Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Meeting Tokyo August 31, 2023

By (Religion / Religious Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 04/11/2023 to 07/31/2023 with

CIEE: Tokyo - Arts and Sciences

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes. My language skills are improved; I benefited from being in an academic environment so unlike Wellesley; I established friendships with Japanese students; and I enjoyed living with my gracious host family.

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.

Courses were rigorous, and professors were successful, but students were relatively unengaged.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Office staff were friendly but were sometimes slow to respond. Students living with host families seemed to have a better experience than those in dorms.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was excellent, and my own space was more than I could have asked for: private, spacious and convenient.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to attend several cultural events through my host family and none through CIEE.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

Tokyo is an extremely safe place if you are making smart decisions.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Sophia University was my main draw to the CIEE program and remains to my mind the program's highlight.

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)

2.5 - Tokyo is extremely expensive, although food is relatively cheap.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Approximately $100/week, including a series of ceramics classes.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Staying with a host family seems to give a better value.

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

Language study was a central component of both CIEE and Sophia's program.

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? JPN 201
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Sophia University
  • Host Family
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • CIEE Tokyo responsiveness
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the semester moves very quickly.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!