First impressions of ESADE

I have been so busy with preparing for the assessment centre that I haven´t had a chance to make a post about Budapest and Paris yet, and I´ve left my notes at home so for now I will talk about ESADE.

Currently I am sitting in the library (the Sant Cugat campus). It's my first day at this uni and I have attended one 3 hour lecture so far. A few things have struck me so I will jot them down briefly before I forget.

Firstly, what my colleagues told me last year is true: I'm on a course here made specifically for the exchange students. There are a lot of us here, about a hundred so I've been told. This means that our classes are not attended by ESADE's "authentic" Spanish student - bar one guy that is in my class because he needs to get extra credits. What does this mean for me? Well, for one, the class was overwhelmingly represented by the USA and from the class discussion in Positive Marketing, many of them are only at beginners level in Spanish language. Luckily for them, the teacher said that they can be examined in English and express themselves in English if it's easier. Luckily for me, I happened to sit by some Puerto Rican guys (although they are students in the USA) so they are fluent in Spanish. It would be very interesting to meet some of the "real" ESADE students and see if they live up to the rumours that they are "pijo" and loaded.

The first professor I've seen is very passionate about the subject and is very interested in getting to know us better. At the beginning of the lesson he asked us to fill out questionnaires about our past jobs and future aspirations so he can tailor the course to the different "segments" of us. The final question was particularly intriguing, asking us to divulge a secret about us that is not socially acceptable, which although it couldn't be something illegal, he said would not make public. In part of getting to know us, he also wanted us to drop him an email him if our grades at ESADE mattered to our uni back home (so we couldn't do badly), as well as a sample of our past grades. Exactly why this would affect our grade now, I am still unsure.

Finally, the campus is modern and more sleek then UPF, (although smaller, with lessons only in one building). Then again, ESADE does charge approximately over 8 times the fees that UPF does. Lastly, the library does not appear to have a loud or groupwork section, but there are other study areas dotted around.

Until next time!