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
Stephanie Chin
Luia Yen
Taylo r Co rr
Evan Zuckerman
Lo ri Lien
khaled Yatim
Ryan Leaverto n
Sarah Peterso n
Stephen Mo ltzen
Vincent Tsao
Tim Gerlach
Jaclyn Hsiung
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
12
2.
E-mail Address (o ptio nal)
T e xt Re spo nse
stephjuechin@gmail.co m
lyen@usc.edu
tco rr@usc.edu
evan.g.zuckerman@gmail.co m
lo rilien@usc.edu
yatim@usc.edu
leaverto @usc.edu
slpeters@usc.edu
stephen.mo ltzen@gmail.co m
vtsao @usc.edu
jaclyn.hsiung@gmail.co m
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
11
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
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%
0%
17
University o f St. Gallen
0
59
Vienna University o f Eco no mics and Business
0
0%
8
WHU Otto Beisheim Scho o l o f Management
13
10 0 %
To tal
13
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
8
Max Value
8
Mean
8 .0 0
Variance
0 .0 0
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
To tal Respo nses
13
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
8
6 2%
3
Senio r
5
38 %
To tal
13
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
2
Max Value
3
Mean
2.38
Variance
0 .26
Standard Deviatio n
0 .51
To tal Respo nses
13
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 11
Spring 20 11
Fall 20 10
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 11
May 20 12
20 12
Spring 20 12
Spring 20 14
May 20 13
Spring 20 14
Spring 20 13
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
6.
What is yo ur majo r?
T e xt Re spo nse
Acco unting and Business Admin
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Business Administratio n
Business
BUAD
Business
Business
Business Administratio n/Cinematic Arts
Business Cinematic Arts
Acco unting and Business Administratio n
Acco unting
Business Administratio n
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
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, Operatio ns Management
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
Internatio nal Business
BCA
Internatio nal Business
Business majo rs - marketing
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
10
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 10
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 10
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Spring 20 11
Fall 20 12
Fall 20 12
Spring 20 13
Spring 20 13
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
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
3
10
13
4.77
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
4.77
Variance
0 .19
Standard Deviatio n
0 .44
To tal Respo nses
13
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
6
7
13
4.54
3. To what extent was yo ur participatio n in the pro gram a valuable
learning experience?
0
0
0
1
12
13
4.9 2
#
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
4
Max Value
5
5
Mean
4.54
4.9 2
Variance
0 .27
0 .0 8
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .52
0 .28
13
13
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
12
13
4.9 2
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
5
Mean
4.9 2
Variance
0 .0 8
Standard Deviatio n
0 .28
To tal Respo nses
13
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
0
5
5
3
13
3.8 5
6 . Ho w co mparable was the quality o f instructio n and academic demand o f
classes to that o f USC?
0
5
2
5
1
13
3.15
#
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
3
2
Max Value
5
5
Mean
3.8 5
3.15
Variance
0 .6 4
1.14
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 0
1.0 7
13
13
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
0
1
11
1
13
4.0 0
8 . I was able to register fo r all the classes that I wanted.
0
1
1
4
7
13
4.31
#
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
3
2
Max Value
5
5
Mean
4.0 0
4.31
Variance
0 .17
0 .9 0
Standard Deviatio n
0 .41
0 .9 5
13
13
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
1
0
7
5
13
4.23
2
10 . To what extent do yo u feel yo u were immersed in the culture o f the
ho st co untry?
0
1
0
5
7
13
4.38
3
11. To what extent did yo u gain a better appreciatio n o f the ho st
culture's perspectives?
0
0
0
4
9
13
4.6 9
#
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
2
4
Max Value
5
5
5
Mean
4.23
4.38
4.6 9
Variance
0 .6 9
0 .76
0 .23
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 3
0 .8 7
0 .48
13
13
13
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
0
1
8
4
13
4.23
13. Please rate yo ur o verall satisfactio n with the quality o f
instructio n.
0
0
2
5
6
13
4.31
#
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
3
3
Max Value
5
5
Mean
4.23
4.31
Variance
0 .36
0 .56
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .6 0
0 .75
13
13
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
0
6
6
1
13
3.6 2
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
3
Max Value
5
Mean
3.6 2
Variance
0 .42
Standard Deviatio n
0 .6 5
To tal Respo nses
13
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
6
13
4.38
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
4.38
Variance
0 .42
Standard Deviatio n
0 .6 5
To tal Respo nses
13
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?
11
2
0
0
0
0
13
1.15
2
17. Ho w were yo ur language skills after the pro gram?
9
0
2
2
0
0
13
1.77
3
18 . Yo ur living situatio n aided yo ur language
acquisitio n.
10
0
0
1
2
0
13
1.8 5
#
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
4
5
Mean
1.15
1.77
1.8 5
Variance
0 .14
1.53
2.6 4
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .38
1.24
1.6 3
13
13
13
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
10
2
1
13
3.31
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
5
Mean
3.31
Variance
0 .40
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .6 3
To tal
Respo nses
13
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
0
4
4
5
13
4.0 8
2
21. On-site o rientatio n
0
0
1
4
8
13
4.54
3
22. On-site academic facilities (e.g. classro o ms, libraries,
co mputer labs), excluding ho using.
0
0
0
1
12
13
4.9 2
4
23. Co mmunicatio n with the USC Marshall o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
1
2
6
4
13
4.0 0
5
24. Overall impressio n o f o n-site suppo rt services
0
0
0
6
7
13
4.54
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
3
3
4
2
4
Max Value
5
5
5
5
5
Mean
4.0 8
4.54
4.9 2
4.0 0
4.54
Variance
0 .74
0 .44
0 .0 8
0 .8 3
0 .27
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 6
0 .6 6
0 .28
0 .9 1
0 .52
13
13
13
13
13
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
0
1
2
7
3
13
3.9 2
2
26 . Lo catio n o f student ho using
0
1
1
6
5
13
4.15
3
27. Quality o f ho using
arrangements
0
1
3
6
3
13
3.8 5
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
2
2
2
Max Value
5
5
5
3.8 5
Mean
3.9 2
4.15
Variance
0 .74
0 .8 1
0 .8 1
Standard Deviatio n
0 .8 6
0 .9 0
0 .9 0
13
13
13
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
My friend ended up getting put in the pro gram and I figured it wo uld be a go o d experience, I initially didn't even think I was go ing to go abro ad until he go t in to o .
I cho se to go to a smaller to wn to really get a feel fo r what it is like to live there. The pro gram very much satisfied that curio sity-- when yo u travel aro und to o ther cities, yo u
can get an idea o f what it's like to live in a big city (in additio n to attending scho o l in LA) but unless yo u actually live in a small to wn like Vallendar, yo u can't get an accurate
idea in just a few days. Attending a small, private, business scho o l was also a very valuable learning experience.
I knew that I wanted to be in Euro pe when I began lo o king into the pro gram. WHU appealed to me because o f the interest they sho wed in exchange students in their
publicatio ns and page o n Marshall's abro ad site. They made it clear that the students were a high prio rity and that they wo uld take the time to make sure yo u had a great
experience.
Simply put, to have an o ppo rtunity that wo uld change my life.
I didn't...I go t assigned, but it turned o ut to be an incredible experience, so I am thankful to have ended up there.
Had previo usly visited Germany. Wanted a central lo catio n withing Euro pe to make it easier to travel.
I wanted to be in Western Euro pe
I didn't necessarily cho o se this pro gram. I put all o f the Euro pean o ptio ns first. Barcelo na was my first cho ice. I didn't have a stro ng o pinio n o n where I wanted to go .
Well, I was cho sen fo r it, and wasn't happy initially, but co uldn't have been happier anywhere else in retro spect. It was high up o n my list because I've always wanted to go
to Germany fo r the culture, and I figured it'd be a great place to study abro ad given its central lo catio n in Euro pe, which turned o ut to be a huge huge plus.
I wanted to go to a smaller to wn and experience the different lifestyle. Germany is also extremely relevant in terms o f business with so many glo bal co mpanies and as the
current 'fo undatio n' o f the EU. Lastly, I figured I wo uld have mo re o ptio ns traveling than if I was so mewhere far west o r far to the east.
I cho se this pro gram because I went o n WHU's website fo r exchange students, and it was really info rmative. I also cho se this scho o l because o f its lo catio n in Germany.
Germany is in central Euro pe so it was easy to travel aro und.
Central lo catio n to the rest o f Euro pe
I cho se the pro gram at WHU becuase it was lo cated in Germany. Budapest and Vienna were my first and seco nd cho ice, respectively, fo r the lo wer living expenses. And I
have always wanted to go to Germany so I placed WHU as my third cho ice. I am very satisfied with this pro gram and I think it wo uld be the best pro gram fo r tho se who are
interested in finance, co nsulting, investment banking, and entrepreneurship. The student pro file can be similar to USC students where we may share similar culture o f
fashio n, lifestyle, career sense, o r etc.
