June 17, 2008
Ami Barry and her impressions of her host campus
Hometown
Chicago
Family
Mother, Sandra Barry, M.S.W.
Sisters Chianti and Biagi
Program
Case & Fisk in Partnership facilitated through Case's Study Abroad Program.
Created in 2002, Case & Fisk in Partnership offers expanded opportunities in education and research for students, faculty, and staff at Case Western Reserve University and Fisk University.
Childhood ambition
"I wanted to be a dentist but the college I chose did not have a program to prepare me for dental study."
Case home
Tippit House, Southside residence hall
"It is real community living. We had our own room but also common areas. It was a nice arrangement but small. I enjoyed the comforts of my own room as well as the ability to mingle with my suitemates in our common area."
Interests and Hobbies
"I am a member of the Fisk tennis team as well as an active volunteer. At Case, I hung out with students from my lab and took advantage of the activities offered through Case. I visited the surrounding museums, enjoyed Strosacker [Auditorium] movie nights, went rock climbing, and spent time at Thwing-hosted events. There were a lot of activities and things to do here."
Advice for current or prospective students considering the C-F program
"It is a good way to learn about different people within your own country. You may meet someone from a place that you may want to visit. There are lots of opportunities to do things like that in the States. You don't have to leave the country to experience a different culture or meet different people. For example, I attended a Taste of Asia event. People dressed in native clothes and we sampled different foods. There was even an Indian dance. At least if you are homesick, you can come home a lot easier that if you were abroad."
Why did you choose to Participate in the Exchange?
"It was a good way for me to get a different experience from Fisk, though Case is not any more challenging, academically, than Fisk is. I think students should experience the world and not always be around friends. We should all step outside our comfort zone."
What was the best thing about your Case experience?
"The teachers were good at helping you make sense of the material so that you would not get left behind. Fellow students were also helpful. I worked and socialized most with the students from my classes. Everyone was friendly. I am grateful to all who took me in, as I was able to adjust. Everyone helped me make Case my home."
What are some differences between Case and Fisk?
"Fisk has more handwritten material. I guess I'd call it more traditional. Case is almost paperless. People use Blackboard, e-mail, and laptops. We have little of that at Fisk."
Future Goals
"I am looking to enter into the joint Pharm D./M.B.A. program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which would leave me with five more years of schooling. I will be taking the PCAT [Pharmacy College Admissions Test] this summer and the GMAT during the fall of 2006. I want to get home to my family. I'd also like to visit Spain, or maybe even do a Semester at Sea, where you learn about the traditions and customs of a particular culture then sail to that country and experience the teachings firsthand."
Marsha Lynn Bragg
Posted by: Heidi Cool June 17, 2008 04:02 PM
Category: impressions