Gambling my way to pursue a master’s degree in Switzerland

I lost 615 Swiss Francs applying for a master’s degree in Switzerland. It’s a tough pill to swallow. But here is a little affirmation to make myself feel better. Our dreams are worth chasing, even if they’re far-fetched and unachievable.

So basically, before you get confused, let me explain.

Switzerland stands out in Europe. From its breathtaking landscapes and wealth to its adorable cheese Gruyère AOP (my favorite) and iconic chocolates like Lindt and Walder Frey. But what really caught my attention was its excellence in education.

Take HEC Lausanne or St. Gallen, for example. A degree from any of these schools is a door opener to employers looking for you.

But beneath all that charm is a very strict system with a high cut rate for academic performance. You are not accorded privileges just because you failed in one subject and passed the rest. You either tick every single box, or you’re out. No shortcuts.

So, when I started thinking seriously about a master’s degree, Switzerland made the list, alongside Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France.

Competition is always brutal when excellence is the pursuit. Nevertheless, the goal was that prestigious Swiss degree. So a girl bet on herself.

First Bet: The GRE

Since I obtained my undergrad from a different country, and wanted to study something related to economics, I had to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This test evaluates your English (grammar, reading, writing) and math skills. I paid 200 CHF to sit for it.

Looking back, I don’t think that score will ever be useful again. I spent two stressful weeks cramming obscure English words that no one actually uses in day-to-day life, and revisiting math I thought I buried in high school. Well, at least I passed.

Second Bet: Application Fees

Here’s the thing: nothing in Switzerland is free except the air. I paid 200 CHF to the University of Lausanne, 150 CHF to the University of Zurich, and 65 CHF to the University of Geneva.

While making those payments, a voice inside me kept asking, “What if you don’t get in?” But I shut it down. “At least I’ll know I tried,” I told myself. I kinda wish I hadn’t tried.

Anyway, I then had to hunt for recommendation letters from lecturers who barely knew me in a class of 200 students. I also had to request a document from my old university proving that all my courses were taught in English, even though I’m a native English speaker. Rules are rules, though.

School Fees

Tuition in these schools ranges from 1,000 CHF to 4,000 CHF per year. That’s before factoring in rent, food, and transport.

Just to note, Switzerland doesn’t allow international students to work during their first 6 months in the country. So, unless you’ve got serious savings, it’s water and prayers for dinner.

After the back-and-forth, filling forms, chasing documents, and revising for the GRE, I finally submitted my applications.

Are you ready….

Weeks later, NO from Geneva, NO from Zurich, and finally, NO from Lausanne. Clean sweep.

I didn’t cry, but it definitely hit hard. Rejection from jobs? It’s normal. The “We regret to inform you…” emails from job hunts had already numbed me. But rejection from schools? That cut deeper.

For the first time, I genuinely questioned my academic ability. I kept wondering: What do the successful applicants have on their transcripts? What’s in their CVs? How had they written their motivational letters?

The experience shook my confidence, especially as I had mentally committed to pursuing a master’s degree, and now I doubted whether to follow that path after all.

To conclude

So yeah. That’s how I lost 615 CHF just trying to chase a dream. I know I’m not the only one. Some people lose even more, and if that’s you, take heart. You’re not alone.

One thing is clear: Swiss universities value excellence. If you’re a foreign student, especially from a developing country, you’ll need top grades (all A’s if possible) to stand a decent chance. Otherwise, your best bet is a private school, and those start at 20,000 CHF per year.

Because where there’s excellence, there’s always a high cost.

Still, I have no hard feelings for the schools, and my experience is not in any way a reflection of who they are. I just happened to land on the losing side of the bet.

However, I’m still grateful, because when one door closes, another always opens.