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
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
7
3
3
13
1.6 9
2) Co ntent o f co urses
6
4
3
13
1.77
3
3) Intellectual challenge o f co urses
7
3
3
13
1.6 9
4
4) Faculty interest in/suppo rt o f students
8
3
2
13
1.54
5
5) Individual assistance pro vided
8
0
5
13
1.77
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
1.6 9
1.77
1.6 9
1.54
1.77
Variance
0 .73
0 .6 9
0 .73
0 .6 0
1.0 3
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .8 5
0 .8 3
0 .8 5
0 .78
1.0 1
13
13
13
13
13
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
I didn't spend much time, but they are pass fail and I ended up passing all o f them with adequate studying right befo re the final
4-8 ho urs
Finals are all the grade and eat up a lo t o f time. Keep pace with the wo rk during the semester but there is rarely ho mewo rk
2
Very little...keeping up with classes as yo u go is definitely helpful in preparing fo r the exams, but yo u do n't have to do this. The classes are mo stly 10 0 % exam, so yo u can
do mo st o f yo ur studying in the 1-2 weeks leading up to the exam and still do well.
4 ho urs
2-3 ho urs, except fo r week o f exams
2 ho urs? and then a lo t o f time the week befo re the finals
2 hrs
Anywhere fro m 2-10 ho urs
10 -15 ho urs
1 ho ur
No t much study time per week but yo u co uld spend in class time really review the material simultaneo usly and spend a co uple o f days studying befo re the finals. It co uld be
challenging when yo u need to wo rk with the lo cal students but this is where yo u can learn the cultural difference and ho w German wo rk in a gro up.
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
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 tests make up mo st o r all o f the grade and a lo t o f the co ntent that were in the slides (whether discussed in class o r no t) were required fo r the test, ho wever the
structure was very similar fro m that in LA.
Co urses do n't have a set schedule at WHU. When yo u cho o se a class, 6 rando m class days (cho sen by pro fesso r) are listed, so a class might meet six co nsecutive days
o r o nce a week/two weeks. Classes meet fo r 3 ho urs each time in general (so metimes 5 ho urs), which can run a bit lo ng. Ho wever, this type o f scheduling allo ws students
much mo re time to travel and visit o ther places, as yo u may have five o r six days witho ut classes, o r even 2.5 weeks. It is mo re difficult to travel with o ther peo ple who do n't
have similar classes unless yo u wait fo r weekends. Overall, I feel that, fo r an exchange semester, this structure o f co urses is better. In additio n, class years (first years,
seco nd, third) are limited to a specific list o f co urses, while exchange students are no t, so yo u can meet peo ple fro m all three years. Also , while this ability to cro ss o ver
years make present a little bit o f tro uble during final exams (finals fro m classes fo r two different grades may o verlap, but the scho o l is very acco mmo dating so it's no t to o
big o f a pro blem), it helps in terms o f gro up pro jects because students are generally finished with class at the same time and are able to meet and quickly finish gro up wo rk
(similar to high scho o l).
There was a large emphasis placed o n the final, with almo st no deliverables during the perio d o f the co urse. Classes met 5 times a quarter (there are two two -mo nth lo ng
quarters during the semester perio d) but fo r lo ng ho urs with a break in the middle. The days they meet are also no t in a set o rder and vary fro m week to week. This can
make fo r so me lo ng days but also so me very lo ng breaks co nducive to traveling, explo ring, etc. It is no t a hard schedule to get used to and actually seemes lighter than a
semester lo ad at USC.
The difference is that every class meets 6 times a semester fo r 3hr15min. The class schedule also has no structure so o ne co uld theo retically have an entire class in mo re
o r less a week o r every mo nday fo r 6 weeks, etc. This enabled o ne to travel much mo re so , ho wever it made it difficult to have a no rmal schedule ever.
The classes are mo stly 10 0 % exam, which I really liked. It made fo r a relaxed semester except during the exam weeks, which were busier, tho ugh no t o verwhelming. The
co urses do n't meet very o ften, o nly 6 times per class (fo r 3 ho urs each time), which I really liked. It is a lo t less class than USC, but I fo und that I to o k mo re away fro m each
co urse than I do the average co urse I take at USC. Also , they do n't really use textbo o ks...yo u get slides fo r every class, which is aweso me, and yo u o nly have to co nsult a
textbo o k if yo u want to (I rarely did). The textbo o ks are all available in the library, so yo u do n't have to buy them.
in mo st co urses, the final exam = 10 0 % o f the grade which can be nerve racking and risky. Classes meet fewer times and material is presented mo re efficiently.
Yo u o nly have exams. They are 10 0 % o f yo ur grade. They wo uld no t be ideal at USC, but wo rk well fo r time studying abro ad.
It is co mpletely different. 10 0 % final
Pretty much all classes were 10 0 % final, so I never really did wo rk besides cramming fo r the finals. I lo ved the this structure because it gave me the o ptio n o f studying when
I wanted to .
The biggest difference is the grading structure. Mo st classes are either a 10 0 % final exam o r o ne o r two case studies and a final. In general, I'm no t a fan o f this system
because it tempts students to put o ff their studying until the end. Ho wever, WHU is o n a quarter system, so it really ends up no t to o dissimilar fro m ho w we do things at SC.
One o f the things that I liked abo ut WHU is that pro fesso rs always try to give case studies. I think it's a go o d way to apply the kno wledge yo u learn in class and co me up
with realistic so lutio ns.
Mo st o f the co urses are 10 0 % final so the final determines yo ur grade. Co urses o nly meet o nce a week fo r abo ut 6 times.
Classes are at different times each week which creates big gaps in yo ur schedule; go o d fo r traveling. Also , mo st o f the classes weigh the final exam fro m 8 0 to 10 0 % o f
final grade. Rarely ho mewo rk. So me pro jects. Mo stly just 1 test at the end. Also , o n the quarter system to classes o nly last 8 weeks.
There is no midterms at all; attendance is no t required (but there might be so me co urses that is required); lectures can be o ptio nal as fo r mo st o f the time testing materials
are all pro vided in the po werpo int; mo st o f the co urses are BUDA 30 4 all o ver again where yo u memo rize all the po werpo ints fo r yo ur final exams; structure is mo stly
lecture-based but there is so me that has mo re discussio n
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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
N/A
I reco mmend the co urse "Business Enviro nment in Euro pe." I felt that this co urse was valuable in that American educatio n seldo m co vers details o n Euro pean histo ry o r
current situatio n/events. This co urse pro vided a much clearer picture o f ho w the EU wo rks and the benefits/pro blems o f an eco no mic unio n and mo netary unio n. The
pro fesso r fo r this co urse was a PhD student and was no t particularly skilled in teaching, but the co ntent o f the co urse was invaluable.
The classes are arranged by semester and year fro m 1 to 6 . Odd numbered semesters are o ffered in the fall and even in the spring. Each pair o f numbers refers to o ne o f
the three levels o f the scho o l (e.g. semester 4 wo uld be a seco nd year class in the spring). Semester 6 classes can be very challenging (no t impo ssible). Any class with
"Internatio nal" in it is usually a go o d bet as it gives a Euro pean perspective o n a lo t o f the same classes taken at USC with a do mestic fo cus. Case study classes require a
fair deal o f wo rk o utside o f the classro o m. Keep in mind the German students put a go o d deal o f effo rt into their classes because they are all ranked numerically by grades
and it is a highly ranked private business scho o l.
Leadership in Practice- interesting, no t difficult, and very so lid pro f. Internatio nal Marketing- lo t to memo rize, but interesting. Managerial Leadership- pretty mundane.
Euro pean Eco n Integratio n- dull pro f, lo t o f wo rk, feel like actually learning so mething valuable. Family Firms- quite easy. Business Ethics- jo ke class. Co rp Financesimilar to 30 6 .
YES! --(Managerial Leadership) with Pro fesso r Dr. Martin Hö gl was aweso me. Great class, interesting, and no t very difficult. Aweso me pro fesso r. --(Leadership in Practice)
with Brigardegeneral Dipl. Ing. Stephan-Dietrich Kretschmer was fantastic. The class is based o n leadership in business as it is similar to leadership in the military. The
pro fesso r is really nice, and the class is easy. Interesting and easy to get a go o d grade. --(Internatio nal Marketing) with Pro fesso r Dr. Martin Fassnacht was go o d. Lo ts o f
slides and memo rizatio n fo r the test, but it is interesting and the pro fesso r is very engaging and funny. Go o d class. Other classes I to o k: --(Business Ethics) with Pro fesso r
Dr. Kaviraj Praveen Parbo teeah. I wo uld reco mmend taking it because the class is pretty easy (mo st German students do n't even attend the classes). The test is based o n
slides and articles. Taught by a guest pro fesso r fro m a university in Wisco nsin, and no t as interesting as it co uld be, but an easy class. --(Distinct Questio ns o f Family
Firms) with Pro fesso r Dr. Sabine Birgit Klein was go o d. It also was no t as interesting as I ho ped it wo uld be, but I still enjo yed it. The pro fesso r is pretty research-fo cused.
Yo u write a paper fo r 50 % o f yo ur grade and take the final fo r the o ther 50 %. Bo th were no t to o difficult (the paper was abo ut 4 pages). I didn't take Brand Management, but I
heard it was go o d and no t to o hard. It is a seminar, so it is structured differently fro m a regular co urse.
