Best place in MENA to study! Past Review

By (ECLT, The American University in Cairo) - abroad from 09/01/2011 to 05/16/2012 with

American University of Beirut: Beirut - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Wonderful experience, wish I had done my entire grad degree at AUB instead of my home institution. Wonderful city, great people.

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.

Spent 2 semesters here finishing up work for a grad degree. An excellent school and beautiful campus. If I had the chance, I would have completed my entire program here.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very welcoming, especially under what were different circumstances.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing is difficult in Beirut. The school does what it can for students, could do something for grad students.

* Food:

It was awesome! Lebanese cuisine is famous for a reason.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Fantastic! Wonderful outreach and very welcoming community.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

AUB Hospital is one of the best in the region.

* Safety:

This is Lebanon, and times are challenging in the region as a whole. I rarely felt unsafe, and the school definitely did its best to ensure the well being of its students. However, parts of Beirut should be avoided. In reality, I felt safer here than in any major U.S city.

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

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)

Beirut can be expensive.

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

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Location
  • Culture
  • Programs
* What could be improved?
  • Better housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I was pretty well prepared, and think I went in with the right knowledge and mentality.