Go to Leiden!! Issues but worth it Past Review
By Kimberly C (Communications and Culture, Clark University) for
Leiden University: Leiden - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
it was deffinetly worth it, i became much more independant and have a new world look
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The structure was very loose and it made it difficult to commit yourself to doing the school work. School needed to be much more self directed. It was also difficult because the different method of grading was difficult to understand what grades I was getting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Communication between the adviser and students was strained because of the lack of faculty assisting. They did not do much for us in terms of getting to know the country or the culture and the facilities set up for us were difficult to access. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was great. I was able to meet a lot of people and made great friends. They all were international and mostly from the US or Canada so I was disappointed that I wasn't able to meet any local people there. It was a great location. When moving it the room was very bare, it had some things in it and it was livable however to make it more livable you needed sheets. The care taker was a very big problem with where I lived. He disrespected our privacy, had unrealistic demands, and it seems like he did whatever possible to ruin our living experience and not help us with any issues. |
| * Food: |
There was a market every wednesday and saturday which made getting delicious fresh food very easy. cheep food could easily be found all over the city. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
there are a lot of festivals in holland that were easy to access and holidays to celebrate however without a link with the dutch community and in a sort of international bubble it was hard to know about the events and nothing was arranged for us. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
i never encountered any health issues but felt very safe in holland. be aware of pickpocketing like in most of europe but i never had any issue |
| 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) |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | you need to be self directed. you can spend your time doing no school work so that is up to you and any experience there is totally your choice |
