Netherlands: Robin Grygleski
Program: Wageningen University Exchange, Fall
Robin’s Major: Environmental Sciences, Horticulture
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
There was much more group work and the classes were separated into 8-week-long sections. Classes were all in block style, where the shortest class time was ~1.5 hours and most were ~3 hours long. Grades are almost entirely determined by one final cumulative exam and one final group project. Classes are structured in a way that supports your ability to get all of your work done in class and spend time doing extracurriculars outside of class hours. This differs from UW-Madison’s more frequent, short class lengths, and it differs from the expectation of doing a large amount of independent work outside of class.
Classes are structured in a way that supports your ability to get all of your work done in class and spend time doing extracurriculars outside of class hours.
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
Sign up for their housing program as soon as you know you’re going. Keep up to date on everything you need to get done. As for more general advice, take leaps and go to social events as much as you can, and if you have difficulty making fast friends with Dutch students, try reaching out to other international students and attending exchange student events.
How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?
I am much more confident at solo travel, navigating new environments, and interacting with new people from many backgrounds. I expect that my future studies and career will be benefitted from this because I will be much more willing to connect with people I don’t know yet, and I will be more comfortable with making difficult decisions quickly.