Exchange on an Island Past Review
By A student (Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/08/2015 to 05/08/2015 with
Nanyang Technological University: Singapore - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
The friends that I made abroad made my experience. They were other exchange students but I loved making those connections and experiencing traveling with them. It was worth it to pick a place that isn't high-destination. It was humbling to experience life in South East Asia (while Singapore is modern, most countries are not).
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academic rigor is about on par with UT, however I feel that there are limited resources for students and feedback from professors was limits. About half of my quiz or tests grades were posted online and peers said this was normal. The libraries had limited hours. The students at the university also dislike exchange students. Professors called out exchange students on the first day to emphasize attendance, and when we had to break up into groups on the first day of class to sign up for a presentation later in the semester (this was every class), students would mutter and act displeased to work with an exchange student. Granted, exchange students do have a reputation to be traveling all the time, but it made me feel like I had to "prove" my worth as a teammate and as a serious student. In some cases, I was paired with a local student who peers already deemed a slacker, and therefore felt that my work suffered as well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Exchange office was really disorganized. I felt the orientation was really unhelpful (1 hour on health insurance, 30 minutes on how to cross the street.... but only 5 minutes on how to register for classes...) I wish there was more events for exchange students to meet locals. (or a buddy/mentor program) to help integrate into the culture. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Dorm was ok. Maintenance was quick, bathrooms always clean. I had to go up 8 flights of stairs to my room with no elevator, so that made lugging up my 50lb suitcase a real chore... |
| * Food: |
Canteen 1 is the best! Loved that food was cheap. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Again, local students are hesitant to integrate with exchange students. A few locals who I did become friends with by the end did admit that they stereotype exchange students and because they are temporary, prefer not to make friendships. These friends also admitted that they wish they got to know me in the beginning because they wished we were better friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was easily accessible. It was on campus and a visit is $3. However, I feel like they don't really aim to cure you effectively. I had a corneal abrasion that should of been healed in a week, but it took 3 visits and 3 different eye-creams to cure. I had an abrasion before in the US and it was healed in less than a week. On my last visit, I was pretty sure I was just on the scar stage and I asked the doctor about it. He said that the ointments previously prescribed were anti-bacterial only but he could prescribe a steroid eyedrop to increase the healing time. Um, why wasn't that included before? (at home I had the steroid eye drop from the beginning). Once again I was told to come back in week. Overall, it took 5 weeks for healing because I wasn't prescribed the optimal treatment from the start. Before the program I got a typhoid fever shot. |
| * Safety: |
Singapore is as safe as everyone said it is. I felt very comfortable getting around. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Housing on campus was really cheap! About $1000 USD for the whole semester. Compared to Austin housing, it was steal! Food is also really cheap with most meals at the $2USD. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-$50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you go to NTU, take the school shuttle to the train station instead of the city bus to the train station. The shuttle is free and runs frequently. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | NTU is FAR from the city. It's an hour by train. And that maybe I should of spent more money to be able to experience more things. And I wish I met some friends a lot sooner in the semester. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