Distinct questio ns o f a family firm Business Ethics Leadership in Practice Managerial Leadership
Leadership in Practice, Managerial Leadership, Business Ethics, Distinct questio ns o f family firms
I enjo yed Euro pean Eco no mic Integratio n, which fo cused o n the EU. There is no class like this at USC. I also enjo yed internatio nal marketing. There was a very interesting
Leadership class taught by a pro fesso r who was in the army- email me if yo u want mo re info rmatio n o n that.
Internatio nal Marketing, Leadership in Practice, Business Ethics
Internatio nal Marketing is pro bably o ne o f the mo re interesting classes because the pro fesso r is quite interesting. No t just his crazy gestures and so metimes heavy accent,
but also because he's really kno wledgeable in the field and is passio nate abo ut his teaching.
Business Taxatio n and Lo gistics and Supply Chain Management. I fo und bo th o f these co urses interesting and useful.
Internatio nal marketing (straight-fo rward and interesting), Managerial Leadership (easy), Leadership in practice (easy), Business ethics (easy), Germany in Euro pe
(Pro fesso r Sammo n, interesting and easy), Financial Statement Analysis (useful and no t that hard)
Glo bal supply with Lutz Kaufmann. He is definitely a great pro fesso r as his lecture is mo re interesting co mpared to o thers and very well-o rganized! Investment banking
with Paul Achleitner because he is a great lecturer and he is o n the bo ard o f Deutsche Bank so is really amazing to be in the lecture. It is a two -day intense co urse but as a
no n-finance, o r no n-investment-banking perso n, if i can pass the class, then I am sure fo r tho se who have mo re kno wledge in the field wo uld definitely do just fine in the
class! Managerial Leadership - do esn't matter who the pro fesso r is but who I had was a pro fesso r fro m Wisco nsin and the co urse was teach 5-day co nsecutively. This is
literally Organizatio nal Behavio r, so if yo u do n't mind studying BUAD 30 4 all o ver again fo r the exam, this co uld be great fo r yo u since yo u do n't have to pay as much
attentio n and yo u can be mo re flexible o n yo ur traveling schedule with this class. Internatio nal Marketing - apparently the pro fesso r is o ne o f the mo st funniest pro fesso r o n
campus, and this is an easy co urse as well because this is like BUAD 30 7 (intro marketing) class but with a fo cus o n an internatio nal aspect.
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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
N/A
No Teachers may no t be as skilled in lecturing (largely due to the language barrier. Germans at WHU and in general are actually impressively go o d at English, but
o bvio usly no t as go o d as Americans). Ho wever, yo u can always get so mething o ut o f the classes.
See abo ve
Lo o k abo ve. Best class was pro bably Leadership in Practice.
--(Co rpo rate Finance) with Pro fesso r Dr. Christian Andres was alright. It is taught very differently fro m BUAD30 6 , but was o kay. Definitely no t an easy class, no o ne left the
final feeling like they did very well, including me, and I studied a lo t fo r it. I really liked the pro fesso r because he cared a lo t abo ut the students and was a go o d guy, but the
test was to ugh. If yo u like finance, go fo r it, but I wo uldn't say I reco mmend taking the class. --(Euro pean Eco no mic Integratio n) with To bias Maximilian Biller. This class
was just plain bo ring. Sitting in class was to ugh because it was so bo ring, and the test was no t easy. Ho wever, I am very thankful to have taken the class because I learned
a lo t fro m it and I understand the Eco no mic situatio n in Euro pe, which is currently all o ver the news, so much better than I ever did befo re. I wo uld say it is o ne o f the mo st
valuable learning experiences I had, but that is mo re fro m just studying it and trying to listen in class than fro m the pro fesso r. To ugh class, but I'm glad to have learned what
I did fro m it.
Euro pean Eco no mic Integratio n
NA
It ended up fine, but beware o f the co rpo rate finance exam. It was the o ne that we stressed o ut abo ut the mo st.
Euro pean Eco no mic Integratio n
All the classes I to o k were reaso nably interesting, whether because o f the pro fesso r o r the co urse co ntent. Just be careful abo ut taking finance and mo re quantitative
classes.
N/A
Distinct Questio ns o f Family Firms (wayyy to o abstract and didn't learn anything)
Business Ethics - Miriam Muthel; she can be very do ll to listen to and the co urse is po intless but I guess it wo uld be an easy grade to take cuz is Business Ethics...
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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
Yes I've decided I want to have a much mo re internatio nal career.
So rt o f. I feel like classes--and the who le experience in general--have given me a better grasp o f internatio nal business. Also , WHU is "kno wn" fo r pro ducing bankers and
co nsultants, so students interested in either o f tho se fields are able to take a set o f co urses that develo p specific skills/kno wledge.
I came into the pro gram with a general idea o f my academic/career go als and left with pretty much the same o utlo o k. The pro gram was a very valuable learning experience
fo r me, just no t in that sense.
No t much either. Since I plan o n go ing to attend law scho o l, it was mo re just go ing thro ugh the mo tio ns & passing. Ho wever, it was nice hearing the Euro pean perspective,
instead o f an American-centric o ne.
I wo uld say it just helped to o pen my eyes a lo t and made me mo re willing to take risks in where I wo uld want to wo rk. Also , the students who go to WHU are inspiring in
ho w much they have acco mplished and what they are do ing with internships and careers. The co nnectio ns yo u can gain are great.
Gave me a bro ader business perspective
Interest in wo rking abro ad
Yes, it bro adened my perspective o n wo rking abro ad. It also made me mo re fo cussed o n business, rather than entertainment.
No pe. But I lo ved getting an internatio nal perspective o n business. Will definitely help me in the lo ng run.
One o f the biggest industries students fro m the university end up starting their career in is co nsulting. Therefo re, there were a lo t o f o ppo rtunities to netwo rk with co nsulting
co mpanies and learn abo ut the industry in general. I'm really lo o king at pursuing so me o ppo rtunities in co nsulting fo r this summer.
I am interested in wo rking abro ad fo r a few years.
Yes, I'm way mo re interested in wo rking abro ad o r at least being invo lved in abro ad o peratio ns.
It so meho w has in different ways; it is interesting to learn things fro m different aspects o n the to pics that yo u might have taken befo re; wo rking in a gro up with german
students definitely will help yo u learn mo re abo ut the german students!
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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
German
German
German, French
German
German
English`
German
German
German
German, Spanish
German
German
besides german, all the students are required to take TOEFL so all students will have so me level o f english; and all students are further required to take ano ther seco nd
language which can vary fro m Spanish, French, Russian, o r to Chinese.
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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
No
No
I to o k Intro to German, but I didn't give it much a chance.
I did no t and do no t speak German. Yo u are able to take German if yo u'd like, but it is definitely no t necessary to be successful at WHU. All the students speak English very
well and mo st o f the classes are in English, so yo u have a to n o f classes to cho o se fro m and yo u are no t limited in being able to co mmunicate with students, faculty o r
staff. No te: my ratings fo r the next sectio n are lo w because I did no t take any language co urses while there...the scho o l o ffers great o ppo rtunities, but I cho se no t to take
German.
N/A
They o ffered a German crash co urse fo r a week and a German 1 class
I had a 1 week crash co urse at WHU and was aro und German speaking a lo t at WHU.
Went to a few sessio ns o f the crash co urse but that's abo ut it. Ho nestly, just abo ut every German speaks better English than I wo uld be able to speak German if I attempted
to learn it at WHU.
The o nly German I knew was rando m and fro m studying histo ry and watching mo vies.
I to o k the basic level German co urse. This co urse was interesting and fun. Everyo ne in my class were exchange students.
No
I did no t kno w anything abo ut German befo re I went. I to o k the German co urse (no t enro lled at all fo r no credit, but just attending the co urses). Traveling within Germany
and fo rcing myself to speak with German students and lo cal helped me picking up so me German.
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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
1
1) Yo ur language skills befo re the pro gram:
0
0
0
13
13
4.0 0
2
2) Language training o n the pro gram:
1
6
4
2
13
2.54
3
3) Yo ur pro ficiency after the pro gram:
0
0
7
6
13
3.46
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
1
3
Max Value
4
4
4
Mean
4.0 0
2.54
3.46
Variance
0 .0 0
0 .77
0 .27
Standard Deviatio n
0 .0 0
0 .8 8
0 .52
13
13
13
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
N/A
N/A
Yes
No . But were very enjo yable.
N/A
No
If yo u wanted to try to use yo ur German the students were o pen to helping, but all were fluent in English and usually insisted o n speaking English
Maybe, but being aro und the students in general is eno ugh to assist us.
No t really. Every student there speaks English.
There were so me cultural events, but I didn't really take advantage o f them and try to impro ve my German.
No ne
No but no t necessary
It is up to yo ur o wn mo tives to have tho se activities help yo u. If yo u have no desire o f learning the language whatso ver then no pro grams can assit yo u in the language
acquisitio n.
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33.
41. Did o utside/o ther activities help? Please explain.
T e xt Re spo nse
Walking aro und the city, having to speak German helped me understand so me, but I canno t speak it
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Traveling
Yes, daily interactio n fro m sho pping to taking the bus/train
Yes, the students usually speak German unless we are talking to them.
