Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Fooling around Southeast Asia January 22, 2026

By (Physics, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/04/2025 to 12/05/2025 with

National University of Singapore: Singapore - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I have a new impression of Asia different from the noisy, messy view I held from childhood trips to my family home years ago. The ease of transit throughout most major cities in the continent, along with the friendliness and honesty of the locals I ran in to from not just SG but other countries in the area have made me want to bring their values of self-awareness back home. I will definitely be spending more time in Southeast Asia later if time allows.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? After the dining plan, around S$70
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Food as a whole is affordable. Have a way to transfer money/get cash in Singapore to spend without fees, because many places don't take Mastercard/Visa and instead use local digital payment options that require a local bank account.

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
  • 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?
  • FOOD
  • Ease of travel locally and overseas
  • Exchange students from everywhere
* What could be improved?
  • Felt restricted by the pre-purchased meal plan
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Most long-term clubs I tried joining didn't like the idea of taking someone on for only half the year. The local students usually go home for the weekend, leaving the campus empty, and are very studious, making it overall difficult to plan fun weekends with them. 8am's are brutal when the commute to class takes 30 minutes if you live in one of the far dorms like I did.