Decent university summer program, GREAT immersion & experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very relaxed and easy classes -- this is summer school after all. I knocked out the easiest 6 credit hours of my life here. At first, I was unhappy since I expected more academic rigor (really, the coursework was quite light), but soon I learned to appreciate the program for what it was. The lightness of the coursework and my 5 weekly free days allowed me to immerse myself in the local culture, visit different parts of the city, hang out with Turkish friends, and even travel around. Besides Istanbul, I had time for Greece, Georgia, Cappadocia, and Bursa. The classes themselves were nice. They were small (15ish students and 8ish students), and both of my professors were very passionate, kind, and open to questions and discussion. So although the material itself was very light and un-rigorous, it was easy to inquire further and learn more through conversation with the professor. Plus, value for money! These classes were cheap af.

On-site administration of your program

Very helpful. I made a late payment, and the coordinator worked around it to help me out. In general, I was satisfied with the process. However, there were two annoying problems: (1) the application process was quite confusing, and the website for applying/classes is kind of primitive and difficult to navigate. (2) The class start/end dates kept on moving around, which cost me money. For example: I thought the original times were Jun 20 - Aug 4, but due to the election the program dates were moved back, meaning I had to buy a new airplane ticket. Then, another several class days were cancelled due to a graduation ceremony. Quit erratic and annoying.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was placed in Bogazici's Superdorm, and was mostly satisfied with the quality vs. price. MUCH cheaper than what I'm used to in the States, and I got a very spacious common area and my own room. Utilities were included, and there was even a market on the first floor. Dorms were cleaned regularly. Location was fairly good, 15 minutes away from the uni on foot. I met a lot of friends living in the same space! HOWEVER, there were two things that put me off. (1) There is curfew, so no guests from 1 PM to 8 or 9 AM. (2) Construction was ongoing (I guess they have less students in the middle of the summer?) so walking through the building could be awkward/annoying/super noisy.

Lunch at uni will cost you like 2.5 lira (around 50 cents when I was there). For a tastier option, you can buy $1 coffee and sandwiches around campus (tasty as well!). And off campus... wow. This is Istanbul. Top-notch food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My favorite part! I learned more outside the classroom than inside. First of all, I was the only non-Turkish person in both of my classes. Most workers don't speak English or speak minimal English, so despite the inconvenience, looking back it forced me to learn a bit of Turkish. Most of all, I spent most of my time hanging out with Turks (I had a really good friend in Istanbul already, and through Bogazici I met some more Turkish friends, so there is a big opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people). My favorite part of the program was that I had so many days off! During breaks, I saw Cappadocia, Bursa, Athens, and Tbilisi.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had a medical incident during the program (food poisoning + avoiding food on upset stomach + hot day = passing out in class, apparently). My classmates walked me to the medical center and I got an infusion (!!!) and some good old Ayran (turkish yogurt drink) to boost my energy. I was quite worried about racking up medical costs (my American Uni will rip you off for even the most elementary medical check) but I learned that healthcare was free for all university students. The medical staff did their job and I was well taken care of :)

Traffic is the main safety concern in Istanbul, so no matter where you are, be extra careful when crossing the street. Bogazici itself is a very safe environment, and quite liberal as well. Girls here often wear shorts and tank-tops. (Elsewhere, as a girl it's a good idea to wear longer pants/dresses and sleeves. Other than that, always be aware. When going out into the city, it is a good idea to bring a friend with you. 99% of the time I felt very normal and safe, but one should take normal precautions to avoid bad incidents. A girl I knew was careless and had her phone stolen by the taxi driver. Be aware of surroundings -- during my 2 months in the country, I had one unpleasant incident (an old man on a tram made inappropriate contact).

Bogazici's summer program is a solid way to knock out a few credit hours while immersing oneself in a very interesting and world-famous city. Although the coursework is a bit too light, the program has great value for money. Plenty of free time lets one travel around the region & hang out with local friends. I learned so much by just being in Turkey for two months!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Istanbul was in the middle of an economic crisis when I arrived. This meant that taking courses in Istanbul was cheaper than staying in Texas and taking classes there. It was more than easy to spend like $5/day on food. Dorms were cheap, classes were cheap, even travel around Turkey was cheap. My airplane tickets to Cappadocia were, like, $90 for a round trip, and I bought them only two weeks ahead.

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• Dorm

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• International Students

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• Local Students

• Level of Cultural Immersion/Friends met
• Price Value
• Gorgeous campus

• More rigor in classes
• Air conditioning at Uni (it's HOT)
• Less confusing program dates

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer