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STUDY abroad

By aubreygunnels

It is that time of the year, Midterms. Study abroad midterms are no different than midterms in the states, they are no fun.

My midterm course load consisted of two take home midterms in Operations Management and International Banking Systems, a traditional midterm in my Belgium cultures class with multiple choice and short essay questions, a midterm in french, and my economics professor doesn't like conforming to traditional midterm operations. While this seems like a lot, it is completely doable. The perks of being abroad is not having club meetings and appointments.

I am an engineering major. I take classes like multivariable calculus and computer programming so not only am I completely changing the subject of my classes abroad but also the ways classes are conducted. In calculus classes at GW, you sit in a lecture hall, watch the professor write equations on the board, and the professors and TA don’t mind if you don’t copy the proof off the board. Here is the complete opposite. Professors look at you funny if you aren't taking notes, they completely notice if you don’t look up from your computer when you should be taking notes, and many don’t allow computers on during their classes. They also have attendance policies. You are graded on your attendance in almost every class and it is expected to tell the professor you will not be in class. It is polite. They are understanding and allow you to make up work if you are sick. Last week I was stuck in Paris due to a large snow storm in the north of France. All of my professors were completely understanding and allowed me to make up my work the next week.

The students that decide to study abroad is also an important factor in the school atmosphere. The type of students that study abroad are more outgoing I feel. They are the type of people that took the initiative to get out of a comfort zone to appreciate other parts of the world. Bringing defined students like this together is a special experience, and I do feel like I am having more discussions about the world and clashing of opinions here than I did at home. Meeting people that have seen different things and come from different backgrounds has really been a part of the classroom experience.

Two more subjects worth talking about when it comes to academia are the professors and subject material. All of my professors have work experience in their industry just like back at GW. However, the professors here I feel like flaunt it much more than at GW. Here, it is a privilege to have a professor with work experience and at GW it is expected. I think this surprised me during syllabus week more so than anything else. As the semester has gone by, I have noticed the subject material is very reliant on the United States. The case studies we study and articles we cover are related to the United States. Most my professors are not from the states and have not done business in the states. I’m curious if we study the United States because the material is written in English or if its because the United States is such a superpower?

Overall, I really recommend the school. The professors go out of their way to help you and the classes are small to make learning even more personal. The material is relevant and a perfect combination of work and reading for a study