Ewha is one of the best schools in Korea Past Review

By (Mechanical Engineering., University of Hawaii - Manoa) for

Ewha Womans University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I'm glad I went on this international exchange. It was an amazing experience. It was just really good to have gone to a different university in a different country. And Ewha is one of the best schools in Korea. I postponed my spring graduation to the summer so I could go on this exchange and I'm very glad I did. It's a very different experience than just visiting. I think the best part was meeting new friends from different schools and just hanging out. I met a lot of great people from different states and even different countries. I recommend that everyone go on an international exchange at least once during college. ^^

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Summer 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved my classes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I thought the program was a little disorganized, like there was a bit of a communication problem in management or something. However, they did offer a lot of field trips and excursions, which was nice.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The I-House was a great place to live. The rooms were spacious. Desks for everyone in the room. Lamps. Shelves. Closet and drawer space under the bed. There were lounges on each floor with a sink, toaster, and such. Every other floor there was a tv. We'd sometimes study there or eat dinner together. Most rooms had an individual shower/toilet, but for those that didn't, there were community bathrooms which were pretty nice. They were cleaned almost everyday. Either way, it would be a good idea to wear slippers. For the bed, the office gives you sheets and a pillow case. You can rent a blanket, but it isn't a very good quality. I had to borrow one from my cousin.

* Food:

I ate at the cafeteria near the dorm sometimes, mostly between my morning and afternoon class. It was pretty good and cheap. I would recommend eating there if you are low on cash. Otherwise, there are a lot of great places right in front of the school.

* 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? No

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)

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

I don't think my Korean improved that much. I was placed into intermediate, which I thought was too easy, but the class above it seemed too.... advanced. I wish that there were a stage in between the two, but I made the most out of the class I was in.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Study hard, but also go out and have as much fun as you can!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Traditional Korean Music

Course Department: MU101
Instructor: Eun Ah Kwak
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Our very energetic teacher taught us to play the kayageum. At the end of the program, at our graduation, we even performed. For the performance, our teacher let us wear her old hanbok that she used to wear when she was younger, which was very sweet. I would take the class again because it was very fun and the teacher and assistant instructors were very nice.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Intermediate Korean

Course Department: KOR201
Instructor: Ji Sun Kim
Instruction Language: Korean
Comments: Our teacher was probably the best. I think she really understood that we were exchange students and that it was summer. She was very lenient about homework, but she still expected us to know the material. She was funny and would tell us stories. She tried to make a very long four and a half hours bearable, while trying to still teach us what we needed to know. The final exam was made up of a grammar/vocabulary test, listening test, writing test, and a speaking test. It was kinda overwhelming to have so many tests in one day, but it wasn't that bad.
Credit Transfer Issues: