Study Abroad at ACT Past Review
By Natalee Deaette (Boston College) - abroad from 09/17/2017 to 12/15/2017 with
American College of Thessaloniki (ACT): Thessaloniki - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Coming abroad was definitely worthwhile. It exposed some of my inherent biases and arrogance when interacting with a different culture and showed me the ways that I can improve myself when I go home.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were really great and eager to help, but the academic rigor was not as much as I was accustomed to at my home school. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was very helpful whenever you asked for assistance and the planned trips were really great. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Alexandrias. The rooms were very small and located outside of the city center but also not close to campus, so you had to take a bus either way. |
* Food: |
We found some really great places to eat. The city has so much to offer in this department. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think the fact that the school is English made it so I did not integrate as much into the culture because I did not have to learn the language, but I did feel as though I got to know a lot about Greek culture. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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* Safety: |
Thessaloniki is very safe, I never felt as though I was unsafe when walking around the city. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Although I don't regret coming to ACT I think I would have preferred studying at a different university that was larger. |
Finances
* 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) |
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Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Greece is very inexpensive if you find the right places. We found a delicious Greek food restaurant right near our apartments and could get a big meal for around $5 per person. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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 I knew how small the school was and how dominated campus is by the NUin program during the Fall semester. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |