Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

nothings organized, i cant understand anyone but its all beautiful Past Review

By (igs, Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/18/2014 to 08/15/2014 with

Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that you can't control the chaos, but you can always keep yourself on track and enjoy your time -- do not wait around for those who might flake out on you to make plans and instead just go with your common sense and street smarts in hand and explore the city on your own time with your interests in mind first! if you wait to make plans with others you may get dissapointed so make sure you see everything you want to see with as much time as you want to spend at each place! do not be afraid to try new things, explore, make mistakes, learn and have fun along the way!

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

everything goes through one office and one person and is highly disorganized and ineffective.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

it isn't a great dorm and doesnt come with a kitchen or ac like it says it does but other than that it isn't bad.

* Food:

campus cafeterias are only open a few hours a day during weekdays. food is something you pay for on your own...

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

this was not because the university in any way promoted this or helped us with this, but individual groups of students from abroad went out of their way to get involved in the local cultural activities.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

i had to go to a hospital on a sunday. we went to 4 before we found one with an open ER. so do not get sick on a sunday or on a weekend in turkey because all hospitals are closed. ALSO the doctors need translators so bring turkish students with you if you can!

* Safety:

i felt very safe on campus. but istanbul can be sketchy. never go out alone at night.

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)

you have to pay for food, transportation, and tickets to museums and anywhere else you want to go to. you have to buy everything for your room bedroom apartment and bathroom and kitchen as well. it is pretty expensive all around. we ate take out fast food a lot just to save our budgets!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? a LOT, between all transportation, food, apartment, bedroom and bathroom stuff, and any tickets for museums and attractions..it all added up to a lot.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? get the museum card with your student id for the old city attraction like hagia sophia, etc.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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?
  • location of school and ease with which i couldn nagivate the city once i knew the bus nubers and routes.
  • the campus, the professors, and the restaurants near the dorms and campus that were budget friendly
  • the ability to travel on weekends around the city or country as a whole!
* What could be improved?
  • organization of the staff/administrator....the running of the entire program and website
  • the interactions/integration between local students and international or american ones because local kids wouldn't talk to us.
  • the dining hall hours, putting actual kitchens in the kitchen part os the dorms because we were unable to cook food in any way and that would have been helpful, and being honest about whatb was and was not included in superdorm and telling us what we would need to go out and buy!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how much i would have to buy, how much i wouldn't be given and how to budget properly for all the things i ended up having to pay for that i did not expect to have to buy

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'