Getting an opportunity to spend a trimester at a business school internationally was a rewarding experience. Whatever field I go into will be influenced by international events regardless of whether I work outside the United States. The most important learnings from my experience at NTU in Singapore come from the students I interacted with. My home business school is still more than half United States citizens. NTU’s business school is mostly international students. Learning how people from Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Europe approach various problems and cultures was an enlightening experience.

There was not significant difference in the pedagogy from NTU to the University of Chicago. The classes were heavy on cases and the teaching style was similar. I did notice that the classes tended to have more breakout sessions where small groups discussed topics then presented, but this is as likely to be the result of differences between professors as it is to be differences between schools. As I mentioned above, spending time with my classmates was a highlight of the exchange experience. From a class standpoint, I loved taking Business Ethics and Corporate Governance in an international setting. Given the cross-cultural differences in how business is conducted, I feel the course material was more nuanced in an international setting than it would have been had I taken it in the United States. I also loved having the opportunity to travel around the rest of Southeast Asia from Singapore on days when I did not have class.

My advice to future exchange students intending to study at NTU all revolves around getting the most out of your experience. Get to know your classmates, as they will enrich your cultural education on a personal level. Do not live on campus. While the accommodations were enjoyable and campus is beautiful, Singapore is one of the world’s most amazing cities and you will get the most out of your experience if you live right in the center of the city and commute to school rather than the other way around. Also, it isn’t just Singapore that is an amazing city. The whole area is filled with great cultural experiences, both urban and rural. Use Singapore as a base to travel around Southeast Asia to maximize your experience.

The last thing I will say is that the staff was great in helping us get situated and in answering my questions. They made the experience more fluid and enjoyable.