Istanbul: the hidden gem of Europe, a must-see city filled with adventure Past Review
By Ismet U (Neuroscience, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/11/2015 to 05/31/2015 with
Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I was very fortunate that I had the chance to be immersed in the Turkish culture and language for 5 months in one of the most spectacular cities in the world so that I could learn more about my Turkish heritage. I was also lucky enough to meet a wonderful group of students while abroad, which included Americans, International students as well as Turkish students of course. It was especially nice that our IES Abroad group was so tight-knit. I would return to Bogazici University in a heartbeat - it was a phenomenal experience. Rigorous academics, an exciting social scene and an absolutely breathtaking campus...
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Rigorous academics overall. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Excellent in-country staff. Very knowledgeable and very accessible. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Superdorm was an excellent dorm on campus with 24/7 security, clean living quarters (cleaning women came everyday), cheap and delicious cafe, laundry service and small grocery shop. |
| * Food: |
Excellent food around campus (and Istanbul as a whole of course!) The food in the cafeteria was not incredible but very cheap ($0.75 per meal) and decent. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
In general, I found the Turkish culture to be extremely warm and hospitable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had needed to treat a minor burn and as the clinic on campus is open 24/7, it was very easy to simply walk in and receive proper care. I returned three times to be treated and each time there was never any wait and the physicians always provided excellent care. |
| * Safety: |
The campus and surrounding neighborhood always felt very safe even in the late hours of night. Public transportation was a safe and quick way of getting around Istanbul. There is a metro stop and several bus lines on Bogazici's campus which made travel very convenient. All of this being said however, it is still important to always remain aware of surroundings and avoid traveling alone at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
The food in the cafeteria was not incredible but it was decent and very cheap ($0.75 per meal). Textbooks were not a significant expense as many professors provided online readings that were easy to print on campus if desired. However, alcohol is rather expensive in Istanbul so it is very easy to spend quite a bit of money on nights out. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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? | Beginner |
| 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? | N/A |
| 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? | Try to make friends with local students and practice your Turkish with them. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | Pack less! You will buy so many gifts and clothing items while in Turkey. Keep it simple and travel lightly. |
