Type of housing: dorm

Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Because I like cooking and eating home-made and healthy food, so I need a kitchen!

Personal comments:
The dorms are nothing special and very expensive. What I don't like is that all the apartments available for the students are not furnished, there is not even light, you have to bring your own lamp if you want to have some light! and this is not convenient for an international student who arrives in Columbus on a plane, with a couple of suitcases but nothing more (for sure not a lamp!). So for an international student, moving to an apartment also means buying some basic furniture like a mattress, a lamp, a little table etc., and it is not cheap!

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
For people coming from cities where you can party till, you 'll be very disappointed. The bars and nightclubs mostly close at 2pm. Because alcohol is prohibited till 21 years old, most of the students who are allowed to drink just do that and do not really enjoy dancing. There is a lot of good restaurants and it is better to have a car to go to the best. You definitely need to go to"Mogolian Barbecue" on sawmill road (you have a choice of meats and vegetables that are cooked in front of you in the mongolian tradition, it is great). There is also a small Belgian restaurant in the same area where the service and food are superb. Between classes (it is near the campus), make a stop by POCHI, a taiwanese tea station where you can discover and enjoy bubble teas (there at least 40 varieties to choose-milk, smoothies, real teas with tapioca or coconut inside), it is a must with a KARAOKE and comfortable sitting chairs and games.

Course recommendations:
I am currently in the MBA (master of business administration) with a focus on international business and investment management. The core classes (the first 2 quarters) are boring if you are coming from a business undergraduate school as it is an in-depth reviwe of the basics. But the choice of electives are great. Fisher college of business was able to recruit some of the best professors of Harvard (Karen Wruck, Roger Blackwell). There are a lot of opportunities for those interested by international assignments. The EMFS (emerging markets field study) enable some selected students to study one or two emerging countries and travel there to make some company site visits. I was able to visit Brazil and Argentina in March 2001 (just at the period of the peso devaluation Awesome!!! The program includes the possibility to study one quarter abroad with most of the partnership in China, Hong Kong, Australia and London. The international community within the school in superb with parties all the time.

Personal comments:
One last thing: the program is based a lot on teamwork and you'll be assigned one as soon as you are accepted in which you'll do all teamworks (and there are a lot of those) throughout the first year. If you don't think you are a team person, just select another program. There are some classes you must really be careful when you select, but the add/drop system enables you to change before it is too late

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Other

Other sources of funding:
Assistantship from the university

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
Assistantship = you work 2ohours a week for the university and they pay your tuition and a monthly stipend. Everything here is expensive, so be prepared. I've met a lot of students who have 3-4 jobs and for foreigners, it is illegal to work off campus (where you can make real money vs. on campus)

Food, Travel, Overall, Housing: was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife: was the same price as at home.

Telephone: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
I wish I had a better financial background at the time, which would have allowed me to spend more time with social activities.

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.