A great experience- highly recommend it! Duke in Turkey Past Review
By A student (Political Science And International Studies, Trinity University) - abroad from 02/03/2013 to 06/10/2013 with
Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Learning to be independent and flexible.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There were difficulties with scheduling; the Duke core course conflicted with most classes having to do with Turkish culture and politics. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Really great. No problems whatsoever. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It would have been preferable to have been in an apartment setting instead of dorms; our roommates were usually much younger Turkish students. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
If you so chose, you could escape into a sphere of international students, which is not ideal. Was very easy to integrate into Istanbul's culture, though. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Very easy- Istanbul is cheap! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less than $90 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make your own food, stay away from tourist zones. |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| 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? | Make Turkish friends |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Not much; going in blind was great! |
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.' |
