Creating life-long memories

Hi Genét, tell us some about yourself.

I am Genét Jean-Pierre from the beautiful state of Minnesota. I decided to choose my adventure at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and study industrial design. In my free time, I like to travel, try new foods, play around with different fashions, experiment with cooking and take photographs; check me out @genetjeanpierre on Instagram!

What made you choose KTH?

I chose KTH because I knew it could be a home away from home. Since I am originally from Minnesota, I knew that the scenery would be similar and I also knew that Swedes’ spoke English, which was a major plus because I did not know any Swedish. I also knew that KTH was one of the top universities for what I studied and that their international programme included students from a plethora of countries! All in all, I knew I could not go wrong by choosing the programme because I only heard good things from alumni.

What do you like most about KTH?

I love the campus! It is incredibly beautiful and it’s so close to central Stockholm. If I wanted to take the scenic route to class I would just walk through the forest, and if I wanted to be more urban, I’d take the metro. I also really enjoyed how the classes were structured. Everyday you could be in a new classroom or another part of Stockholm. It allowed me to really explore the city!

What are your impressions of Stockholm and Sweden?

It is a very clean, efficient, and fashion forward place. Most people are dressed very nicely to go to class, the grocery store, run errands etc. I also loved that people in Stockholm were very forward thinking. At KTH, you could truly feel the equality between the genders. Women led discussions and groups just as much as the men and were very assertive and sure of themselves. It was great to see a country so focused on creating equal opportunities for their people and putting education as a priority.

What is your best memory from your time in Stockholm?

My best memory was probably my last days in Sweden. I looked back and realized I made so many incredible connections throughout the school and had explored so much of Stockholm. From the Fika breaks between classes to running around Stockholm to visit the latest event, the city and school created memories that will be with me forever. 

What do you think are the differences between studying at KTH and Iowa State University?

Because I was a senior at Iowa State University in the States, they placed me in the Master’s program at KTH because everything was taught in English and the workload was still manageable at my education level. I learned quickly that you really had to take your education in your own hands; there was no real study guide, barely any homework and most of the studies are self-directed, so if you do not study you will not pass. Although this structure could sometimes be challenging, it really pushed me towards being more independent with my studies.

What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for exchange studies?

Do it! You won’t regret choosing KTH, especially their exchange studies. You’ll come into the school with hundreds of other exchange students and make so many connections. I had a blast making friends, hosting dinner parties and going on weekend trips around Europe. Also, the school’s teachings are thought provoking and will certainly open your eyes to a new perspective on life, education and/or how different cultures think.