Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best experience ever Past Review

By (University of California - Riverside) - abroad from 03/01/2019 to 06/22/2019 with

Yonsei University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely worthwhile, I learned to put myself out there which was quite difficult being so introverted

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.

As it is considered a SKY university (one of the 3 top universities in South Korea), if you take classes that are from the university (not study abroad courses) they do tend to be more rigorous

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Food in Korea is amazing, and even though there is no meal plan if you do on-campus housing, they have many options available on campus. It is also very close to Sinchon which is quite known for the food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It is a bit hard if you don't know some Korean because a lot of Koreans are quite shy when it comes to speaking English. Despite this, the people are super nice and are always willing to help. Also, if you get involved on campus it is quite easy to get integrated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I actually got bronchitis while abroad along with some other problems and ended up in the ER. I went with my school insurance, which you have to pay out of pocket first and then get reimbursed. While the ER was quite pricy, the people there were very fast and efficient. Also, medicine is super cheap there so that shouldn't be a problem

* Safety:

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

I absolutely love it, if I were to not do this then I would do one just for language

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)

The exchange rate is very good, and things are for the most part very cheap so money was not a problem.

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

Quite some, you had to use the language to order food and such.

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? KLI1
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? Meet other Koreans and try to go out as much as possible

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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
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?
  • The country (everything about it)
  • The people I met
  • Self exploring
* What could be improved?
  • Perhaps the courses offered
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had know more about the ways to get around

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.