Disappointing Experience in a Cool Place July 23, 2026
By Miriam H (Judaic Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/04/2026 to 06/07/2026 with
Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Rothberg International School: Undergraduate Study Abroad Program
Although my time was cut short by the war with Iran, I enjoyed the month I spent in Israel. However, I had to make the experience my own, and the program did not help at all. I was too far from the main part of the city, and the bureaucracy was so poor in every aspect.
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. |
The professors were experienced, but sometimes menotynous. The midterm and final papers were brutal with unrealistic deadlines. We had no work for two months, then 7 papers in three weeks, then a week break, then 5 more papers in two weeks. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There were only two helpful administrators, and everyone else we had to fight to ask for help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms were nice, but they were in a very boring area. |
| * Food: |
The food situation was good! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did not integrate at all because the school is so far from most of the fun things to do in Jerusalem. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safe, even during a war. Every dorm has a safe room and I felt totally safe in there. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | $300 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 15 years of instruction |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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 that there were very few American students who still do this program. It is very isolating and small, and the university did not help. Most other international students were in very different programs and already knew each other, and it was hard to make new friends. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
