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What are your goals for your study abroad experience (academic, personal and professional)? (300)-297

1. Academically, I seek a program that rivals the rigor and credibility of USC’s IB program and can
simultaneously challenge my understanding of a global world and give me insight into the
culture and mindset of another country. Studying in Europe would give me access to a plethora
of in depth classes focusing on the challenges and mindset of appealing to European consumers
in supply chain and the consumer goods industry. I hope to learn from international professors
with insightful experiences in global supply chain and corporate sustainability, which I plan on
employing in a rotation program abroad after graduation.

Personally, growing up in a European household opened my eyes to many of the mechanics that
come with living and interacting in Europe. Despite my familiarity with European customs, I seek
to challenge my perceptions and perspectives on European norms. This goal will help me
challenge my comfort level, accustomed lifestyle, and beliefs. For an example, I hope to gain
insight into the mechanics behind the “happiness bug” that many people living in Denmark have
boasted about. I seek to develop my communication, connection, patience, and adaptability skill
set while discovering new inner strengths in the face of uncertainty and challenge.

Professionally, studying abroad would allow me to work in countries with innovative technology
that hasn’t yet made its way to the US. By interning with Bosch in France under their sustainable
driving initiatives, or with the foreign commercial services of the EU in Brussels, I would be
exposed to the frontier of life saving technology or possibly working on historical trade deals.
Shadowing and interning prior to that would be the first step towards opening those doors.
With USC’s far reaching alumni association, developing alumni connections in Europe would
provide me with a cemented professional platform.

Please list the four (4) schools you have chosen to include in your Group A priority set for your intended
semester abroad (in order of preference) and explain how each one meets your academic goals for your
International Business major. **You must list four (4) schools. (500)-478

2. ESSEC allows great flexibility for students to mold their pedological path to their career goals.
This flexibility is apparent in the numerous unconventional classes offered. For example, the
Geopolitics and the challenges of modernization class would give me insight into the
transformation of contemporary international relations and events that formed the present
environment of big businesses and the Philanthropy: strategies and impact course would
enlighten me on the modern opportunities to impact society through business with a focus on
creating and managing initiatives.
Moreover, ESSEC has excellent faculty such as Felix Papier, former McKenzie consultant in
Germany specializing in strategy and operations management, and Xavier Pavie, experienced
executive who’s worked for Unilever and Nestle. To facilitate learning outside of the classroom, I
would utilize the great alumni resources ESSEC has such as the CEOs of Unilever, Jimmy Choo,
and L’Oreal, and join the UN’ESSEC club, an organization that sends students as “diplomats” to
UN simulation around the world in effort to build international negotiation skills.

With half of the faculty at Copenhagen Business School hailing from outside of Denmark, CBS
exudes an international academic environment. Certain courses of interest include Maritime
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Law, to learn about the complex legal system through which many goods are transported, and
Scandinavian Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, to learn about options when
prioritizing social responsibility or profits. I also hope to take advantage of internship
opportunities with the UN and the World Food Program, which aims to eliminate hunger by
2030, to see how well established non-profit organization can become successful in a for-profit
dominated world.

Access to classes, professors, and students with world renowned knowledge on corporate
strategic management, at the University of St. Gallen, would provide me with the foundation
necessary to succeed as an executive in the consumer goods industry. Classes that could help
further my academic and intellectual goals include: Intercultural Encounters and Relationships,
which, would teach me how to harness communication skills and apply them to any European
culture, as well as Robots and The End of Work, which would expand my knowledge of the role
technology plays in the future of outsourcing consumer goods. Lastly, St. Gallen, a small town in
northern Switzerland, would allow me to familiarize myself with Swiss culture away from more
cosmopolitan spaces.

Attending ICHEC in Brussels would greatly expand my knowledge on international conflict

resolution on a national level, being surrounded by the peaceful divide between the Flanders
and Wallonians in Brussels, and on an international level by learning from professors who
retired from the EU and now teach negotiation classes, as confirmed by Allison Thompson, an IB
student who attended ICHEC last spring. Taking courses such as International Common Rights
and Resolutions, and International Trade and Innovation, will enlighten me on the best practices
of a consumer goods firm while in any conflict ridden country during peaceful or violent divide.

