In my activities as EHL Student Ambassador I often get the chance to meet potential future students. During Open Days, campus tours, or Selection Day interviews, I am always happy to answer their questions. Here’s a sampling of what I get asked most of the time:
1. What’s most important when applying?
The application process for the university of your choice is an exciting experience. Submitting all the required information and going through the different steps can be challenging. It is important to know what to focus on when submitting.
When it comes to applying to EHL, I personally think that your essay is key. Of course, your prior experience, exposure to different cultures, and school performance are all important, but it is really the story you tell that will make you stand out. What are your passions, what motivates you to apply, and what are your ambitions later in life? These are questions you want to answer for yourself before you start typing.
Make sure to be honest and represent yourself authentically. When you get to the interview stage the people evaluating your application will draw much of their information out of these words and you can be sure that they will ask you about what you wrote in more detail.
More generally, it is crucial to get to know the university for which you are applying. Go online and research what their course structure looks like, visit open days on campus, and don’t be shy about contacting currently enrolled students. Just send a message to the university and ask for a student representative. I am sure you will find someone who will be happy to respond to all your questions.
2. Is it difficult to find an apartment in Lausanne?
Looking for an apartment can be very frustrating, especially for international students moving to a new country. In this respect, EHL’s first year curriculum is a great help. If you choose to start with the preparatory year, where you learn about the ins and outs of operational tasks in the hospitality industry, you will spend your first semester living on campus close to your classmates. You are virtually guaranteed a place to stay without any hassle. Throughout the process there is even a tool that can help you find the ideal roommate. Once your preparatory year is over, you are already well settled in Lausanne and looking for an apartment will be much easier.
There is a Facebook group where many students post and find their apartments. Ask around your network and you are almost certainly going to find someone who is either leaving on internship or graduating and looking for someone to take over their lease. With the University of Lausanne and the EPFL in the same city, there are even more students that regularly post their available rooms on websites. The market is very active, and I have almost never heard of anyone having trouble with finding a flat. It is also great for international students to know that EHL staff is always happy to help you understand the administrative requirements for living in Switzerland.
3. Is the EHL Dress Code really that strict?
Yes. But there is much more to it than you might think at first. Requiring students to come to class in professional attire is not just about having everyone look good while they’re taking notes. It is about respect for yourself and others, representing Swiss hospitality values, and instilling a sense of professionalism in everyone attending the lectures. As our legendary Value Ambassador, Monsieur Laurent will quickly make you understand the EHL dress code is strictly applied to prepare you for a career in a business world where first impressions can make all the difference. Getting up in the morning and putting on a suit to sit in a lecture hall might feel a bit strange at first but you will come to appreciate the fact that you are completely used to looking your best every day when you are entering the business world during your internships or after graduation.
This articles was first published on educations.com
