“JUST DO IT”
What comes to mind when you hear that? NIKE? No doubt, you've got a great memory when it comes to taglines.
But that’s not what this is about! These words symbolize the responses that completely mind blowing opportunities in SBM solicit! Wondering what?
For nothing else but – The Summer School Study Options offered by and outside our department.
If you haven’t heard about it before in orientations, then we will make sure that this 10 minute read sums up the best of it for you! If you have been planning on seizing this opportunity, well we have it all in this ‘how to ace it’ guide! And if you are unable to decide on which side is the grass greener, say goodbye to apprehensions as Team Réveil is here to your rescue! Read on to plunge into a whole new world of discovery, newer possibilities and reality checks XD.
"Travelling and living alone, being fully dependent on only yourself in a strange new place, is undoubtedly daunting but also exhilarating at the same time. You must experience it at least once in your lifetime." - Sanjana Mukund
Amidst a barrel of opportunities that the department lays out for students like you to explore new platitudes and identify what is meant for you, it presents very interesting study abroad programs that garner appreciable responses every year. Summer School programs, Semester Exchange Programs, Study Abroad Trips and Credit Transfer Programs are the most prominent ones amongst a basket of international study experiences. You don't just choose the program you want to apply for but also the University and city you want to be studying in.
“The learning is very practical and is also crafted in a way that makes you not want to sit in class; rather, it is very open and nuanced, including the entire grading procedure.” - Neeta Nagaraj
Amongst a plethora of foreign Universities that CHRIST University and SBM has partnered with, we have curated the tiniest of the details that you would have questions about by interviewing the ones who have experienced the program. We have Neeta Nagaraj who pursued a program from The London School of Economics, Disha J Prasad who went to HAN Netherlands and Sanjana Mukund who went to IESEG Business School, Paris. Delving into the intricacies of all the experiences they encountered, they have also shared about how to sustain in a foreign setting and how to get the most out of the program you have opted for.
“The time duration, courses offered, and the entire experience of going abroad for a value-based experiential learning for around 3 weeks just seemed right.” - Disha J Prasad
They enrolled for courses such as Business Analysis and Valuation at London School of Economics in London, European Culture in Business and Supply Chain from HAN Business School in the Netherlands and Wine Business and Luxury Brand Management from IÉSEG in France. These 2-3 Week courses gave them a detailed insight on each of these topics, adding value to their future aspirations and charting their path for Masters programs abroad!
#1: Why did you decide to study abroad, and how did you pick your specific program?
Disha shares that the program she opted for seemed the most reasonable and valuable one to her as it wasn't long enough to make her feel homesick and it was tailored to her needs as she did not see it fit to leave everything she had established for herself here at CHRIST behind for a full semester. She expressed that the time duration, courses offered, and the entire experience of going abroad for a value-based experiential learning for around 3 weeks just seemed right.
#2: How different were the classes, quality of education, modes of learning, etc. from how it is here?
The panelists shared that there is no concept of a textbook or taking notes in such foreign courses. Everything is interaction-oriented and discussion-based so you get to express yourself as well as absorb various facets of information that you would probably not get in a traditional classroom setup. The modes of learning and quality of education are very different from what we have back here in India. The learning is very practical and not compelled in a way that makes you sit in class; rather, it is very open and nuanced, including the entire grading procedure. Additionally, you get to engage with and learn from people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. This enriches your experience and inspires you to consider options and ideas that you might not have considered if you hadn't stepped up to a global level. The experience actually helps you understand how different the rest of the world is, notice and ponder upon the merits and demerits of our current education system and teaches you not to limit yourself to a standard.
#3: What type of programs does CHRIST offer as exchange/seasonal programs? Which one of these seemed most appealing to you?
While CHRIST provides student exchange programs, credit transfer programs, summer/winter school programs, and dual degree programs, the three of them chose a summer school experience at their respective universities. Disha and Sanjana applied internally to HAN University and IESEG Paris respectively through the International Cell of SBM and the Office of International Affairs. However Neeta chose to apply externally on her own and was accepted to the London School of Economics. Neeta shared that the drawback of applying to and enrolling in a college other than the ones that SBM has partnered with is that there are no credit transfer options available, but the university will compensate for the attendance shortage you might face, as long as you can show them your credentials. Although applying externally will add no additional credits to your current BBA course, the credits will matter at a later point of time when you apply for your higher education as they are accredited internationally.
#4: When should one begin planning and preparing if studying abroad is a goal during their time at CHRIST? Could you explain the steps involved in the entire application process and the time it took? Was the procedure easy, and if not, how did the college help?
They share that the time window for preparation and processing is quite limited because you must depart for the program in June. The biggest challenge you'll likely encounter will be with the Visa Facilitation Services. Insufficient documentation, processing delays, refusal of visas, financial limitations, and incomplete applications are a few issues that you might face. You'll require a good six months as a buffer so as to deal with such hurdles.
Sharing some words of advice, they said that students should apply as soon as the applications go up to gain a head start on the competition, and learn about the entire procedure.
Since the applications are sent directly to the chosen university through CHRIST, they are given preferential consideration. In addition to applying through the portal and meeting the standard prerequisites like the SOP and so on, CHRIST recommends the students directly, giving them an advantage over external applicants and making it simpler to get into CHRIST-partnered universities.
Applying earlier and including reference letters from the university gives you a better shot at receiving scholarships and grants, which eventually helps you save a lot of money. Being awarded a scholarship demonstrates your merit as a student, which is viewed as an added achievement.
#5: How did you budget for your time abroad? Did you spend more or less than you thought?
To create a budget for studying abroad, students should start by researching the cost of living in their destination country and determining how much they will need to cover their expenses. They can then compare their estimated expenses to their expected sources of funding, such as scholarships, grants, or student loans, and make adjustments as needed. It is also important to plan for unexpected expenses and to set aside some amount for emergencies.
Making a budget that takes into account housing prices, transport costs, personal expenditures, and other purchases is vital, but it's also important to realize that you'll probably wind up going over your budget because you should view the experience as an investment in your future. If this is your first time travelling abroad, it would be better to spend the extra money on food and comfort rather than taking risks with your health and safety. Living overseas is substantially more expensive, therefore accepting this fact early on is crucial. Although, it's much easier to live a budget-friendly lifestyle in Europe, especially because there are tons of student discounts and places that cater to them.
#6: After having experienced a different lifestyle, how are you the same? How are you different? Any last words of insight about the whole experience?
Travelling, living alone and being fully independent in a strange new place, is undoubtedly daunting but also exhilarating at the same time. If you've been sheltered your entire life, surrounded by friends and family, such experiences make you more individualistic in ways more than you can think of, which is a therapeutic experience all on its own.
It is a small step into adulthood and makes you realize how important even the smallest details are when living alone, even though you probably wouldn't notice them if you were at home. You also learn how to appreciate life's little victories and how to evolve to be the best version of yourself.
The experience truly shows exactly how little you know about the world outside and how much more there is to discover, explore, and ponder. It gives you an opportunity to create wonderful experiences and learn the most valuable lessons, while having utmost fun as tourists.
All in all, the summer school experience is a great prelude to the outside world and provides you a taste of what it's like to have an open-minded education and unfettered freedom if you plan to pursue higher education overseas in the future. It's an excellent opportunity to test the waters and determine whether you would enjoy living the life of your dreams in its entirety.
Edited by -
Sriya Yarlagadda | 2 BBA F
Kriti Sethiya Jain | 4 BBA D
Designed by -
Krish Agarwal | 2 BBA D
Seerat Kaur | 2 BBA B
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