An incredible and engaging adventure May 21, 2025
By A student (Politics and History, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/03/2025 to 05/18/2025 with
SIT Study Abroad: Belgrade, Budapest, and Vienna - Comparative European Perspectives on Conflict and Democracy
Local culture, greater understanding of regional and global political dynamics, and so much more
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Excellent in all respects |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Fantastic - helpful, responsive, engaging, organized |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Wonderful and enriching homestay experience |
| * Food: |
Terrific food, navigated dietary restrictions |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A difficult time to work on cultural engagement given current events |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Program was helpful |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Perfect in almost every way |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably $50-100 (stipend for food was very helpful) |
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 |
Very much |
| 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? | In the local language, none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use it in small day-to-day interactions; mess up, learn, try again |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Not to feel the need to have everything planned out well before it happened; to remember to go with the flow but not miss opportunities. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