In what ways do you expect the education systems of your Group A host universities to be different from
USC, and how do you plan to handle those differences? Please choose only two (2) of your Group A
universities and compare those with what you have experienced at USC. (300)-283

3. The extensive rigor facing students in the French system is best portrayed through their exam
formats, grading methods, and class load. French Universities make it very challenging for
students to score even above a 17 out of 20. Since I am aware of the steep learning curve, I am
prepared to mirror the courses’ fast pace and rigor while preparing and studying my classes.
Furthermore, exams are rarely multiple choice formatted and often require extensive free
response answers instead, which would affect the studying techniques I currently employ at
USC. Additionally, at ESSEC, I take seven to eight classes to attain the equivalency of 15 US
credits. This phenomenon is due to the French pedagogical system prioritizing breadth and rapid
content mastery. The higher number of classes would challenge my current time management
skills used to tackle a USC course load. The French academic system also differs from USC in its
prioritization of competition and individuals over collectivism.

Copenhagen Business School, on the other hand, specializes in group work, collectivism, and
mastery of concept by focusing on fewer subjects. During my time at CBS, I would adhere to a
“seven-point grading scale.” Unlike USC, a passing grade at CBS is a 2 and students can earn a
negative grade on assignments for which they performed exceptionally poorly. The Danish
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education system focuses on depth and mastery of fewer concepts that USC does, which would
translate to taking four rather than five classes as I would take at USC. The predominant
pedagogical style at CBS emphasizes group work, which is particularly helpful in developing
communication and critical thinking skills as well as cohesive working techniques, all of which
are very useful after college.

What challenges do you expect to face during your semester abroad and what specifically in your past
history or experiences equips you to deal with those challenges? (300)-251

4. Despite proudly calling myself European, I have never lived in Europe for an extended amount of
time. I am prepared for the reality that living in France or Denmark for four months would vary
greatly from the experiences I’ve had visiting for a week or two. During the first few weeks,
especially, I might feel isolated and uneasy which comes with living in a new environment.
However, my experience living in Peru for a few months during a gap year prepared me to
handle the nerves that come with living in a new place without knowing anyone.

Notwithstanding my enthusiasm to learn about new cultures and perceptions on international

issues, I am prepared for the differing views from those I’m accustomed to or have heard
before. I believe studying abroad will push my ability to work with and understand differing
opinions, which are both great skills to take into the professional world. Coming from New York
City, a city encompassing a plethora of opinions, has prepared me to respect, accept, and value
different insights from my own.

If assigned to France, Switzerland, or Belgium, I will need to adjust to speaking French in classes
and with colleagues all day long. Having attended a French school from Kindergarten through
10th grade, I know it will be like riding a bike after the start of classes. Nevertheless, I am
cautiously excited for the opportunity to take all my classes in French in order to unlock the best
discipline-specific and professional vocabulary possible.

What other information would you like the study abroad selection committee to know about you with
regard to your application for exchange? (200)- 159

5. Next spring will mark five and a half years since I attended the LFNY, a fully immersive French
school. ESSEC, St. Gallen, and ICHEC could challenge my academic standards and language skills
by simultaneously expanding my professional vocabulary and working on my fading accent by
only taking courses in French.

Furthermore, I would revel in the opportunity to study abroad at ESSEC, to not only push my
academic prowess, but to expand my culinary passions by taking classes, and getting certified,
by the Parisian Cordon Blue, one of the best cooking schools in the world. Secondly, living in
Copenhagen would ideally open my eyes to the best practices of the “happiest city in the
world.” Having lived in the US my entire life, I embody the typical tunneled focus on goals far in
the future and sometimes forget about the present. I hope to personify the Danish mentality
which exemplifies work life balance, efficient organization, community, and feminism.
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2. Studying at University St. Gallen would allow me to further my vocabulary and mastery of the French
language in a professional context by taking all of my classes in French. I am particularly interested in
intercultural encounters and relationships, consumers in modern worlds, London in the 20 th century, and
strategic management. Becoming a CEO is an aspiration of mine which requires the masterfy of strategy
and management. St. Gallen is known across Europe for their renowned curriculum and professors in
strategy and management. One example is Bjorn Ambos, a strategy professor who has consulted leading
management teams at Ford, L’Oreal, Nike, Bosh, and more.