Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Boğaziçi as the background to explore İstanbul Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/01/2014 to 06/09/2014 with

Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the world. Being around a lot of people who are not from the US and who travel frequently was very rewarding. My Turkish skills improved as well, and I feel much more comfortable with Turkish culture than when I first came. It was wonderful.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Women need to be careful walking alone at night. There were two attempted kidnappings and some reports of sexual harassment.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 140 Turkish Lira
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat in the cafeteria on campus as much as possible.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* 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?
  • international friends
  • my history of economic thought professor
  • the campus
* What could be improved?
  • most of my classes
  • registration
  • advice about how to find housing from home university
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew to come to Istanbul and stay in a hostel until I found housing. This allows you to meet your roommates and see the room and location before committing. Also, there are always PLENTY of people looking for more roommates.

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 Urbanite
A 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.