Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Something I will Never Forget Past Review

By (Emerson College) - abroad from 01/17/2013 to 04/17/2013 with

Emerson College: Kasteel Well: The Netherlands

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
There's no way to put it in words- all I can say to this question is that this experience was probably the most important one I have had in my life so far, and will always be in the top 5. I would not change going for the world.

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 classes I took were the most challenging and demanding I have ever taken in my schooling career. They were all still extremely interesting and I was not put off by the difficulty of the course loads.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

OSA and Dulcia and Chester are awesome! They really make you feel like you are meant to be there and they will help you with ANY problem you encounter!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living in a castle for 3 months was AWESOME!

* Food:

A littler repetitive, but I really enjoyed it.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made some really good friends with some of the local boys, and am still in contact with some of them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any encounters like this, but some friends did and they seemed to get taken care of right away.

* Safety:

I found Well to be a very safe village.

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)

Europe is expensive, so save save save because it's worth EVERY penny! I averaged about $400 a weekend, and probably like $20-40 during the week.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? see above
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? book flights on ryanair EARLY, ticket prices do go up the closer to the departure date it gets... And don't feel like you need to always eat out when you're away for the weekend-- cooking in hostel's can allow you to meet other travels that are staying there and make new friends!

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

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • meeting people I would not have in Boston
  • teachers (Rob Duckers!)
* What could be improved?
  • add in a language portion
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how sad it actually is not being there anymore, but there is no way to tell that to students unless they actually experience it for themselves

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.