Switzerland
Switzerland is a country shrouded in fairy-tale legend. No other nation in the world conjures up images quite as idyllic as does this one: From the snow-capped Alps to the quaint mountain villages to the orderly, efficient nature of even its biggest and most crowded cities, Switzerland has something to offer everyone, whether they are there for a quick vacation or for four years of college.
Situated in Central Europe, "Switzerland borders Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east" (www.en.wikipedia.org). And because of its famous policy of military neutrality, Switzerland has been able to concentrate on developing other aspects of its national culture than its fighting forces. As a result, it is one of the most advanced societies in the world, and has a "stable modern market economy, with a per capita GDP that is higher than those of the big western European economies" (www.en.wikipedia.org).
It is for geography, however, that Switzerland is perhaps most famous. The Swiss Alps are one of the most beautiful mountiain ranges in the world, and they have attracted voyagers, poets, and athletes for centuries. These mountains and their foothills cover more than 60% of the country (www.myswitzerland.com). The towns and villages situated amidst them are both charming and exciting. And the skiing in the country is often considered to be second to none. The most well-known ski resorts include Zermatt, Gstaad, and Interlaken. Thousands of tourists visit these slopes every year, and have the athletic adventure of their lives.
But Switzerland offers much more than just the beauty of its natural scenery and geography. It is also home to several exciting, cosmopolitan cities, the most famous and important of which is Geneva: "the seat of many international organisations, including the European headquarters of the United Nations and several other international bodies, such as the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights… the World Economic Forum, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International AIDS Society" (www.en.wikipedia.org).
For students, then, attending college in Geneva is guaranteed to be an exciting and highly educational experience, even outside the classroom. Inside it, however, the rewards are also tremendous. There are more than two dozen universities in the country, including the famous and highly respected Universities of Zurich, Basel, and Berne. Whatever area you'd like to specialize in is sure to be taught-and taught well-at one of the many excellent schools. And getting into a Swiss university is not as difficult as it is in some other foreign countries: "Switzerland has a high quality system of education that is relatively accessible to foreign students. The student population of some universities, for example, consists of over 40% foreign students, and this trend is on the upswing" (www.switzerland.isyours.com). So in this ever-more international world, in which students from innumerable national origins venture overseas to get the best education they possibly can, there are few better destinations than this peaceful, beautiful nation in the center of Europe.
