Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Ohh Now I See! Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/04/2016 to 05/06/2016 with

National University of Singapore: Singapore - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Greater understanding of Asian history, culture, and associated religion. It was definitely worthwhile. It was such a life changing experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I give this program a 90. Their educational system reminds me of Brandeis. The only huge difference is that NUS is a much larger institution. They have a lot of technical resources that reminded me of Brandeis. I also found professors and teaching assistants to be friendly and very open/ excited to help students that reach out to them for academic help.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I give the administration a 60. All of the information I received before and after I arrived to NUS tend to be very confusing/ all over they place. I found myself on campus going in circles trying to find the right person of contact for things. Also, my peers and I relied on each other to figure out necessary information. I think my very confusing start could have been avoided/ better if the campus administration delivered clear and concise information before and especially after my arrival.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was super pleased!! I loved living in my residential college, RC4. All of the facilities were in great condition and kept super clean, especially the lounges.

* Food:

I really liked the dinning hall food. Everything was tasty and had flavor, for the most part. On-campus eating options were good and super cheap, which I loved.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think I had a hard time adjusting to the local culture, because everything was so different, yet strangely familiar. Singapore has a lot of western conveniences, but at the same time is a very eastern country. People accepted me, but I did have to get use to people staring at me because my physical features stood out to them so much. Often times they were just trying to figure out my ethnicity. After adjusting to the food, culture, and stares I was alright and more comfortable in the country. I found a solid group of friends and we started having the time of our lives!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I'm not too sure, but it seemed good. A couple of my friends had to go to the on-campus doctor and they seemed to have a decent experience.

* Safety:

Singapore is soooooo safe. I couldn't have picked a safer country.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

It was the perfect fit for me. My study abroad friends and I all wish we had one more semester at NUS.

Finances

* 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)

It was super easy for me. Since food is super cheap in Singapore and other necessities were affordable, I lived off of about $800 for the whole semester (this included 3-4 trips to surrounding countries).

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about SGD 50 (sometimes less... it depended on the week)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try not to waste your money shopping in Singapore for clothes and accessories. It is expensive and after conversion rates, it is cheaper to buy clothes in the US.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • My classes
  • The campus (U-town)
  • My friends
* What could be improved?
  • Better administrative communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Details about immigration forms and the student visa process that was not made clear prior to arriving. Also, I wish I knew more about the class enrollment process, but the local students were very helpful in explaining the process to me.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!