Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Time of My Life Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/27/2017 to 12/17/2017 with

CIEE: Budapest - Business + European Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
First and foremost, my main goal in studying abroad was to see the world and travel, but I ended up learning a lot about Hungarian culture regardless. I also learned a lot about myself, so the experience was pretty rewarding.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

CIEE classes are a joke, but you somehow get hit with a lot of work during finals season. Some of the work is not even outlined in the syllabus. ISP classes are actually a lot more fun and diverse because they're mostly EU students rather than American students, even though the grading is harsher and classes are more intense.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I shared the room with two other people and although the dorms were old and dusty and (sometimes) moldy, it was still livable. We also had cleaning service every week so we didn't have to worry too much about cleaning. I heard they were building new dorms for future years, so that's also a good thing.

* Food:

Hungarian food is great and the food is also really cheap, but I cooked most of the time. It saves a lot of money!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I mostly hung out with other American students, but CIEE tries to get us immersed in local culture by taking us to programs and planning excursions.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Not sure, I wasn't sick.

* Safety:

Budapest is overall a pretty safe city, as opposed to many other European cities. Just beware of pickpockets as usual and shady taxis.

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)

Cost of living in Hungary is really cheap. I mostly spent my money on traveling.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $25-$35 (not including traveling)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook or find super cheap lunch/dinner places (as like $3-6 meals). You could save your money for traveling instead!

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

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
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Practice using Hungarian at the supermarkets or post office. Make Hungarian friends to practice the language

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Excursions
  • Location of the university & dorm
* What could be improved?
  • N/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Studying abroad is very much like freshmen year so be social, be nice, and don't cause trouble. Don't be afraid to do something alone - sometimes it works out for the best. Talk to friends from home more because you'll be super disconnected from everyone. Time difference is also a pain in the butt.

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.