Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A unique experience that took me out of my comfort zone. Past Review

By (International Relations and National Security Studies., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/27/2014 to 05/31/2014 with

CIEE: Amsterdam - Social Sciences + Humanities

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Amsterdam provided me with great adventure. It was not only a beautiful city but it was also very manageable, the people were friendly, I learned a lot, I made amazing friends, ate good food, and was able to explore a good portion of Europe. I would recommend Amsterdam to anyone!

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.

I liked how professors took students on field trips. It made course content more interesting and relevant!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CIEE was extremely organized and helpful! The staff was always available for help and they organized many excursions for us!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My dorm room was in a very central location.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was very easy to integrate and make Dutch friends because everyone speaks perfect English.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Overall, pretty safe. However, the Red Light District feels a bit unsafe 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • I liked how organized the CIEE staff was
  • I liked that my dorm room was in a good location
  • I liked that I was able to make friends with the locals
* What could be improved?
  • If they had more excursions outside of the Netherlands
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That in order to survive in Amsterdam, you must be able to ride a bike!

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.