Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Speechless August 28, 2022

By (Statistics, Korean, Strategic Management, Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/27/2022 to 08/04/2022 with

Yonsei University: Yonsei International Summer School

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
What I gained/learned from my experience abroad is just how insanely different society is that America could implement a lot into their own.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I really enjoyed my stay in Korea and would 100% go again. I would even go as far to say that I would do everything that I did again. I have zero regrets on going or doing what I did.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It feels as if you are spending a lot in Korea but you are pretty much spending only 1/4 of what people in America would normally spend. Especially the different between the lifestyle in an expensive place like New York City and seeing what you can buy in Korea is a very big difference. A normally meal in NYC could get you a whole day to two days worth of food and not just snacks or like small food, it would be able to get you a nice meal and if you spend as much in Korea as if it would be NYC, you would be extremely well fed without a doubt.

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

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? N/A
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? Just being in the environment is more than enough because wherever you go, there are just tons of announcements and as someone who wants to learn the language, you can just hear the announcements go on and see what you are trying to find.

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
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • Friends
  • Location
  • Teachers
* What could be improved?
  • Classes offered
  • Gym
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing, it made the experience that much more enjoyable, except maybe for one thing which is be careful that there will not be any garbage cans on the streets.

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!