w up an ho ur late to meetings just because they're running o n "Po rtuguese time." If yo u can just be
patient with everyo ne and take everything as a learning experience, yo u'll be fine.
No thing to o crazy--I struggled to be po lite with the ladies at the cafeteria a lo t because o f the language barrier and they weren't to o kind to begin with. I tried to learn so me
basic po rtuguese and greetings and then things go t better.
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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
Having a really successful and rewarding experience in a place where I knew little to no ne o f the language.
I am so pro ud that I can leave Po rtugal saying that I have a family to return to . I made so many friends, bo th Po rtuguese and Internatio nal, that I am so excited to go back
and visit. Often, I hear abo ut ho w students go abro ad and fail to meet the lo cals - and bo y are they missing o ut! I learned so much fro m the Po rtuguese and fell in lo ve with
their culture. I have already started to make arrangements with my friends back in Lisbo n as to when I can return. Also , I'm pro ud to say that I can co rrectly navigate the city
and speak eno ugh Po rtuguese to get myself aro und!
to have lived o n my o wn in a fo reign co untry while staying safe and o n-budget and having so me o f the greatest experiences o f my life
I went sno wbo arding in the Swiss Alps!
I'm pro ud o f no t living with o ther USC students and still feeling co nnected and part o f the gro up. I co uld have lived with 2 o ther USC students, but I cho se no t to and cho se
to live with o ther Erasmus/exchange students. At first I was wo rried that I wo uld be missing o ut because I wasn't with them all the time, but then I came to realize that I really
enjo yed branching o ut and meeting new peo ple. I go t to kno w peo ple that didn't go to my scho o l and had a who le o ther gro up o f friends o utside o f No va.
Learning to speak Po rtuguese co nversatio nally; co nnecting with peo ple fro m all aro und Euro pe and the wo rld; passing all my classes, explo ring mo re o r Po rtugal than I
ever expected. finding the places in Lisbo n that I felt like a lo cal at.
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58.
6 3. What do yo u wish yo u had kno wn abo ut befo re leaving?
T e xt Re spo nse
Finding a place to live (that meets yo ur needs) can be harder than yo u think, especially if yo u want to live with o ther peo ple yo u kno w.
Here are so me o f the things I wish I knew befo re go ing to Euro pe: 1) Water is no t free. Neither is the bread they put o n the table befo re each meal. 2) Taxi drivers will try to
rip o ff to urists. Make sure yo u always kno w where yo u are go ing! 3) McDo nalds wifi will save yo ur life during travels. 4) This semester will go by in the blink o f an eye.
do n't o verpack...u can buy mo st o f the things yo u need
Mo re abo ut the culture o f Po rtuguese peo ple.
I wish I wo uld saved up mo re mo ney befo re I left so I co uld have travelled a little bit mo re, but it's really up to the individual.
Despite what they say..I wo uldn't live in Bairro Alto again if I had the chance--that area is fantastic, but try to live right next to it if yo u can! Can be kinda sketch late at night!
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59.
6 4. Do yo u have any travel tips to share?
T e xt Re spo nse
Travel when it's cheap, find rando m deals
Be sure to do yo ur ho mewo rk befo re yo u go anywhere. It's mo re fun to travel to the lo cal, small places than always seeing just the to urist attractio ns. Utilize yo ur peers
abro ad o r the friends o f yo ur internatio nal friends when yo u go to their cities. Get tips fro m all o f peo ple who have studied in the cities in the past. I also have lists o f things
to do /see in o ther co untries, so if yo u need so me tips in mo re detail, feel free to co ntact me! I'm happy to share!
do n't o ver-travel
Bo o k flights early, be creative in making travel arrangements (indirect flights, buses, trains, and buses fo r example). Seek advice fro m friends that are actually fro m the
destinatio n.
