A Semester in Petersburg as a DIY Experience Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/26/2017 to 06/02/2017 with
Bard College: St. Petersburg - Liberal Arts study abroad at Smolny College
My experience living in Russia for a full semester was saturated with new information at every turn, and it was absolutely worthwhile.
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. |
I was able to arrange my schedule very advantageously with regard to academic rigor; many of my classmates who took other classes were disappointed, however. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host family in a part of the city that was sleepy and sweet in a slightly bleak way, but quite out of the way. |
* Food: |
The food in the Smol'ny cafeteria is cheap and usually fully cooked. There's a pretty big range of choices, too. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It helps that Smol'ny is right in the middle of the city. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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* Safety: |
St. Petersburg, as far as metropoles go, is relatively safe. Common sense is key. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Smol'ny is very much what you make of it, both socially and academically. St. Petersburg is amazing. |
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) |
It's much cheaper to live in St. Petersburg than in Boston. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 30 dollars |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | your student id card can get you discounts in lots of places... and a student transport card helps with costs, too! |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
In our Russian language classes yes, outside of them, not particularly... students in the program spoke to one another mostly in English, and Russian students at Smol'ny also mostly wanted to speak English with us as practice. Some elective academic classes were even taught in English (although the majority were in Russian). In host families, though, most people spoke Russian. |
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Russian 302, the highest level at Wellesley. |
How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Talk to your host family members! Also, take your academic classes in Russian if you can, and pay attention as you move through the city. The environment has a lot to teach you. |
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? | Most people who applied for this program were politics students, not so much arts/history people. I wish I had known how time I would spend explaining things, translating, and helping navigate various cultural situations. It was fun, just unexpected. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |