Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best kind of challenge Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/23/2013 to 01/18/2014 with

Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned how much I am capable of doing on my own, and I like to think I've gotten pretty good at charades.

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.

The intensity of the courses entirely depends on what you chose to take. Many people I knew during my time at Bogazici had a lot of reading and assignments to complete. I ended up with courses which were not very work intensive.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Going from the US to Turkey, the Turkish admin seems slow and inefficient. However, it's really important here to take into consideration the context, and compared to the overall bureaucracy of the country, the administration at Bogazici is really helpful and efficient. It's all relative.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living situations in Turkey are very fluid and flexible, people move in and out of apartments on a few days notice. It takes some on sight knowledge to find great places, but it's definitely possible. I rented out a room in a house, but many other students shared flats. I'd recommend finding a flat close to the university.

* Food:

Food was fantastic, and it was easy to be vegetarian. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. Try çig köfte!!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was difficult to make Turkish friends because many of the students/youth prefer to speak Turkish, and there was a decent amount of hesitancy to speak english. However, it's easy to walk around Istanbul/Turkey and not feel like a total foreigner. I had many people ask me for directions in Turkish.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

I felt safe during my stay, but avoid dark alleyways and don't walk around alone at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you buy cheap food (i.e. not sit down restaurants) it might be cheaper to eat out all the time than to prep your own food.

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

The Turkish course I took was not useful (other teachers were reportedly better than mine) and I had no need of the language around the university. I would go out into Istanbul and practice on my own.

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
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? Do not take the course with Elif Ulug and just take flashcards with you wherever you go. You'll spend a lot of time on public transit. Use the Turkish textbook from the copy shop- it's really easy to follow along/teach yourself from that. And go out and talk to locals!! People are very friendly and love to hear foreigners speak Turkish!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Courses offered
  • Ease of transport out of Istanbul
  • Campus location
* What could be improved?
  • Residence permit confusion
  • Info about neighborhoods for finding a flat
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More information about residence permits and housing. And a little knowledge of Turkish would have gone a long way.

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 Adventurer
The 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.