CIEE/Yonsei July 07, 2022
By A student (Yonsei/CIEE, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/14/2022 to 06/21/2022 with
CIEE: Seoul - Arts and Sciences
Learning new perspectives and better understanding of South Korean history/culture
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are obviously made for study abroad students, where a large part of their education is outside the classroom, but still provided lots of knowledge and information. That said, good choices in classes available and the opportunity to go outside "study abroad courses". |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very great job in helping students acquire visas, covid tests, and phone plans upon arrival. Much less support in leaving the country. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Yonsei SK Global dorms were a great housing option for students. |
| * Food: |
No meal plan available but plenty of good and affordable meals. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Seoulmates and YECCO opportunities were great immersion activities. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Personally, did not have to seek out healthcare providers but heard good things, albeit more pricey than advertised and the national health insurance requirement is confusing. |
| * Safety: |
In general, fetl very safe walking around at night, although I was rarely alone. But not as safe as people like to make it out to be. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Gave great support but also lots of freedom to make it your own experience! |
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) |
Plenty of cheap options for meals in South Korea, but if you want to make the most of your experience, you will be paying for a lot more than necessities. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | maybe between $100-$200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | there is a very cheap and good restaurant called dallgi-gol right next to the dorms! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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 |
They encouraged but never enforced |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 5 semester of Korean |
| 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? | talk to real Koreans! and do your best to order/interact with workers in Korean |
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? | You will make great friends! Don't stress about the social aspect! |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