Perso nally, I liked to take a few bigger trips when I travelled, and no t a lo t o f smaller o nes, especially since Lisbo n is so far west that so metimes it's hard to get to o ther,
mo re central Euro pean cities. So my tip wo uld be to travel to places where yo u've never been befo re and may no t travel to again. Make the trip wo rthwhile (stay in a city
mo re than a day) and travel with peo ple yo u kno w yo u can get alo ng with. Other mo re practical things: bring appro priate adapters/co nverters, buy a lo ck so yo u can lo ck
yo ur belo ngings in yo ur ho stel when yo u go o ut, bring sho wer sho es and a to wel, bring snacks if yo u can because yo u may be stuck in an airpo rt o r so mewhere, pack o nly
things yo u abso lutely need because airlines do no t jo ke abo ut weight limits and yo u may have to pay a lo t extra if yo u're o verweight.
Ro adtrip thro ugh Spain! do it! check skyscanner frequently. In all ho nesty..traveling is fantastic, but I'd advise yo u no t to feel like yo u need to go everywhere in Euro pe during
this semester. Take yo ur time to enjo y Lisbo n and get to kno w it well, because traveling every weekend is exhausting and yo u miss o ut o n precio us time in Lisbo a.
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60.
6 5. What wo uld yo u like to say to the students go ing after yo u?
T e xt Re spo nse
Make friends with everyo ne yo u can fro m yo ur university (including lo cal and o ther abro ad students)
Prepare yo urself fo r a life changing experience! Be a YES man. Say YES to everything. Every meal, trip, night o ut, spo ntaneo us adventures...SAY YES. This will be the
fastest semester o f yo ur life, so do n't waste a single seco nd. And even when yo u're mo nths into the semester, do n't sto p explo ring. Take a new street, eat at a new
restaurant, try so mething different. BE THE CULTURE. Put yo urself o ut there! Befriend the lo cals - meet their families! Challenge yo urself to be o ut o f yo ur co mfo rt zo ne.
There is no better time than no w to do it.
make friends with everyo ne and be spo ntaneo us
Enjo y every mo ment. Be o pen to do ing things yo u wo uldn't no rmally do . Do n't fo rget to keep in to uch with peo ple back at USC!!
Have so much fun!!! Lisbo n may no t be yo ur first cho ice no w, but it sho uld be. It will surprise yo u with its culture, beauty, peo ple, and events/activities, so be o pen to every
o ppo rtunity that's given to yo u. Yo u may be frustrated at times with ho w the city/co untry wo rks, but do n't stress o ut and remember that everything is a learning experience.
I wish I were yo u...best semester o f my life witho ut a do ubt.
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61.
6 6 . Any final tho ughts...
T e xt Re spo nse
Do as the lo cals do
If yo u want to learn mo re abo ut Lisbo n, Po rtugal, o r Euro pe in general, please co ntact me! I am thrilled to talk abo ut my experiences abro ad and I wo uld lo ve to share tho se
memo ries with yo u! Plus, if yo u want to learn mo re in depth abo ut Po rtugal, I kept a blo g fro m the semester. Yo u can read up o n my experiences at:
alisunshinee.tumblr.co m. Eu go sto Lisbo a!!
i miss libo n
It is very natural fo r us to get co mfo rtable with the same ro utine even when yo u are abro ad. Remind yo urself to keep changing what yo u do to make the mo st o ut o f yo ur
experience!
Yo u are studying abro ad so take advantage o f it!!! Travel, stay o ut until 6 am, skip class (no t o ften, but fo r really impo rtant things), meet and hang o ut with peo ple yo u do n't
kno w, and abo ve all HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!! Yo u will lo ve it and yo u will never fo rget it!! Please please please please reach o ut to me and o ther students who went befo re if
yo u have any questio ns o r just want to talk abo ut it because we wo uld lo ve to meet yo u and help yo u in any way we can!
Lisbo n (and Po rtugal as a who le) is the hidden gem o f Euro pe.
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