Budapest, My Hidden Treasure Chest Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/29/2018 to 05/20/2018 with

CIEE: Budapest - Business + European Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This experience was so worthwhile. It was a nice break from the rigor and competitiveness of Wellesley. I was quite literally never stressed out and I got a new perspective on Wells making it easier to come back and finish my senior year.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes in Budapest were an actual joke. We never had homework and the tests were generally very easy. I was not challenged academically at all. That said, the classes at the university were slightly more rigorous.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

If I could give a zero, I would. The dorms we lived in had horrible black mold and the rooms were very very small. The black mold was so bad we had to be evacuated during the semester. It was really stressful moving stuff back and forth and the dorms were very unhealthy to live in. CIEE really needs to work on the housing situation.

* Food:

N/A there was no meal plan.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

While Budapest certainly had its flaws (dirty streets, air pollution, black mold in dorms) it was overall the most incredible experience. From the nightlife to the CIEE excursions, this program is absolutely the best. It is small enough to make close friends but big enough to hang out with different people throughout the semester. The city is cheap, so a little money goes a long way. The classes were so bad (such a joke) that homework was not an issue. I cannot recommend this program enough! In all my travels, Budapest was still by far my favorite city. It has become a second home of sorts, where I will always have fond memories and great friends. If you are choosing between Budapest and somewhere else, choose Budapest.

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 cheap. It is very easy to live inexpensively.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own food on weeknights, pregame hard, and travel a lot in the Eastern Bloc.

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
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that Budapest is about 10 years behind the states in many regards. For example, the healthcare system is quite different and it was difficult to obtain care when I was sick.