Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

BSM: the hardest/most rewarding semester yet. Past Review

By (Mathematics, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/02/2015 to 05/21/2015 with

BSM: Budapest - Budapest Semesters in Mathematics

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I had a semester to focus solely on math, which made me see that I really do want to go to grad school. I was also able to live more independently than I had before, which helped me grow a lot as a person. This was definitely a worthwhile program.

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.

Very interesting/informative classes. Access to professors for extra help was somewhat limited.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Available much of the time for any questions, but occasionally hard to get in touch with.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our apartment was a little small for four people, especially the kitchen area. Very centrally located and in a good neighborhood though.

* Food:

Affordable, easy to find. Not all places were vegetarian friendly, but that's not the fault of the program.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program itself didn't provide many opportunities for cultural integration, but I joined a few Hungarian sports groups while there which aided in my personal cultural integration.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Once the program started everything was explained very well, however I was injured during the language course before the program and wound up using my insurance from back home which did not cover everything.

* Safety:

I always felt very safe, kept to well-lit streets 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)

Budapest is a very inexpensive city to live in, and I don't eat at restaurants much.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Varied from week to week based on travel, but usually less than $100

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

The language component was not required; we were encouraged to take a language course in Budapest prior to the start of the semester, and then language classes were offered in the afternoons.

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
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? Learn the alphabet and pronunciation before arriving, that way it will be easier to listen and pick up the language when you arrive.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • The rigor of the classes
  • Meeting other mathematicians my age
  • Living in Budapest
* What could be improved?
  • Academic community/communication with professors
  • Cultural integration aspects of the program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had traveled during language school, before classes started. Once class started there wasn't as much time to go places and explore the area.

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!