Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Korea at a Glance Past Review

By (BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES., University of Hawaii - Manoa) - abroad from 07/30/2012 to 08/17/2012 with

Inha University: Incheon - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
By doing this specific study aboard I gained a more global perceptive because of all the International people I met in the program. I learned so much about Korea and it's culture as well as it's people. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I'm so glad I decided to do this program.

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.

The classes were informative and fast pace. Because the program was only for 3 weeks the time spent in class was longer but overall I learned a lot in a short amount of time.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff who set up the program were extremely helpful and accommodating. There were also volunteer students from Inha that helped out which we made really good friends with.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorm's were nice and clean and air conditioned as well. The only thing that was difficult to get used to was having a 12am curfew every night. The gate for the dorms closes at 12am and reopens at 5am so you can stay out all night but you'll be exhausted in the morning. Also the dorms are separated by gender and have very strict rules about staying on your specific genders side of the dorm.

* Food:

Breakfast and dinner came with the housing cost which was nice but the meals weren't always the best. If you really don't like the food you can go to a nearby restaurant and get something good to eat for only 4000 won which is about less than $4. You can find really good and cheap food everywhere.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Interacting with the Inha volunteer students helped me integrate into the local culture a lot. There were also many opportunities to travel which made me feel like I was really experiencing the culture of Korea.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues with this program. There was a student from Austria though that ended up breaking clavicle while playing soccer. The staff handled it very well and he was able to get everything taken care of.

* Safety:

Incheon felt very safe to me, especially the area that Inha was located. There were a lot of places for students to go and there weren't any real shady areas. I do suggest though that even though you feel safe you should always have someone accompany you if you're walking at night.

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)

Everything in Korea was pretty reasonably priced. Transportation was very cheap as well as food. If you are planning on doing a lot of shopping I suggest you save up more because some brands can be a bit expensive but overall Korea is very affordable if you're on a tight budget.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat from local Korean restaurants. Usually the only expensive places to eat are the places with foreign food. Don't be afraid to try new foods! Also try to figure out public transportation inside of taxi's, it's fairly easy and saves you a lot of money.

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

I used Korean every chance I had, making friends with the Inha students also encouraged me to study the language more.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
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? Use the language in every situation you can. Try to listen and memorize.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The International aspect, making friends with people from all over the world.
  • Getting the chance to make friends with local Inha students.
  • Having the freedom to roam around Korea.
* What could be improved?
  • The meals that are offered in the dorm.
  • The rules for dorm curfew.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That knowing at least a little bit of Korean comes in handy. I wish I would have studied some Korean before I came.