Live in Istanbul, but Don't Live at Sabanci Past Review
By jane.linde.9 (Trinity University) - abroad from 01/11/2015 to 05/31/2015 with
Sabanci University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned a lot about myself; turns out I am very impatient when traveling and can get very hangry when I haven't had food. I am also more able than I thought, and can figure out how to get through just about anything.
Review Photos
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. |
Sabanci had great teachers. I thought they were the same quality as teachers at my home university. However, grading was often unclear and I had no idea what my grades were until the very end. School was surprisingly rigorous, but easily handled. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I adored the program director, and he was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about Istanbul. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
LOVED the apartments, they were modern, had a swimming pool and a gym, a turkish bath, and great security. DO NOT LIVE ON CAMPUS AT SABANCI it is so lonely and far from the city |
| * Food: |
delicious desserts. most meals were very greasy and almost all had meat and bread. would not recommend for vegetarians, however, some people were on our program and got by just fine. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I got to know shopkeepers and neighbors in our neighborhood, and I loved that Turks were very friendly. I did not feel connected AT ALL at sabanci because it was so far away and students seemed uninterested in spending time with exchange students |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Not sure, I did not utilize this. Although i did find that getting certain drugs that were prescription in the states were much easier to buy in Turkey without hastle |
| * Safety: |
I never was robbed or assaulted, nor knew anyone who was. the city is safe if you avoid protests, which is easy. It is definitely much less safe for women, don't travel alone at night. |
| 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) |
Everything was so cheap! Travel, food, clothing, everything |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 102 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | It's not necessary to speak Turkish, but if you really want to get good at it, do not take it from IES, but at your school. |
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? | Sabanci is out in the middle of nowhere, I commuted an hour and a half both ways three days a week. and only one other student from my program went there; it was very lonely |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
