Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I can confidently say that my semester abroad was nothing short of incredible. Past Review

By (Stevens Institute of Technology) - abroad from 02/16/2017 to 06/22/2017 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Seoul - Korea University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The single most worthwhile thing i gained from my experience abroad were the relationships I formed with the people there. I was able to make great friends both in Korea and international students in Korea. I still keep in touch with them months after my program has ended. My worldview has also broadened by spending time with the friends mentioned above.

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.

Korea University offers courses taught completely in English, so it did not feel too different from my home university. The professors are also willing to assist the international students adjust to the different education environment which I found helpful. I took 3 engineering courses and 2 literature courses abroad while having the time to explore the city/country.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I was able to get into all of my classes without any problem. The sugang system they use with the pre-registration is convenient.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the Korea University CJ Dormitories. They provide everything that most dormitories in the United States provide. It was a familiar environment.

* Food:

The food in South Korea is much cheaper than where I'm from in NYC. The dormitories offer meal plans for around 3-4USD per meal, but I found that in the surrounding area meals range from 5-7USD. I did not buy the meal plan but it is personal preference. The food was amazing, and different.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Korea University has a great student organization known as KUBA, Korea University Buddy Assistants that assist the international students with the change. The KUBAs were very accommodating and attentive, there are multiple events a week throughout the semester and the members are incredibly friendly. The KUBAs in my group are actually some of the best friends I made abroad and I still keep in touch with some of them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues abroad so I am not able to answer this question. A TB vaccine was needed for this program.

* Safety:

Seoul, South Korea was very safe. I did not feel unsafe at any point in time during my study abroad. Although there were no incidents, I would advise anyone studying abroad to always be cautious and use good judgement.

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

The program was the right fit for me, the price range was the most affordable out of the study abroad programs I was looking into. The process was clearly outlined with instructions and procedures, and the people working for TEAN offered assistance whenever needed. I would recommend it to anyone looking to study abroad!

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)

As stated previously, the food was cheaper than anticipated and the tuition + housing was covered in TEAN's initial cost.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The friends I made abroad.
  • The opportunity to learn another language.
  • Being able to explore another country that is in close proximity to other countries.
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Not to pack nearly as much as I did, that was probably the single thing that I stressed about during my time abroad. You definitely don't need as much as you think, and you don't want to pay the fees for overweight luggage or have to throw anything away.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'