Life changing experience! Past Review
By A student (University of Vermont) - abroad from 12/26/2013 to 05/05/2014 with
AIFS: Hyderabad - University of Hyderabad
It was completely worthwhile. I would recommend AIFS India to anyone. I was housed with students from other programs and AIFS was clearly the best program.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
One amazing professor, however classes were frequently cancelled by other professors. Academic problems were not caused by the program. All students from AIFS, CIEE and other enrolled American and European students experienced the same problems. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program administrators was awesome. Helpful and available, she was a great resource. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Dorm/hostel living was a great choice. When the temperatures reached into the 100's day after day coming home to air conditioning was a great relief. Dorm life also made independent travel possible. Their we always other students looking to explore. The dorm house manager was also very helpful in booking train and ordering taxis. Rooms are simple and cell like. Beds are hard. Washing machine beat up your clothes. Everything at the University of Hyderabad is spread out and the maps don't help. |
| * Food: |
The juice served for breakfast is amazing. The food gets boring but it is well prepared and safe. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Made lifelong Indian friends! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Fortunately did not need to access the local healthcare system. Other members of my group did and the program did a great job assisting the student, |
| * Safety: |
Never felt unsafe. The dorm has very good security and I always traveled in a group or with one other person. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Extensive trips are included in the AIFS program and they were great. All food is provided at the dorm. You could therefore spend whatever your personal budget allowed for. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Some students took Hindi and used it, other students felt it was not useful in the future and therefore did not take the class. Hyderabad is located in a part of India were Telegu is the local language. Most of my Indian friends spoke Bengali, so Hindi was not useful for me. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish AIFS had been more up front about the Community Engagement Program. They had never done it before and the Indian professor was not really in support of the program. I did not know until I arrived in India that we were inventing the program. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
