A challenging, life-altering, Do something crazy type of time Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

All of the class titles sound interesting, they don't end up ring that way. The professor are nor helpful. Often times you won't be given a syllabus, won't be told what to read, the lecture will be scatter brained, and when the test rolls around it's extremely difficult. Yeah I wasn't impresses with the academics. BUT, I took Turkish while I was there and I LOVED it.

On-site administration of your program

Haha what on-site administration? I had very little contact with the admin. You kind of make your own path with Bogazici.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived at superdorm. Not the best way to live in Istanbul. It's more expensive and it is actually quite easy to find flats in the area. That being said, I was paired with three Turkish girls and one ended up being one of my closest friends while away! I also had awesome hall mates. Livin at superdorm made walking home at night safe and easy because guess what? if you had exchange kids with you chances are someone else lives there too.

Oh don't even get me started! The food is AMAZING. The best place around campus is Mutfak. it's quite literally a kitchen that a couple of older ladies prepare a daily menu. It's cheap cheap cheap and delish! Also, they have many vegitarian options, which is rare for Turkey. Going out is often cheaper than buying groceries. Turkish food is not healthy.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made quite a few Turkish friends, but you def have to seek it out and work harder at it. English is spoken at the university, but it is still their second language. Many students didn't feel that comfortable socializing.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

no health issues here

Istanbul is safe. A couple of times I felt uncomfortable walking home at night. Just be with someone.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I didn't really have that hard of a time. During the week money was spent on food and if your not buying anything extra your doing just fine. I of course was always buying extra stuff.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• I liked how free I was. I liked how I could go anywhere in that ridiculous city and see something beautiful.
• I liked hearing the 5am call to prayer as I looked out my window over the city. I liked learning a toungue twisting new language.
• I liked travelling to southern Turkey and experience a new kind of blue with the meditarranian sea. I liked channeling myself to do things that I new were out of character, in order to form my character. I loved that hectic city. "they call it chaos, we call it home."

• I wish I would have been given a map of Bogazici. When I first got there no one was there yet. I was hungry, I didn't know how to eat. Felt like a 5 year old.
• That's it really. I would have taken more Turkish classes.