Traveling aro und the co untry/go ing fo o d sho pping at rewe
There's a buddy language system where yo u help each o ther in the languages yo u want to learn. I didn't sign up fo r it but it's abo ut an ho ur a week.
N/A
A little but no t necessary
The traveling definitely help as clerks will all speak to yo u in German first and if yo u really can't they can still co mmunicate a bit o f english here and there with yo u.
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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 %
98%
99%
10 0 %
10 0 %
10 0
10 0 %
No ne o f them wo uld speak it unless exchange students were aro und.
10 0
10 0 % which is impressive
10 0 %
50 %
All students kno w ho w to speak and they speak to yo u in English unless yo u kno w German then they will o f co urse speak in German with yo u. Yo u will have to reach o ut
first instead o f waiting fo r them to speak to yo u.
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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
On o ur campus all students spo ke english, so kno wing german was no t necessary. Ho wever getting aro und to wn and being able to read signs and such was harder. I
wo uld no t say kno wing the language is necessary ho wever it will help to have a basic kno wledge and its a great place to practice fo r tho se who really want to learn.
Germans are excellent at English, at least o n campus and in the big cities. They do n't give yo u a hard time abo ut no t speaking German, and o ften like to practice their
English with yo u. With the lo cals in Vallendar and nearby small city o f Ko blenz, it's a bit mo re difficult to talk to teens in English because they're afraid to speak with yo u, but
the sho pkeepers and taxi drivers etc. are all able to speak english to so me extent. Yo u just need to kno w basics like please, thank yo u, and yo ur address.
German is a very different language that the languages mo st peo ple study in high scho o l (French o r Spanish) so it is very difficult to apply any previo us fo reign language
experience. A go o d bet is to research co mmo nly used phrases in the gro cery sto re, restaurants, etc. that will be used frequently o ver the co urse o f the semester
At WHU, there is no need to unless yo u wo uld like to speak German.
If yo u want to be able to co mmunicate with peo ple in the co mmunity o r in o ther parts o f Germany as yo u travel, take German o r do Ro setta Sto ne o r so mething, but yo u in
o rder to be successful at scho o l and fo rm relatio nships with the students, yo u do n't need to have any experience with German.
learn basic wo rds
Prepare to step o ut o f yo ur co mfo rt zo ne because everyo ne has an awkward/unco mfo rtable language barrier enco unter
Take a o nline class o r crash co urse befo re yo u go abro ad...it's wo rth it
I guess yo u co uld learn so me basic phrases, but pretty much unnecessary
Just make sure yo u take so me German when yo u're there! Yo u may no t use it all the time, but it can co me in handy.
Yo u do n't really need to kno w any German to survive in Germany, but it is helpful to kno w a little fo r gro cery sho pping and traveling within Germany. Taking the basic
German co use at WHU will be sufficient.
No advice, english is eno ugh
Really be willing to speak the language and have the desire to learn the language!
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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
0
3
10
13
2.77
2
On-site perso nal advising and info rmal suppo rt
0
8
5
13
2.38
3
Orientatio n in Lo s Angeles
4
0
9
13
2.38
4
Instructio nal facilities
0
4
9
13
2.6 9
5
Medical/dental facilities
5
7
1
13
1.6 9
6
Recreatio nal facilities
1
3
9
13
2.6 2
7
USC Financial Aid
2
6
5
13
2.23
8
Co mmunicatio n with o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
5
8
13
2.6 2
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
Min Value
2
2
1
2
Max Value
3
3
3
3
Mean
2.77
2.38
2.38
2.6 9
Variance
0 .19
0 .26
0 .9 2
0 .23
Standard
Deviatio n
0 .44
0 .51
0 .9 6
13
13
13
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
3
3
3
3
1.6 9
2.6 2
2.23
2.6 2
0 .40
0 .42
0 .53
0 .26
0 .48
0 .6 3
0 .6 5
0 .73
0 .51
13
13
13
13
13
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
0
4
5
3
13
3.6 9
2
On-site perso nal advising and info rmal
suppo rt
0
0
5
4
4
13
3.9 2
3
Orientatio n in Lo s Angeles
1
1
8
2
1
13
3.0 8
4
Instructio nal facilities
0
0
4
6
3
13
3.9 2
5
Medical/dental facilities
0
0
13
0
0
13
3.0 0
6
Recreatio nal facilities
0
2
5
2
4
13
3.6 2
7
USC Financial Aid
0
3
5
2
3
13
3.38
8
Co mmunicatio n with o ffice in Lo s Angeles
0
2
4
5
2
13
3.54
#
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
3
1
3
3
2
2
2
Max Value
5
5
5
5
3
5
5
5
Mean
3.6 9
3.9 2
3.0 8
3.9 2
3.0 0
3.6 2
3.38
3.54
Variance
1.23
0 .74
0 .9 1
0 .58
0 .0 0
1.26
1.26
0 .9 4
Standard
Deviatio n
1.11
0 .8 6
0 .9 5
0 .76
0 .0 0
1.12
1.12
0 .9 7
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
St at ist ic
To tal
Respo nses
38.
44. Did yo u live in...
#
Answe r
Bar
Re spo nse
%
1
Do rm
2
15%
2
Apartment
6
46 %
3
Other
5
38 %
To tal
13
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
1
Max Value
3
Mean
2.23
Variance
0 .53
Standard Deviatio n
0 .73
To tal Respo nses
13
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
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
NA
NA
N/A
Didn't use.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Have my o wn transpo rtatio n arrangment
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
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
The biggest thing I think that sho uld be changed with the WHU pro gram is the amo unt o f info rmatio n given to students pre-abro ad that is specific to that certain scho o l.
Instead o f do ing 3 large o rientatio n sessio ns with everyo ne I think it wo uld be go o d to do smaller o rientatio n sessio ns with just the students attending each pro gram as
well as the students who attended the previo us semester. That helps students understand where they're go ing wihto ut just geting the bro ad general o rientatio n that we go t.
It was no t helpful to hear abo ut Budapest and Paris when I was go ing to Germany and I think it wo uld have been great to 1) meet the peo ple I was go ing o ver seas with 2)
hear directly and face-to -face fro m the pervio us students (no t via email) regarding the ins and o uts what we sho uld expect ect. and their versio n o f o rientatio n and 3) as
much as Sean do es fo r us o rientatio n needs to be tailo red to each lo catio n because there are huge differences in each o f the pro grams
No , mo st o f the co o rdinatio n (ho using, resident permit, class registratio n, etc.) is well o rganized by the WHU administratio n.
Academic o rientatio n co uld have been mo re detailed in terms o f what units are needed and the nature o f vario us classes o ffered
Tho ught it was veyr tho ro ugh & well-do ne. It wo uld be appreciated if the WHU pro fesso rs co uld get yo ur final grades back to yo u in a mo re timely manner, ho wever this is
no t that impo rtant o f an issue.
I wo uld have liked to have a bit mo re info rmatio n pro vided befo re I left. Fo r instance, having so meo ne tell me when and ho w we sign up fo r classes (which do esn't happen
until yo u arrive o n WHU's campus) wo uld have been nice.
Better private ho using o ptio ns sho uld be o ffered. Private ho using is generally less expensive and better than what is o ffered by apartment co mplexes, etc partnered with the
scho o l.
Better explanatio n by (USC) o f lo catio n o f University.
The ho using o ptio ns fro m WHU's side co uld be better, altho ugh everything wo rked o ut fine. So me o f the girls had to live in a nunnery- but, as I said, they ended up enjo ying
it.
I wish mo re co urses were made available to us. Cho o sing co urses was made extremely difficult because it seemed like half the classes we wanted, we weren't allo wed to
take, and then a bunch o f o ther o nes were taught in German, even o nes appro ved by Marshall (po o r research o n their part). But we were still able to all find the classes we
needed, with great schedules still intact. It was just mo re hassle than it sho uld have been.
No thing different. Yo u live and learn fro m every experience and o bstacle. Also , the pro gram do esn't really have pro blems anyway. The pro blems wo uld mo stly just be
based o n the exchange university yo u're at the enviro nment, which I do n't have much to co mplain abo ut!
No . I felt that the pro gram with WHU was really well o rganzied. I had all the info rmatio n I needed befo re I left fo r Germany.
N/A
The scho o l itself kno ws ho w to prepare the internatio nal student pro gram; mo st o f the things and helps are available fo r yo u
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
41.
47. Additio nal co mments o n services and co o rdinatio n.
T e xt Re spo nse
It wo uld be nice to kno w the exact start date o f classes and o rientatio n (which is usually days befo re classes) befo re go ing o ver. Ho wever I kno w that is in large part due to
the partner scho o l. But it wo uld have been nice to kno w that I didn't need to arrive 3 days early because I wo uld have 12 days between o rientatio n and my first class.
Their exchange student pro gram, VIP (like o ur IEP ho sting), o rganizes events in the first week. I wo uld suggest to them that they o ffer a few events at the end fo r the
exchange students as well to say go o d-byes. The VIP co uld also play a mo re active ro le thro ugho ut the semester, since exchange students are expected to elect their o wn
"go vernment" to plan events but aren't as familiar with cultural events etc.
The WHU is ridiculo usly helpful in setting up yo ur co ming semester.
N/A
Everyo ne at WHU is mo re than willing to go o ut o f their way to help yo u.
Make mo re classes available to take. And do n't just make a class unavailable to us based o n the title, witho ut taking a lo o k at the syllabus.
Just keep in mind it's a small university so things can be easier o r they can be harder. At least everything is quite clo se to gether (in terms o f actual distance).
Ho using was terrible because the building wasn't even finished when we arrived. Lo ud co nstructio n in the mo rnings fo r weeks until we go t aggressive with the
management. Was a great experience regardless o f the po o r ho using acco mmo datio ns because it was in a co mplex with all the o ther exchange kids. (In Praxi Haus). The
building sho uld be fine fo r the co ming semesters tho ugh as co nstructio n is almo st do ne.
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
8
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
0
0%
2
Online
9
69%
3
Other:
4
31%
To tal
13
Ot he r:
Exchange Students at USC
Online/friends
buddy
o n my o wn
St at ist ic
Value
Min Value
2
Max Value
3
Mean
2.31
Variance
0 .23
Standard Deviatio n
0 .48
To tal Respo nses
13
43.
Wo uld yo u reco mmend this metho d?
T e xt Re spo nse
YES!!
Yes, it seems the cheapest and is the quickest way
Yes, o nce airfare is squared away, the German trains are a breeze
Sure.
Fo r bo o king yo ur ticket, o nline is great. Talk to yo ur buddy fro m WHU when it gets assigned as well as the WHU students who are at USC the semester befo re yo u leave.
The students are nice, and getting picked up at the airpo rt in Frankfurt and driven to Vallendar is ideal. Otherwise, yo u take the train to Vallendar, which is fine, but then yo u
have to haul yo ur stuff thro ugh to wn until yo u get to where yo u're staying. It'd be be best if yo u can have so meo ne meet yo u in Frankfurt and pick yo u up.
Yes
Yes
Yes, find so meo ne fro m WHU who is studying at USC and co ntact them.
Yes.
Yes, everything can be do ne o nline.
Yes
Ya
it is mo re flexible, but yo u may do this by yo ur o wn preference!
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
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
$110 0
$70 0 -10 0 0 , depending o n ho w early yo u purchase.
140 0
I paid o nly abo ut $30 0 , but that is w/ miles, etc.
No t sure.
170 0 0 (ro und trip fro m US) Traveling within euro pe, appro x $250
900$
N/A, didn't buy ro und trip
70 0
I used mileage so I co uldn't really give a go o d answer here.
1225 (I didn't buy a ro und trip ticket)
10 0 0
$130 0 USD
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
13
45.
50 . Ho w o ften did yo u travel and to where?
T e xt Re spo nse
Almo st every week we had huge breaks which were amazing. I ended up visiting Munich, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Lo ndo n, Dublin, Paris, Barcelo na, Madrid, Co lo gne,
and ended with a trip to Egypt with my family.
I traveled abo ut every 1.5 weeks, but because o f the way schedules are made up, I was able to attend a lo t o f scho o l/peer events witho ut missing o ut o n to o much. I visited
Barcelo na and Madrid (Spain); Strasbo urg and Paris (France); Lo ndo n (UK); Dublin (Ireland); Amsterdam (Netherlands); Co lo gne, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and BadenBaden (Germany); Prague (Czech Rep.); Budapest (Hungary); Siena, Flo rence, Venice, Ro me, and Lastra a Signa (Italy); Brussels (Belgium); Split, Zagreb, and Dubro vnik
(Cro atia)
I traveled abo ut twice a mo nth. The first mo nth I stuck to Germany and saw all o f the majo r cities. I then went to Italy (twice), the UK, Ireland and Spain - all o n Ryanair - o ver
the next few mo nths.
I traveled abo ut every chance I co uld. I had already been to Euro pe three times and tried to see the majo r cities I had already no t hit- Frankfurt, Luxembo urg, Brussels,
Amsterdam, Munich, Venice, Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Mo ro cco , Lo ndo n, No rmandy, Co penhagen, Ireland co untryside, Cannes, Mo naco , Prague, Paris..
Ho w o ften depended o n the mo nth--so me were busy, so I didn't travel as much, but so me were very quiet and I was able to travel every weekend. I went to Brussels,
Luxembo urg, Paris, Lo ndo n, Barcelo na, Granada, Prague, and to o k day trips in Germany. Traveling after classes were o ver gave me a chance to go thro ugh Italy. Yo u can
definitely travel mo re than I did if yo u want to witho ut a pro blem.
Very o ften. (Euro pe, Middle East, Africa, o ver 17 co untries)
Almo st every weekend, so me times weeks at a time. All o ver Euro pe.
I traveled abo ut 2 times a mo nth- Budapest, Vienna, Paris, Brugge, Luxembo urg, Munich, Barcelo na, Ro me, Brussels
At least every o ther week. Only really stayed ho me when we had finals to cram fo r. Went to Frankfurt, Luxembo urg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Budapest,
Venice, Co lo gne, Mo ro cco (Marrakech, Fes), Ro me, Lo ndo n, Cambridge, Co penhagen, Ireland (Killarney, Co rk, Galway, Dublin), Cannes, Nice, Mo naco , Paris, Black
Fo rest.
Every week! I co uld list all my cities, but I buy po st cards fro m anywhere co o l I've been (o r that has po st cards to sell) and I have abo ut 30 o r so fro m my trip.
I traveled almo st every weekend. I traveled to England, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Hungary, Austria, and within Germany.
Almo st every weekend (Lo ndo n, Dublin, Brussels, Brugge, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Prague, Budapest, Switzerland, Barcelo na, Madrid, Lisbo n, Lago s, Pamplo na,
Biarritz)
Almo st every o ther weekend I am go ne to either so mewhere within Germany fo r a day trip o r so mewhere else fo r a weekend trip. Due to ho w the schedule is at the scho o l,
it is very beneficial fo r exchange students to travel aro und. (o ne semester is split into two quarters where yo u might have 2-4 co urses each quarter and there is o nly 5-6
class meetings fo r each co urse. in my 2nd quarter, I had 4 co urses; ho wever, i to o k investment banking (which o nly had 2 full days o f meeting) & managerial leadership
(which is M-F fo r o ne week o nly) that helped me have a lo t mo re time to have travel that is 3-4 days lo ng!
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
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13
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
YES! the co urses are set so that pro fesso rs may cho se the dates and times which they wo uld prefer to ho ld their 6 sessio ns. In that case yo u can either schedule (o r just
get lucky) when yo u have weeks free. Also , no t having a set schedule and strict attendance allo wed us to be flexible and take advantage o f cheap flights during the week
rather than weekend.
It fo stered travel o ppo rtunity. As no ted earlier, the schedule wo uld allo w lo ng travel perio ds in between lectures, so yo u didn't have to do all yo ur traveling o n the weekends
o r miss o ut o n all the fun scho o l functio ns/parties.
The co urses there are built fo r travel. The rando m days o f classes means that so metimes yo u will have situatio ns where yo u will have three days o f classes in a ro w
fo llo wed by 9 days o ff. This happens fairly o ften during the semester.
Yes. As no ted abo ve, with the class schedule it was po ssible to have o nly o ne (o r no ) class a week at so me times. Lo o king at a calendar 2 mo nths in advance was helpful.
Also lo o king back o n it, many classes co uld have been skipped to fo ster mo re travel time if need be.
Definitely fo stered travel o ppo rtunities. It is no t difficult to find time to travel especially because yo u can create a schedule with lo ng weekends.
Very much. The class schedule is aweso me and definitely enco urages travel.
Fo ster. Classes meet 6 -8 times quarter fo r 3 ho urs and 45 minutes (with a break). There is no set schedule (ie every tuesday thursday), so yo u co uld no t have class fo r a
who le week, o r lo ts o f 4 day weekends etc.
YES- perfect set up fo r travel.
Yup, every week we had o n average 2 o r 3 days o ff. So metimes we had 1 o r 2 classes every 2 weeks. Also , attendance isn't required fo r the mo st part since the finals are
based o ff o f the po werpo ints which are po sted o nline.
Actually, o ne o f the biggest pro blems I had with the scheduling was that classes wo uldn't be at the same times each week. Yo u co uld have ethics class at 4 this Thursday
but at 2 o n Wednesday next week. This is because all the pro fesso rs co mmute to the small to wn o f Vallendar and many o f them have careers o utside o f academia. That
was an anno ying schedule issue but o verall traveling can always be do ne. I always had Friday free and so me Mo ndays. Clo ser to exams at the end o f each quarter, yo u
have lo nger breaks in class that can be anywhere fro m a co uple days to a week o r two .
Yes, I didn't have classes o n Fridays.
Abso lutely! No t a lo t o f class time and very staggered
Definitely fo ster the travel o ppo rtunity. as mentio ned befo re: Due to ho w the schedule is at the scho o l, it is very beneficial fo r exchange students to travel aro und. (o ne
semester is split into two quarters where yo u might have 2-4 co urses each quarter and there is o nly 5-6 class meetings fo r each co urse. in my 2nd quarter, I had 4
co urses; ho wever, i to o k investment banking (which o nly had 2 full days o f meeting) & managerial leadership (which is M-F fo r o ne week o nly) that helped me have a lo t
mo re time to have travel that is 3-4 days lo ng!
