International Experience Past Review
By A student (DePaul University) - abroad from 02/18/2019 to 05/31/2019 with
University of Haifa: Study Abroad at Haifa International School
The experience of actually living abroad. Israel is also a great point to travel around the region.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Quite unorganized |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Pretty below par living standards. Lots of mold. |
| * Food: |
Good falafel |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were not too integrated with local students |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
The program was a bit unorganized, and the location was not what I expected. There was no real integration with local students, and I felt like I was in an American bubble the whole time. Also, there were alarming amounts of mold all over the dorms. |
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) |
Israel is extremely expensive |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150-200 |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 101 Arabic class |
| 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? | Talk to locals! |
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
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | That there is a strictly enforced curfew on-campus, and that dorm contracts are subject to the House Mother and the security that is working. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
