Gent: A Life Changer Past Review

By (Agricultural Business and Management., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) for

Ghent University / UGent: Ghent - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Confidence, maturity and a better look at life. Also, very thankful for what I have and a new respect for America and the things my country had to offer.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was no workload until it was time to study for the final exams which was very over whelming having to study everything we had gone over. The only problem I had with the grading system was the way it transferred to our system. It didn't seem fair. Teachers didn't care about a students personal success, they didn't care if you were learning or not. I did not like how the only work for each class was the final exam. It was very difficult to learn anything through out the semester since the teachers never challenged the students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They weren't much of a help when it came to finding these for my room. They had no idea where I could find bedding.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The University of Gent found accommodations for me but of course they found the most expensive and smallest room in gent. On the other hand my accommodations were better than the student housing. I had to buy everything that i needed for my room. I was a 10 minute bike ride from my classes, 2 minutes from the city center, and 10 minutes from nightlife.

* Food:

The quantity of food for the price was not good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everything i did was a rememberable experience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Safety was fine but the city wasn't very clean. I was sick within a week of being there.

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? Around $45 but that is the bare minimum
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Everything is expensive.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

Other Program Information

* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Expect the unexpected. You must be very open minded and take things as they come. Don't get mad or upset because something doesn't work the way you want it to. They do things differently over there sometimes even backwards.