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
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13
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
Start traveling right away o r yo u wo n't be able to fit it all in. Lo o k o ut fo r deals like Eurail, but they are o ften very expensive and o nly useful fo r tho se who think they will
always travel by train and travel a to n. I fo und that bo o king o n cheap airlines like ryanair o r using the trains kept my travel expenses lo w. Also , take advantage o f o ther
exchange students setting up trips.
I bo ught a "Eurail Glo bal Pass"-- it allo ws yo u to travel within 21 appro ved co untries as o ften as yo u like within 3 mo nths. So me internatio nal trains require an additio nal
fee (usually o nly 3-5 euro ) to reserve a seat in advance but all regio nal trains are free. The pass might be a bit expensive (mine paid o ff because I traveled no n-sto p fo r an
extra mo nth after scho o l let o ut), but train tickets witho ut a pass are actually pretty expensive. Fo r example, a train ticket fro m Frankfurt to Munich co uld co st 8 0 euro fo r a 6
ho ur train ride. I wo uld suggest train travel o ver flying, ho wever, because train statio ns are much mo re co nveniently lo cated--they always take yo u to the center o f whatever
city yo u are visiting and yo u do n't need to waste time/mo ney getting fro m Vallendar to a bigger city with an airpo rt. Flying with the cheap airlines like Ryanair means leaving
ho urs early, taking trains and shuttles and buses to get to the airpo rt, security checks, then waiting ho urs to bo ard, then waiting o n the plane, then flying fo r an ho ur o r two ,
then getting back into the city. This who le pro cess co uld take the same amo unt o f time as traveling by train, but trains allo w yo u to take as much luggage with yo u as yo u
want with no extra co st, and yo u can sleep o r read undisturbed whereas flying is a draining pro cess. Also , the price o f flying tends to add up with service charges, taxes,
transpo rtatio n to the airpo rt, o verweight luggage, etc. In sho rt, trains may be slightly mo re expensive, but I reco mmend them fo r peace o f mind and co nvenience. Co nsider
getting a pass if yo u will be traveling a lo t.
Ryanair is incredibly cheap and rewards tho se who bo o k early. Pay clo se attentio n to the fees they try and tack o n and the co st o f travelling to and fro m their airpo rts
(o ftentimes the city in the destinatio n is actually quite a ways away fro m the actual city). Wo rth lo o king into as well are the vario us train deals within the co untry and
thro ugho ut Euro pe. The trains are highly reliable and enjo yable and co uld be a mo re co mfo rtable and co nvenient o ptio n.
Travel, travel, travel. It is an o ppo rtunity o f a lifetime. Bo o k eno ugh in advance to a) save mo ney b) no t be left in the co ld o r w/ no thing to do .
If yo u are planning o n traveling by train, I reco mmend getting a Bahn50 card fro m Deutsche Bahn. It was 118 Euro s fo r students when I bo ught mine and it saved me 50 %
o n all trains o riginating in Germany and also go t me disco unts o n trains that came fro m o utside Germany back into the co untry that were bo o ked thro ugh Deutsche Bahn. I
made up the mo ney that I spent o n the card within abo ut 2 trips. It also saves mo ney o n lo cal trains and buses. There are a number o f airpo rts yo u can use (Frankfurt Main,
Frankfurt Hahn-fo r RyanAir, Dusseldo rf and Co lo gne-Bo nn). Co lo gne Bo nn is great and their is a train directly o ut o f Vallendar that go es to the statio n, so it is very easy to
get to . If yo u plan to travel o n RyanAir/EasyJet, and o ther disco unt airlines, be sure yo u lo o k at the carry-o n baggage requirements befo re yo u leave to go abro ad so yo u
can ensure yo u have a bag that fits the requirements and is no t to o large.
Travel with friends but also go o n a co uple o f trips so lo . It's a really interesting experience. Travel o ften eno ugh, but mak sure to create and fo ster friendships back at the
University.
NA
If there are places yo u are eager to go to , plan early and find peo ple to go with yo u.
Travel as much as yo u can. This is pro bably o ne o f the best scho o ls if yo u want to travel, since the Deutsche Bahn is excellent, and because there are a lo t o f airpo rts to fly
o ut o f in the are, including Frankfurt Internatio nal, Frankfurt-Hahn, Co lo gne-Bo nn, Dusseldo rf-Weeze, Dusseldo rf. Each o ne is between 1 and 2 ho urs away by train/bus.
Also , use ryanair and bo o k early, and use germanwings o ut o f co lo gne-bo nn, and use the blindbo o king feature to get a cheap ro undtrip flight last minute, yo u just have to
pick a selectio n o f cities and yo u get rando mly assigned o ne o f them. Also , get a bahn 25/50 card, cause it will definitely pay o ff if yo u travel a lo t.
Get the bahn card (either 25% o r 50 % o ff). Yo u can use this card fo r disco unts o n all trains and buses in Germany. Ryanair is still the cheapest o ptio n by far. Bo o k early.
Plan yo ur trips early in the semester so yo u can buy cheaper plane tickets.
N/A
bo o k the trips in advance to have cheaper transpo rtatio n prices!!!!! buy a DB 25 percent card which the disco unt can be used to wards yo ur bus ticket & train ticket. DB 25
percent card has 4 mo nths o r 1 year card where yo u just need to remember to cancel three weeks befo re yo ur end date via Email. Yo u will be taking BUS 8 fro m Vallendar
to Ko blenz fo r so me sho pping, fo o d, o r o ther activities where gro up o f 5 day ticket wo uld get yo u the best price o r else yo u may use yo ur DB25% card fo r single trip 2.8 5
euro s (it is so much cheaper as yo u may o nly need to pay abo ut 3 euro s fo r a day ticket if yo u travel in a gro up o f 5) Campus do es have so me serivce like zipcar; ho wever,
there is mo re manual cars available than auto matic cars. So , learn ho w to drive manual if yo u are planning to drive aro und!
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13
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
St andard De viat io n
1
2
General (including fo o d, entertainment, lo cal transpo rtatio n)
0 .0 0
8 ,0 0 0 .0 0
1,9 23.0 8
2,0 9 7.6 8
Ho using/rent
0 .0 0
3,0 0 0 .0 0
1,9 15.38
9 77.11
3
General travel during semester
0 .0 0
7,50 0 .0 0
2,70 0 .0 0
2,0 9 2.45
4
Bo o ks & miscellaneo us supplies
0 .0 0
50 0 .0 0
156 .9 2
179 .46
5
Other expenditures (please explain)
0 .0 0
1,0 0 0 .0 0
9 2.31
278 .27
Ot he r e xpe ndit ure s (ple ase e xplain)
miscellaneo us
Sho pping?
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.
No , o nly "magic trick" swindlers in so me co untries. Germany always felt safe, especially in Vallendar.
I lived in a to wn o f students, nuns and senio r citizens and saw abso lutely no crime. I did experience pickpo cketers in Barcelo na, but that was a different city.
No . Ho wever, Mo ro cco did appear to be quite dangero us if o ne did no t think abo ut where they were.
No ne in Germany, especially no t in Vallendar. When traveling there is always a risk, especially high risk cities fo r pick po cketing, etc. But I did no t perso nally experience any
crime.
No t perso nally, but certainly knew o f peo ple who were ro bbed
Pick po cketing in cro wded areas (subways, bus etc.) but no t in Germany
Vallendar is the safest to wn I've ever seen. I actually left my wallet in a lo cker and so meo ne returned it to me with all the cash in it. And when classes go o n breaks,
everyo ne leaves their lapto ps in class because there is so much trust and respect within the co mmunity.
No , but I did see pick-po ckets. No t a big deal.
No
N/A
No ne! Just travel light, and always be aware o f yo ur o wn belo ngings then yo u sho uld be fine!
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13
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, I felt prepared.
Yes
Yes
YES
Yes
yes
Sure.
Yes
Yes
yes
yes!
St at ist ic
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13
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
N/A
NA
n/a
N/A
N/A
N/A
St at ist ic
To tal Respo nses
Value
12
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
So mewhat
Yes, o rientatio n did a great jo b explaining the situatio n and it was spelled o ut very clearly.
O'Co nnell spo ke o f so mething abo ut it. So eno ugh, I guess.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
I read thro ugh the fo rms and checked the website.
Yes
so rt o f
yes! go to the o rientatio n ho sted by Sean, because yo u will get all the info rmatio n yo u need abo ut it fro m him!
St at ist ic
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13
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
No
Everyo ne was so eager to meet peo ple fro m aro und the wo rld that I do n't think anyo ne no ticed any o f that. The atmo sphere was very friendly
Being American in a few places. Albeit, no thing ever serio us.
No
No
NA
no
No pe. Go t yelled at fo r being American a co uple times, but that's it. Once in Brussels, o nce in Munich.
