Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My study abroad experience will always have a special place in my heart. Past Review

By (Texas Lutheran University) - abroad from 06/21/2019 to 08/09/2019 with

CIEE: Seoul - Summer Korean Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that I'm actually a lot more of a homebody than I thought. I don't regret going to South Korea but I wasn't prepared for the emotional feelings of missing home. However, I did learn that life keeps going anywhere in the world. So whenever I have a bad day I know I shouldn't keep my head down for long because the world isn't going to wait for me!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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

The CIEE staff were amazing and so helpful! They were so kind and made sure everyone was having a good time and that we were safe. They were also able to give us the freedom to explore on our own without making seem like we had to get permission to do so.

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? I spent like $100-150 per week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save as much as you can prior to the program start date. It will help you not worrying if you are going to have enough money while you are abroad. Don't buy something you know you won't look at twice when you get back home.

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

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I didn't take any Korean language classes before the program.
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? If you can, try to learn the basics of the language before leaving. Just enough to at least read a sign but not know what you're reading will help you and your friends somehow!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
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 food!
  • The freedom of going wherever my friends and I wanted to go
  • Experiencing the college life since I have been a commuter since I started college
* What could be improved?
  • The program advisors could be more honest about how challenging the Beginner Korean Language course actually is
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how difficult the beginner Korean Language class was going to be. It made the experience more stressful than I expected. If I knew how hard it was going to be I would have studied much more hangul and practicing on the pronunciations of each letter.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.