The best choice for a cultural study abroad experience! Past Review
By Alex M (University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) - abroad from 01/23/2013 to 06/02/2013 with
API (Academic Programs International): Sharjah - American University of Sharjah
I learned so much about Arab culture having known nothing before coming here.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The American University of Sharjah is the best university in the Middle East and it got its fame from its difficulty. Most students are engineers and the engineering courses are rigorous. If you are any other major than I really recommend this school! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
API rocks! All the other exchange students that picked other programs were always jealous of the API crew because we had a great advisor that helped us out here and took us to do fun stuff. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was nice and the rooms are cleaned for you by the maids once a week. However, I wish I could have roomed with an Arab rather than another exchange student so I could have learned more Arabic. |
| * Food: |
Lots of fast food on campus but every restaurant delivers in this country and delivery is free so use that a lot! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There is so much culture here, people are really nice, and you will feel like and Arab when you go back to the states! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
They just throw lots of medicine at you and aren't the best with diagnosing. |
| * Safety: |
The safest country I have ever been to! And I've been to more than 20 countries. No worries here. |
| 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) |
Food is pretty cheap here. Have to take lots of taxis though. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Share taxis, avoid the metro, make friends with cars |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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 I knew how hard AUS would be. |
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. |
