Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Study Abroad at ACT Past Review

By (Boston College) - abroad from 09/17/2017 to 12/15/2017 with

American College of Thessaloniki (ACT): Thessaloniki - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Coming abroad was definitely worthwhile. It exposed some of my inherent biases and arrogance when interacting with a different culture and showed me the ways that I can improve myself when I go home.

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 were really great and eager to help, but the academic rigor was not as much as I was accustomed to at my home school.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff was very helpful whenever you asked for assistance and the planned trips were really great.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Alexandrias. The rooms were very small and located outside of the city center but also not close to campus, so you had to take a bus either way.

* Food:

We found some really great places to eat. The city has so much to offer in this department.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think the fact that the school is English made it so I did not integrate as much into the culture because I did not have to learn the language, but I did feel as though I got to know a lot about Greek culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Thessaloniki is very safe, I never felt as though I was unsafe when walking around the city.

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

Although I don't regret coming to ACT I think I would have preferred studying at a different university that was larger.

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? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Greece is very inexpensive if you find the right places. We found a delicious Greek food restaurant right near our apartments and could get a big meal for around $5 per person.

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? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Getting to explore Thessaloniki
  • Dedicated professors
* What could be improved?
  • Accomodations
  • WiFi on campus
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how small the school was and how dominated campus is by the NUin program during the Fall semester.

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.