Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Definitely recommend if you want to be fluent! July 17, 2025

By (Japanese, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/20/2025 to 05/19/2025 with

CET Japan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new sense of cultural awareness that I didn't previously have before going abroad. While I was already privy to it coming from a diverse environment, studying abroad opened my eyes and mind to different mindsets and I got to experience a different way of life through the friends and interactions I made with the locals.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses that were provided through the host university and program were intense and super rigorous. However, they provide with wonderful support for their students that really helped me with my learning and enjoying my time abroad. My language skills definitely improved with the language pledge and with the help of my Japanese professor who also helped us with the ins and outs of living like a local.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration was made of wonderful people who were very willing to listen and help with anything we needed. This included our living situations, life in our host country, and general problems or concerns we were having.

* 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:

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? Make sure to really plan out what you plan on purchasing before going abroad if you have anything really specific in mind. From there, budgeting is really important in order to be able to strategically disperse your expenses over the course of the program. What helped me was having a limit I can spend per week and which areas I can spend on.

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

Had to oblige to a language pledge that allowed us to only speak in Japanese during the program on certain places of the host campus and during certain events.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Japanese 120A
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? Prepare for kanji beforehand!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Traveling to different parts of the country.
  • Trying new, authentic, and local foods.
  • Enjoying traditional streets and traditions.
* What could be improved?
  • Some house mates were not as interactive as we had hoped.
  • Getting more program trips that involved going to other prefectures.
  • Possible aid in transportation fees.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Public transportation is a big asset to getting around the entire country. However, the expenses allocated to it was more than I had expected so I wish I had know that beforehand.

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.