Semester inn Amsterdam Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/17/2018 to 12/21/2018 with

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: Amsterdam - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to cope in an environment without my primary support system.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The professors I had wanted to be there less than the students. They had no passion for their work, and truly did not care about the students. The non-exchange/abroad students at the university did not care about their grades which made class discussions dry and quite minimal.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

N/A

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No one I know had a good experience.

* Safety:

Wear a bike helmet - no one in the city does, but it's worth it.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

The program provided minimal support for students, the academics were poor, and the housing situation was not ideal.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Class Schedule
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Support
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that I could have lived somewhere other than The Student Hotel West. It wasn't my first choice, and I would have rather lived somewhere less expensive and in another location.