The ASAP reinvented my sense's Past Review
By A student (SUNY - Binghamton) for
Marist College: Traveling - Asia Study Abroad Program (ASAP)
After this program I knew I wanted more. I spent two years abroad after college in another program where I worked a full time job at an Investment Bank all while taking classes to complete my MBA. The second part of the program brought me back to Southeast Asia where I finshed up my MBA classes full time in Bangkok; my favorite stop from the ASAP trip. I finished my MBA and quickly found myself in a great fast paced job in Chicago that I would fully attribute to the ASAP program.
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 academic curriculum is of the level you would expect to receive while taking class at your home Univeristy. Unlike many other study abroad programs; ASAP challenges you academically, physically and mentally to challenge you to go above and beyond what you are capalbe of as person. Most of the time you will be experiencing situations that most people will never be albe to experience in a life time let alone 3 months. This will be your greatest challenge; your abliity to adapt to these changes on the fly and fully let go of your norms to adujust/immerse youself to the constant cultural and lifesyle schocks that come with traveling in Southeast Asia. If your looking to challenge yourself with a strict curriculum that can be directly applied to your travels then this would be the program for you! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program director prepares you before take off with an important set of classes/getherings that help you adjust to what you will experience when you are abroad. After take off the director is with you every step of the way but at times will challenge you to go off on your own to allow you to reflect/learn intrisically. There is always a professor avaialable to answer any questions or even to talk to just to share some of the different feelings that you will be experiencing for the first time. The organization of the program before during and far surpassed my expectations. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
When in Rome! You will experience the best foods in the world and constantly be trying new things that will open your eyes to how big the world really is. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every second of everyday is a cultural event and attraction, nothing you will be doing is like anything you have ever done before. Make sure to keep you eyes and ears open. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The program is fully prepared for any situation that could arise, I felt as safe if not safer then I did living back at the University of Dayton. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
As with any traveling, learning to adapt to the local culture is the best way to learn. Being able to say the common phrases such as ''hello'', ''goodbye'', ''how much?'', ''thank you'' ect goes a long way with locals that you will be interacting with everyday. It's important to remember your a visiter in their country. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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? | Be there, do as the locals do! Leave your social norms back at the airport in America. |
