An Unforgettable year at Siam University Past Review
By Pedro L (International Business, University of Missouri - Saint Louis) - abroad from 01/07/2019 to 05/06/2019 with
Asia Exchange: Bangkok - Siam University
Do you know that feeling of regret for not doing something? Do you know that feeling of “What if I would’ve done it”? I wouldn’t think twice about studying in Asia. Do a list of pros and cons, talk to people that have previously done it, make a bucket list with a list of your goals, do whatever you need to do because at the end of the day I will guarantee you that traveling and studying abroad will definitely be one of the greatest decisions you’ll ever make. Perhaps it will light up a passion you discovered during your travels, perhaps you could meet your life partner while at your stay, maybe you will feel in love with the country and decide to extend your stay, no matter what, you won’t regret going abroad because it will impact your life for the better.
Review Photos
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. |
You get the best bang for your buck. the cost ranges between $1800 for European bachelor students to $2800 for non-European students for a semester. A complete MBA can be between $5800 to $6500 and it takes about a year to complete. The university is accredited by multiple international organizations included: International Association of Hotel Schools (EUHOFA) International Association of Universities (IAU) AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business among many more |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Mr. Rengson also known as Bud Oliver was extremely helpful. He can help you with stuff needed over there as well as the International Busines office. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The nearby condos: The President, The Supalai, The Chewathai, and the Bangkok Horizon are located from 2 to 10 minutes from the school (walking distance) and all have pools, gyms, elevators, garages, laundry rooms, saunas, lobbies equipped with WIFI, among other commodities one can desire. Rent can range from $250 to $400 with most of the time everything included. |
| * Food: |
The food is delicious and cheap! Beware though, it can be spicy! It's amazing how cheap a full course meal can be in Thailand, no seriously you can easily spend less than $30 on food for a month if you so wanted. The most interesting thing for sure was the amount of 7-11s in the country, sometimes there’s one next to each other and are everywhere. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
As someone who grew up in Latin America, I feel like I didn’t experience a culture shock as great as my European peers, however, I noticed that at first while some of my friends were hesitant about exploring the country by themselves, by the end of the semester those who were the most shocked at first, were the ones that didn’t want to leave the country. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I paid around $260-$300 for 5 months from Geo Blue and it covered my medical expenses. You can file a claim to be reimbursed with proof of receipt. |
| * Safety: |
Extremely safe I didn't feel threatened at any time. Beware of traffic though, it can be crazy. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Meeting people from all over and making friends would be what excelled my experience overall. We were students from different places that hadn’t been in Asia before and exploring and discovering what the country had to offer simply gave my experience that touch of authenticity. It gives me nostalgia when I think about it to this day. |
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) |
Monthly budget Travel within or outside the country + hotels $100-$250 rent $270 everything included (WIFI, electricity, water, washing machine, gym, pool, sauna) I contacted an AirBnB listing and paid through Paypal. Food $80-$100 Mis (bars, taxis,tours,etc.) $80-$120 |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20+ for mis stuff (bars, taxis,tours,etc.) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat at your local night market and university when you can, you'll save lots of money. |
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 |
You don't have to speak the language but you can choose to take Thai language courses if you desire to. |
| 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? | Beginner |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | There's an app called Ling, I recommend it and also one called Drops. |
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? | 10+ |
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? | That I could've stayed more than a year if I desired haha |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
