Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Experience I Won't Forget! Past Review

By (Economics., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 06/20/2014 to 08/10/2014 with

CIEE: Seoul - Summer Korean Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This program is definitely a worthwhile experience! Through CIEE, I got to experience a lot of South Korea's culture and history, as well as learn a bit more about myself. From studying abroad, some things I think I've learned were 1) how to adapt to fit my needs/wants 2) how to look at things from a different perspective 3) how to appreciate things and not take them for granted.

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

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* 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

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100 - $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? For the most part, pricing is similar to what you would find in the States. There are some exceptions, however, such as food (which is pretty cheap). Spend your money wisely and spread it out through the length of your stay to avoid any financial issues. If possible, find a credit/debit card without foreign transaction fees and foreign ATM fees.

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?
  • Staff were friendly
  • Culture
  • Friends
* What could be improved?
  • The on-site faculty (not CIEE's) could be more professional
  • The school could have more signs in English
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish before the start of the program that I'd set out a list of things I wanted to accomplish. For example, go to concerts, try these foods, do these activities. By doing that, I would be able to say I enjoyed my stay to the fullest. Also, I wish I would've brushed up a bit more on my Korean skills and comprehension because that would have been helpful *but not essential because there are a lot of English signs/translations*.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.