4 months at FLAME January 20, 2023
By A student (Data Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/18/2022 to 12/18/2022 with
FLAME University - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I became more independent and became more connected with my South Asian culture. It was a very rewarding experience and I appreciate all the support I received at FLAME.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
FLAME offered very interesting humanities and social sciences courses (i.e. sociology, economics), but did not have an extensive STEM offering. I found the rigor to be less than that of Wellesley, mostly because students at FLAME take 6 courses a semester, and I only enrolled in 4. I liked the small class sizes and the professors were very kind. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I felt very supported by staff and administrators there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms on campus were very nice (AC, private bathroom). The location of campus can be difficult and feels isolated from the local city of Pune, although there are shuttles that take you to the city. |
| * Food: |
Lots of cafes available on campus. Note the campus is vegetarian and no egg is permitted. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Again, FLAME can feel isolated from the local city of Pune, but if you put effort in to spend time in the city, you definitely have the local culture accessible. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There is a health center on campus that was easily accessible. They provided me with medications when I was not feeling well and there is also a local hospital. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I have mixed feelings on this question. I really enjoyed FLAME and the people I met there & how I was able to interact closely with local Indian students. But, the curfew/far away campus did make me wish I was closer to the city. Regardless, I made it work and am happy with my choice! |
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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? |
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? | I wish I knew how detached FLAME can feel from the surrounding city of Pune. It can really feel like a separate world, and I had to make an effort to leave campus and get to know the local culture of India. There also was only one other exchange student, who I likely got along very well with, but it was difficult not having a wider group of exchange students. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
