This is Forum Nexus! Past Review
By Jacob de Castro (Ramapo College) - abroad from 06/26/2017 to 07/28/2017 with
Forum-Nexus: Ultimate Summer in Europe - 9 Cities in 1 Month
I learned that I definitely do not want to end up in the United States when I go to graduate school or when I start a family. That is a bold statement because that means that this program was literally life changing. This program showed me that there is more out there than my small hometown and I want to experience that.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
You exclusively stay in 4-5 star hotels! Typical study abroad programs have you stay with a host family or hostels. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We took a subway in Paris to classes, integrated with Spaniard students in Barcelona, and toured the same streets an Italian would in Rome. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We had a phenomenal security team that had years of prior experience. The entire staff communicated well with each other and were strategically placed amongst the group of students when on a tour. Not once have I ever felt unsafe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Europe is one of those places where you only dream about visiting. I dreamt about seeing the Eiffel Tower light up after sunset, having a neck ache from looking up at the Sistine Chapel for too long, getting full off of an authentic French meal, etc. Those dreams came true this summer. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $500-$600 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget, humble yourself with having a sandwich from a local bakery instead of that four star restaurant on Yelp, and budget even more. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | How important a budget is! Be prepared to spend some money, and save up for this program. I am an undergraduate student and I financed this entire program myself by saving up for it for a year. If I didn't think it was worth it to spend an entire year of my life saving up for this program, then I wouldn't be writing this review. Honestly, if it took you five years to save up for this program, it would still be worth it. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