Obvio usly so me peo ple are no t used to seeing peo ple who do n't lo o k like them, but that happens everywhere. Euro pe in general is very diverse and within Germany is no
exceptio n.
No
no
No ne
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54.
59 . What was the best part o f the pro gram?
T e xt Re spo nse
Meeting friends fro m o ther co untries and getting to fully experience a new culture by being in classes with the German students and beco ming their friends.
Getting to kno w the German students very well because it's a small scho o l and there aren't that many exchange students. Yo u can really hang o ut with the "lo cal" students
and get to kno w peo ple fro m all different co untries.
The way that the scho o l was run and the way the WHU staff to o k care o f the students allo wed fo r that who le part o f the experience to be stress free. I never had to wo rry
abo ut administrative o r academic issues and was free to fo cus my energy o n mo re po sitive pursuits.
The ability to travel.
There were so many incredible parts, but I think that the peo ple make the pro gram. The classes are great and the scho o l is aweso me, but the o ther students (bo th
exchange and German) who I go t to kno w made my experience so wo nderful. The scho o l do es a go o d jo b o rganizing events to help yo u meet a lo t o f peo ple, so being
present o n campus the first week is very impo rtant so yo u can meet peo ple and participate in these events. It helped make my experience fo r the rest o f the semester so
great.
Friendships made
Beco ming acclimated with daily life in Euro pe/ The peo ple yo u meet
The best part o f the pro gram were the peo ple at WHU and the size o f the scho o l. I had an amazing experience and wo uld reco mmend WHU to anyo ne who wants to meet
so me intelligent and extremely nice peo ple fro m a co mpletely different culture. I learned so much and lo ved everyo ne that I met. Peo ple beco me like a family almo st, if yo u
take the time to get to kno w them.
I really fell in lo ve with the to wn. No t o nly the lo catio n, but the peo ple, the co mfo rt o f it all, returning back fro m a trip, and seeing the to wn I called ho me fo r 4 mo nths.
Everyo ne there is so nice and welco ming. I initially hated that I wasn't living in a majo r city, but I grew to prefer Vallendar to a big city after visiting cities and speaking with
o ther students living in them, having to travel an hr to get to class, spending lo ads o f mo ney o n everyday things. Cities are great to to ur and visit and stuff, but I lo ved go ing
back ho me to Vallendar.
Meeting the o ther 150 exchange students. Definitely met peo ple fro m all o ver the wo rld that will be friends fo r lif.
The best part o f the pro gram was meeting o ther exchange students fro m aro und the wo rld.
the traveling experiences with new friends fro m all o ver the wo rld
EVERYTHING WAS GREAT! Peo ple were interesting and amazing! Yo u have to be willing to get to kno w the lo cal students and the exchange students as well
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55.
6 0 . What was the mo st difficult part?
T e xt Re spo nse
Leaving.
Traveling aro und is just tiring in general, and having to figure o ut cultures, po ints o f interests, custo ms, languages, transpo rtatio n, etc. in every city is pretty difficult. Just
do ing so me research o nline befo rehand is very helpful. And remembering that yo u can't po ssibly see everything, and to really enjo y yo ur time.
The hardest part fo r me was being in a smaller to wn with a smaller scho o l po pulatio n when I had been used to big cities my who le life. I adjusted fairly quickly and as I go t
to kno w mo re students this became easier.
Being in a to wn in the middle o f no where.
I can't think o f any part that was particularly difficult. Adjusting to the grading scale o f 10 0 % exam co uld be to ugh.
Leaving
Initial adjustment
It's a very small to wn and that can be hard fo r peo ple to adjust to
Adjusting at first. I wanted to go back fo r like the first week o r two , but after I go t co mfo rtable there it was all go o d. Just go tta be patient.
Adjusting to the small to wn enviro nment.
The mo st difficutl part was adjusting the the weather since it is a lo t co lder than Califo rnia.
jet-lag and planning trips
The really be friends with the lo cal students, but just reach o ut to them first, do nt hesitate o n being friends with them and they will all be very friendly to yo u!
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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
N/A
There is a lo t o f co nfusio n abo ut ho w Asians can also be American, and many Euro peans are o ften very curio us to kno w where I'm "really" fro m. But yo u just learn to go
alo ng with it because they do n't mean any o ffense, they're just curio us. Oh, and yo u also have to get in the habit o f making trips to sto res mo re o ften because everything
co mes in smaller quantities in Euro pe.
I do n't think I can pick o ut a particular instance in which I had definite culture sho ck. I think co llege students are pretty similar wherever they are fro m. The language barrier
was mo re difficult than any cultural differences I enco untered
No thing to o impo rtant. Be o pen and understanding.
The German culture was no t particularly sho cking. Yo u do have to adjust to gro cery sto res being clo sed o n Sundays and a lo t o f restaurants being clo sed o n Mo ndays. I
also fo und it interesting what Germans felt was acceptable to ask peo ple they do n't kno w well--they have a different perspective o n what is private info rmatio n and what is
no t.
Language issues can be frustrating so metimes. Germans are very pro ud o f their language and this can po se challenges at times.
NA
The first day landing there. We decided to spend the weekend in Frankfurt befo re go ing up to scho o l. Unfo rtunately, we landed there o n new years day and everything was
pretty much dead, and the next day was sunday, and in Germany o n a sunday, just abo ut everything is clo sed to o . So that made fo r an interesting first weekend.
No thing that really co mes to mind. The small things (like so me staring) do n't bo ther yo u after a while.
N/A
N/A
Speak slo wer in english if needed and explain what yo u just said and usually they will understand yo ur jo ke o r sarcasm. Germans are pretty straightfo rward as I am to o , so
there was no great misunderstanding.
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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
Passing all o f my classes.
I'm mo st pro ud o f having a lo t o f German friends. I had a lo t o f great co nversatio ns with them abo ut their take o n different aspects o f Germany-- gender issues, po verty,
po litics, gro wing up, etc. I felt like that helped me really appreciate the co untry and the peo ple.
I think I legitimately have a place to stay no w in ten different co untries because o f the friends I have made.
Saw a lo t o f magnificent sights & survived.
I'm pro ud o f ho w much I learned and the fact that I came ho me with a new perspective o n the wo rld. Between meeting new peo ple, learning new things, and go ing to new
places, I feel as tho ugh I came ho me a much mo re wo rldly perso n and with incredible friends all o ver the wo rld.
Making great friends and seeing many amazing places
NA
I am pro ud o f meeting and beco ming friends with so many German students. A few o f them have co me to SF to visit and I've sho wed them aro und. I've made friends fo r life
:)
Surviving! And seeing 14 co untries fo r the first time.
I really think I balanced my classes and traveling quite well. I kno w I traveled mo re than mo st and my grades were still go o d. It can definitely be do ne!
I traveled to almo st every co untry I wanted to thro ugho ut my stay in Euro pe.
Learning abo ut different cultures within Euro pe
Really was able to be friends with so me lo cal students; definitely learned ho w to o rder fo o d o n my o wn when needed; be able to greet to the ladies at the bakery sho p; can
so metimes pick up so me german fro m o thers' co nversatio n
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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
A lo t, to be ho nest everything is so co nfusing befo re yo u get there and then o nce yo u get there it all falls in to place and everyo ne is very helpful. I felt like I didn't kno w
anything befo re I go t there, but o nce I did get there I was immediately co mfo rtable.
No thing. It was really great meeting so me German students thro ugh IEP Ho sting befo re I went, because they gave me a great idea o f what it wo uld be like and I had friends
there befo re I arrived.
I think it is impo rtant to emphasize just ho w small o f a to wn WHU is in. There are a large number o f religio us buildings, a few restaurants, a co uple gro cery sto res and a
co uple bars but no thing in the way o f a city. The nearby to wn o f Ko blenz is also quite a small city with no t much to o ffer. It certainly affects the experience and is wo rth no ting
Take as little clo thes as po ssible. It is really no t necessary to have much.
Do research o n pho nes so yo u get a go o d o ne. If yo u take yo urs, figure o ut what yo u need to do to make it wo rk in Germany. If yo u get o ne there, make sure yo u talk to
German students abo ut getting o ne that is a go o d deal, because there are so me that are way cheaper than o thers. Also , yo u may be able to get so meo ne's o ld pho ne.
ho w small Vallendar actually is. Its quite small as is WHU.
That the campus/to wn is very small. 15 Minutes fro m a city (no t majo r city).
I wish I had kno wn that it wasn't go ing to be freezing the entire time.
That adjusting wo uld take time. And ho w little I was go ing to have to study. And ho w great the students (bo th german and exchange students) were go ing to be to live with
and get to kno w fo r 4 mo nths.
No thing! So lve yo ur pro blems and learn fro m them.
I wish I knew that I wo uld be co o king a lo t during the semester so that I co uld impro ve my co o king skills befo rehand.
N/A
Wish I have learned so me mo re german; Spring co urse actually o fficially ends in August so yo u co uld actually apply fo r yo ur residence permit up untill August which can
give yo u three mo nths fo r an internship, travel, o r part time, o r mo re co urse! (yo u just need to pay a little mo re fo r an electro nic residence permit which is no t difficult to deal
with)
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59.
6 4. Do yo u have any travel tips to share?
