Absolutely life changing and eye opening! Past Review
By Madelynne Miller (Cardinal Stritch University) - abroad from 02/28/2016 to 12/17/2016 with
Catholic University of Seoul: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned so much about my true self and the type of life I want to live. I also learned survival skills by being out of my comfort zone and was able to pick up a new language as well. Overall studying abroad in South Korea is one of the best choices I've ever made in my life. If I could I'd do it all over again. I hope to return to Korea and live there for a few years.
Review Photos
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The main exchange student advisor was great! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Koreans are fairly shy, so meeting new people was a bit difficult, but not too bad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt more safe here than back in the USA. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The exchange program allowed for me to live in Korea for almost a year and allowed for other Koreans to exchange to my university as well. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Most things in Korea was fairly cheap, so I didn't have too much monetary issues. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $80-120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure you make many friends and eat together so that you can split the bills. Also before you go abroad get a part-time job and save that money to spend later. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
It wasn't mandatory to speak Korean at the university, and you don't have to know much Korean since most people (students) can speak English. But in the 2 hours Korean language course you had to speak Korean the entire time. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I self studied. |
| 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? | Get involved in language exchange either through an app or set up language exchange meetings with your foreign friends. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That in order to make friends in Korea you will more than likely have to make the first move and to save even more money than you'll think you need so that you can travel to nearby countries. |
