Transformative and elucidating. Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/20/2016 to 12/19/2016 with

CUNY SPS: New York Union Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned so much. The program was worthwhile and I am glad I completed the program. I learned about labor, unions, the history of New York City, a history of the US that I had not known before. I learned about organizing workers, learning to become a more effective communicator, to be independent, and to manage time more effectively.

Review Photos

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The education experience of this program was primarily linked with one's ability to manage time well. Time management was a skill that if not perfected would make the semester very difficult.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Administration in my program was small, only truly being one person however, even so, any questions or concerns that were brought up were solved or attempted to be solved in a timely manner. The administration also made an effort to create a relationship with the students that was real and organic.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Living arrangements were to be decided by the individual student. Finding housing in New York City is not easy. Not being from the city, it made it difficult, cost and distance from work and school were also huge factors in deciding where to live.
* Food:	No food was provided from the program, and all food was to be bought with the students own money. This allowed for a plethora of options, however, being in an expensive city, it made unhealthy cheaper choices more reliable.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	New York is a city that accepts you or you force it to accept you. Having a class that delved deeper into the history of the city and was paired with field trips to different parts of the city allowed me to feel a connection to the city.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had no healthcare issues, however I was also unable to get any counseling or therapy due to the cost and my financial inability to cover those costs.
* Safety:	Depending on where you live, gender, and other criteria; New York for me felt safe and I was comfortable being out and about in the city.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No The program was fantastic and is well thought out. However, I had some issues regarding mental health care, as well as time and the expectations associated with homework in the program.

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)	Transportation, food, bills and housing made it very difficult to truly be able to indulge oneself.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	I did not eat often. ~$150+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Cooking is a great way to save money and have a lot of food. Finding time to cook was difficult however.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Other
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans
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?	Location Internship Opportunities
* What could be improved?	School-Work-Time relationship Availability of mental health services Housing resources
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	This program would not be easy. It would be difficult because I will be the only one from my school here, money would be hard to manage, finding an apartment would take a long time and it was scary to be almost living on the streets. You would get home from work and class at 10/11 p.m and have to do homework.

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 Networker An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Labor History
Course Department:	Labor Studies
Instructor:	Chloe Asselin
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Yes, the course was challenging. The readings were well thought out and were well suited for the class. The teacher was more than prepared to teach and did a great job of managing a very small class of 6. I participated just as much as I would have at Middlebury. I was assessed through participation, reading responses, an oral presentation, and a midterm and a final paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I have yet to transfer my credits, however I would assume that no issues will come up due to the program being an option that Middlebury has on their study abroad program list.

Course Name/Rating:	Contemporary Labor Issues
Course Department:	Labor Studies
Instructor:	Ed Ott
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was manageable. The professor was very knowledgeable on the subject matter however his style of teaching was one that I am not a huge fan of. I participated in this class a bit less than I would at Middlebury. I was assessed through, a long research report, an oral presentation, attendance, and participation.
Credit Transfer Issues:	none

Course Name/Rating:	Internship Seminar
Course Department:	Labor Studies
Instructor:	Andres Puerta
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course made it so everyone was to talk about their experiences in their internship and made connections to the bigger world of labor. Positive and negative experiences and personal experiences were shared in a space that was safe for students. The professor was knowledgeable on labor. I participated more than I would have at Middlebury. I was assessed through, papers, participation, and attendance
Credit Transfer Issues:	none

Course Name/Rating:	New York City: Culture and Politics
Course Department:	Labor Studies
Instructor:	Penny Lewis
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was very challenging. The readings were well suited for the classroom, and discussion was what was primarily done in class. Field trips were done in this class, and each offered a look into the city that many would not get if they were just visiting the city. The professor was very knowledgeable on labor and New York. I was assessed through participation, discussion, multiple projects, reading responses, and a final research paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:	none