T e xt Re spo nse
Travel as o ften as po ssible, as cheap as po ssible, and as far as po ssible.
Train.
Bo o k early, travel in gro ups (safer, but also way mo re fun), allo w time to fully explo re the cities.
Bo o k flights early (skyscanner, ryanair, germanwings, etc) and get a bahn student card 50 (co sts abo ut 125 euro s, but definitely wo rth it). Do n't ever no t travel if no t sure.
Just do it.
So me were listed in a previo us questio n (Bahn50 card, airpo rts: Frankfurt main, Frankfurt Hahn, Co lo gne/Bo nn, Dusseldo rf).
GET A BAHN 50 CARD. This is the best piece o f info rmatio n I can give yo u. It co sts abo ut 120 Euro s but gets yo u 50 % o ff all train travel in Germany and majo r disco unts
traveling in and o ut o f Germany. Its wo rth it. Get it right away - See Deutche Bahn Service Statio n rep.
NA
I already said mine I think. But travel as much as yo u can. So me peo ple might say I didn't get to kno w Vallendar as well as I co uld've since I traveled a lo t. But I really feel
like I go t the best o f bo th wo rlds, witho ut sacrificing o ne o r the o ther. I just wish there was mo re time so I co uld've seen mo re o f Germany.
Do things early, o r super late. Try car-sharing and co uch surfing.
Fly with ryanair when yo u can. It is usually the cheapest airline. Watch o ut fo r yo ur stuff. Make sure to have a duffle bag/backback with yo u if yo u're planning to travel
thro ugho ut the semester.
N/A
Plan yo ur trips ahead fo r lo wer transpo rtatio n co st! Ryan air (o r all disco unted airlines) is really anno ying, but just bring a bag that is a carry-o n size bag with yo u so yo u
can travel with that easily! Travel light! WOMBAT ho stel is amazing that has chain in Munich, Vienna, Berlin and Budapest (all at very great lo catio n!!!)
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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
Enjo y it while it lasts. It has been the best experience o f my entire life (and I kno w yo u hear that a lo t) but yo u'll understand when yo u leave. Fo ur mo nths has never go ne by
so fast.
I abso lutely lo ved it and am so glad that, o f all the cho ices, I went to Germany. And I'd be mo re than happy to talk abo ut it with them. And to really enjo y the Kebabs there,
because they were invented in Germany and yo u can't get them any better anywhere else (and beer, Ritter Spo rt cho co late, and Haribo Saft gummy bears).
Witho ut a city o r a spo rt team at WHU, the students make up the experience there. The mo re peo ple yo u get to kno w the mo re willing yo u are to go o ut o f yo ur co mfo rt zo ne
and make friends, the mo re rewarding it will be. There is no reaso n to be sitting in yo ur ro o m unless yo u're sick o r studying.
Make the mo st o ut o f it. I can't believe ho w fast it went.
Make sure yo u take the time to co nnect with the students, bo th exchange and German, in Vallendar. Yo u can travel as much as yo u'd like, but yo ur time in Vallendar will be
so much mo re rewarding if yo u are invo lved and active in what is go ing o n aro und WHU.
Spend time getting to kno w o ther exchange students fro m aro und the wo rld. These will be life lo ng friendships.
When I first go t to Vallendar I was sho cked because I tho ught that it was suppo sed to be clo se to Frankfurt (o r even Ko blenz). The quickest I ever go t to Frankfurt was in an
ho ur and 45 minutes I was frustrated at first with being in such a small city so iso lated fro m a majo r Euro pean metro po lis. I so o n learned to lo ve it. Being in Germany is a
great ho me base to travel (frankfurt airpo rt/co lo gne bo nn airpo rt/train to France, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland etc.). WHU go es o ut o f their way to set up events to meet
German students as well as the o ther exchange students fro m different scho o ls. If yo u are disco uraged/frustrated at first because o f yo ur lo catio n, do nt let it get yo u do wn.
I am sure everything wo rks o ut fine regardless, but I wo uld like to enco urage peo ple to lo o k beyo nd Barcelo na and do no t stress to o much abo ut feeling the pressure to
put that as yo ur to p cho ice. Once yo u are go ing abro ad, co me with an o pen mind and an eagerness to meet peo ple. Be o pen to no t traveling as much so that yo u can meet
the lo cals at yo ur scho o l and beco me familiar with that culture.
Live it up. Best 4 mo nths o f my life. If yo u're strapped fo r mo ney, this is a great lo catio n. It's cheap, but still in mo dern, western Euro pe. Yo u can blo w mo ney in Ko blenz if
yo u want to , but yo u can just as easily save yo ur mo ney fo r trips and be happy with yo ur decisio n. Make sure to go o ut tho ugh, during the first week, do the pub crawl and
the free dinner/brewery to ur (why wo uldn't yo u?) because they were great experiences and where everyo ne first gets to meet really. I'm jealo us o f everyo ne go ing in the fall
tho ugh because I wo uldn't have lo ved to go to Octo berfest while I was o ver there. Have a few liters fo r me when yo u go .
WHU was the best experience o f my life. So cliche, and always true. Peo ple, places, and freedo m to enjo y a co mpletely different life. Go in o pen-minded and be amazed at
ho w much yo u learn (and ho pefully so me things abo ut supply chain and etc. to o ).
My decisio n to study abro ad in Germany has been o ne o f the best decisio ns I made. Majo rity o f Germans are really friendly, and Germany is a relatively clean co untry
co mpared to the o ther co untries I've visited. I've develo ped stro ng relatio nships wtih the exchange students I've met thro ugho ut the semester. I didn't think this was
po ssible in the beginning since I was o nly go ing to be there fo r 4 mo nths, but it happened. The exchange pro gram is really well o rganized at WHU, and there is a student
co mmittee that helps the exchange students get to kno w each o ther.
Try to travel as much as po ssible because it go es by so fast and there's no t very much to do in Vallendar
ask me questio ns! that's what I did so I prepared myself with ho w the students are like, ho w the parties are like, what kind o f things i sho uld bring, what kind o f co urses i
sho uld take, ho w sho uld i deal with the weather, and all the questio ns that yo u wish yo u wo uld have kno wn abo ut befo re yo u leave!!!! because I asked so many questio ns
so I didn't have much that I wish I co uld have kno wn befo re I leave
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61.
6 6 . Any final tho ughts...
T e xt Re spo nse
This is a great pro gram, but it needs so me changes. So many business students fo rgo this o ppo rtunity because they do n't think they can fit it, o r they do n't want to miss
recruiting. Its an amazing experience and I feel like so many students get gipped o f the o ppo rtunity because o f preco nceived no tio ns o f what they need to be do ing befo re
they graduate. I kno w Marshals making an effo rt to tell students to take a bro ader appro ach to educatio n but I think go ing abro ad needs to be stressed. I do ho wever think
Marshal sets up a GREAT pro gram with the partner scho o ls much much better than USC Madrid/Paris (my twin sister was in Madrid) I think the cultural immersio n we get
and the o verall cultural experience is much mo re enriching than go ing abro ad with a USC scho o l ho wever I do n't think peo ple kno w ho w great o f an o ppo rtunity it is. I think
it needs to be expanded to o ther scho o ls and I think mo re students needs to get invo lved. I kno w its a stretch but at WHU they are required to go abro ad and it do es them
well to be fo rced (even tho ugh they welco me it) into that type o f a situatio n. I'm no t sure what Sean has planned but it so unds like he's mo tivated to keep this pro gram up
and go ing and I think anything he can do will help. THANK YOU! I lo ved my time abro ad. I wish everyo ne co uld have the experience I had.
Thank yo u so much fo r the pro gram!!!
Unless yo u've already been to Euro pe, the ease o f travel and the aweso meness (its a wo rd) and number o f the cities to visit there make it extremely difficult to pass up.
Thank yo u to everyo ne fro m USC IEP & WHU who made this po ssible fo r me.
PLEASE let me kno w if yo u have any questio ns and/o r just want to talk abo ut go ing. I wo uld lo ve to share tho ughts with yo u and help yo u prepare fo r yo ur semester! WHU
is incredible! lo rilien@usc.edu
Have Fun. It's aweso me
It is what yo u make it. At the end o f the day yo u are living in Euro pe.
I had an incredible experience- it feels like a dream! Please email me if yo u wo uld like to chat.
Thank yo u USC fo r no t giving me my to p cho ices and sending me to WHU. Best thing USC has do ne fo r me since sending me my admissio n letter!
Feel free to email me any time. I can't reco mmend WHU eno ugh.
I wo uld stro ngly reco mmend studying abo rad at WHU! :)
N/A
Definitely, if yo u are a entrepreneur, finance, co nsulting, o r investment banking perso n then yo u sho uld really cho o se this scho o l! Great netwo rk and events o n campus! It
is a great lo catio n to travel because it is a fairly central lo catio n to travel to the west ( UK, Ireland) o r to the east (budapest, vienna, salzburg, etc.) EMAIL ME AT
JACLYN.HSIUNG@GMAIL.COM fo r gazillio n questio ns! ho using, living, making friends, all kinds o f questio ns!! be excited!! this is a great pro gram! Lo ve it!
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