Simone

Why did I choose my programme?               
When applying for what to study, I had no clue which direction I wanted to go in careerwise, so it was important to me to choose a bachelor that opens as many doors as possible. IBP opens doors to both the public and private sector and NGOs, and gives you an international profile if you want to work abroad at some part of your career. The social element was of great essence in my choice, as I hoped to avoid a competitive environment, and I had been told that IBP is quite unique in terms of good comradeship across the programme.

What do I like the best?         
Something I love about IBP is the diversity of the students and their interests. Some students are members of youth parties and strive towards a political career, others dream of starting up their own business, and then there is a large group who’ve not yet planned out their career, but let themselves inspire by the subjects we’re acquainted with. Also, I’ve always dreamed of going on exchange abroad, so the great exchange possibilities is a huge win for me.

What do I think is difficult?   
Like any other bachelor programme, the amount of reading is challenging. I have only found time to read a fraction of the curriculum, but not to fear – I’ve still learned so much from the courses! So for me, the most challenging part of IBP is that the courses are very different. It is hard to LOVE all the courses. If you are mainly into politics, you might get a few grey hairs from economic courses like micro- and macroeconomics, and the other way around. Also, the style of teaching varies a bit.

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?                         
Unlike some other programmes, teaching mainly takes place in a large auditorium for all peers, so you won’t experience a “high school class of 30 people” type of teaching except during exercises classes. You’re not going to make any presentations in class, as teaching mainly consists of the teachers presentation. You’ll not have any mandatory study groups, but I would definitely recommed gathering with a few like-minded peers and study together, as this will not only help your understanding of the material but also make studying way more enjoyable. Finally, be open to all courses! Before starting my studies, I feared the economic courses a lot, but many of them turned out to rank highest on my list af favourite courses. Whether you enjoy a course depends on many factors, so don’t let your prejudices for the courses define your interest in IBP.

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?
My mind is very open towards what lies beyond my IBP bachelor. I could easily see myself applying for one of CBS’ many master programmes. It may not neccesarily be the IBP master, as I might want to nuance my profile. However, if my dream job presents itself as an opportunity after my bachelor, I would definitely consider going for it! As you might guess, I am not one of those IBPers who have everything planned out, but I think it’s pretty fantastic that there are so many different paths to choose from with an IBP bachelor.

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…                         
First, academically, your study is no more than your courses. Although you might find the general programme description intriguing, make sure to take a close look at the individual courses of your bachelor of interest. Read about the learning objecives, teaching formate, exam formate, etc. for each course.

Second, you have some tough but also pretty amazing years ahead of you. Time flies, remember to enjoy this unique time of your life before work-life and other features of “real” adulthood announces its arrival.