An amazing experience that will stay with you for a lifetime! Past Review
By Sarah Shelley (Montclair State University) - abroad from 06/24/2018 to 08/05/2018 with
Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus
I learned how to become more independent! I think it helped me grow as a person and it was the push I never knew I needed. Especially now, as I am about to graduate in a few months, I see myself in a new light, one that I think is truly going to help me succeed in my future. Experiencing a different type of lifestyle and environment was an amazing experience and opportunity that I am so glad I took advantage of.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took at Korea University were absolutely amazing. My Mass Media and Popular Culture class, taught by Professor Park Ji Hoon was so informative and eye-opening, he is an incredible professor. My Korean Language class taught by Jeon Min Ji was equally as fun and educational! Both professors were helpful and knowledgeable and just all around great! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was great and was always pushing to get people involved! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was great and I wish we had ones like it here in New Jersey! The place for your shoes, the bathroom and the desks-- all of it was cozy and made the most of the space! Also the water dispensers on every floor were amazing! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The cultural excursions that I went on through this program were so amazing. I had the best time and made the greatest memories with my friends. They took me to places and gave me opportunities I never would have thought of to go or do so I am very thankful for that! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I honestly wish I wasn't a senior so I could re-enroll for a full year I loved it so much! Everyone was so helpful and welcoming, the programs were amazing and informative. My professors were so knowledgeable and Seoul is absolutely breathtaking. I would go back in a heartbeat. |
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) |
Food was cheap depending on where you ate, like local restaurants. For lunch I would just eat at a convenience store because it honestly was one of my favorite things. The subway is super cheap as well so getting to places was a breeze! I spent most of my money on merchandise to bring back! Might be expensive to some, but coming from NJ where everything was expensive--this was relatively cheap for me. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
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 |
My Korean professor spoke only in Korean the whole time which was terrifying at first but actually wound up being incredibly helpful and it made my education more immersive and I definitely learned way more! |
| 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? | Beginning Korean II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | I wish I knew how short six weeks actually is. I feel like I was kind of nervous in my first week or so and I didn't start really getting into it until my second week in. Once I did, though, it was the best thing ever and I hit the ground running. There is so much to do in Seoul and trust me-- you don't want to waste a second of your time there. |
