Turkiye seviyorum Past Review
By A student (PSYCHOLOGY., Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/21/2014 to 05/29/2014 with
Koc University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Too much to put into words.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took 3 business courses, 1 psychology course, and the Turkish for foreigners course. I didn't find the courses at Koc to be particularly challenging or demanding, however I definitely learned a lot during my semester there. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Katherine, Koray, and Pinar were wonderful to say the least. They were very knowledgeable and helpful with everything from class selection to nightlife suggestions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
While the dorms were nice, I would have preferred to live off campus as Koc is rather isolated and it is significantly less expensive. |
| * Food: |
Food was affordable on campus with a variety of options. The food in Sariyer was cheap and fresh (especially at the farmers market). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Fairly integrated, Koc students liked to engage with erasmus and other study abroad people a lot. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Istanbul. As in any major city you just have to make smart decisions. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Most people I knew ate out at locations on campus for every meal because it was so affordable, but costs can be kept down by shopping in Sariyer and cooking for yourself |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Start saving as early as possible |
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 |
It was required and very helpful. |
| 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? | AP Spanish |
| 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 turkish whenever possible and practice with your turkish friends. |
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? | How far away Koc is from the center of the city. |
