Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best experience of my life! Past Review

By (Boston University) - abroad from 01/25/2016 to 06/02/2016 with

University of Haifa: Study Abroad at Haifa International School

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned so much about religion, the Middle East, and even my own identity.

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.

I thoroughly enjoyed the classes, and found them to be extremely well taught and interesting. However, they were not as difficult as classes back at my home university. Also, although the university library had some great resources for these classes, its hours did not make sense for a college setting. How can a college library close at 7 PM?

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone was very nice, and helpful. The only thing was that it literally took the whole semester to receive my scholarship check.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Not really applicable since I cooked my own meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although I did interact with Israelis, I mostly spent my time with other international students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Although incidents happened in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, I felt completely safe in Haifa. I cannot remember even a small incident that occurred during my stay.

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

I loved the program! I am so glad I chose Israel to study abroad in.

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)

This is mostly because I wanted to experience everything while I was abroad, so I spent a lot of money.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Not really since I was not that good at saving.

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

By learning rudimentary Hebrew, I was able to have small daily interactions with locals like shop keepers and students.

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? 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? Find locals to practice with.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Travelling
  • International Students
  • Mix of Cultures
* What could be improved?
  • Faster administrative tasks
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how easy it is to travel throughout Israel.

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 Linguist
You 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!