Bestsemster at the Washington Journalism Center helped me form important lifelong relationships. Past Review
By Kyle L (Journalism., Point Loma Nazarene University) for
Study Away Programs and Internships in Washington D.C.
My experience has helped me see the world through a broader lens. It has made me more aware of the fact that everyone's life journey is different, and it is important to embrace these differences. I also gained some amazing relationships with some amazing people, relationships that I hope will last me the rest of my life. I also grew in my vocational development: learning about how good journalism was done everyday was incredibly encouraging.
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. |
Since my program was in the U.S., the education system itself was not too much different. The coolest thing about it was the idea of a "bridge semester" between college life and the working world. The classes were treated like graduate-level classes, which actually meant that, generally, the workload was less than an average undergraduate class. The professors were stern but fair in their grading. It was easy to see that, first and foremost, they desired growth and improvement in our work. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Overall, the program is fantastic. The balance between free time and work/career development is spot on. You have a lot of time to just enjoy the city and all it has to offer, but you're always busy enough that it never feels like a vacation. The faculty and staff made sure that they were always there to help us in any way possible, whether academic, spiritual or simply to chat. My expectations were met and, in many cases, exceeded. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living arrangements were great overall. The only complaint is that the complex is close to the street, so you can't avoid the activity of the nightlife and the sounds of sirens and car horns. |
| * Food: |
They only served food once a week, but when they did, it was good. There were plenty of excellent restaurants withing walking distance of the complex, which made finding good food to eat easy. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
D.C. is a veritable hotbed of cultural activity. Free concerts at the Capitol, all of the amazing sights and the mostly free museums and government attractions really enriched my cultural knowledge, as did the service learning experiences, which forced us to go outside our comfort zone and work with underprivileged communities. Special events such as the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial really added to the cultural diversity of my experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
They did a great job. The main issue with safety was just the fact that the rooms can leak with excessive rainfall. This in itself is not dangerous, but if things become slippery or there are electrical devices around, there could be a problem. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe $100-$150/week. Meals are on you, but groceries can be pretty affordable. Everything in D.C. is pretty much free, so all you have is transportation costs (cheap). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring money for a few trips away during break (i.e. New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, etc.) |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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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? | Go in expecting to change, and give it your all every day. Besides that, don't forget to have fun. You'll benefit if you're passionate about journalism and about figuring out how your Christian faith aligns with your vocational callings. Also, if you've ever wanted to live in our nations' capitol, now is the time to give it a shot. |
