Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A wonderful cultural experience in a calm living environment Past Review

By (International/Global Studies., Presbyterian College) - abroad from 09/09/2013 to 12/27/2013 with

Koc University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the amazing and unique culture of Turkey. I also learned a lot about myself and what it means to be a world citizen!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed all of my courses. They were not too difficult, giving me the opportunity to go out and explore Turkey without worrying about coursework.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The International Office at Koç University was very unorganized and not very helpful

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

On campus living was very comfortable and nice. Living with Turkish roommates was a great experience!

* Food:

There were various options for eating on campus.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were many opportunities for integration on and off campus.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues, but I heard that health care on campus is good

* Safety:

Living on campus was very safe. The downtown area of Sariyer has a very safe environment with very friendly people.

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)

Istanbul is a relatively cheap city when it comes to food and other necessities.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would remind incoming students that there is no meal plan at Koç, so you must factor in the amount of money you are spending on campus for food.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I loved taking the Basic Turkish class. I used Turkish everyday on and off campus.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate Chinese
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Use your roommates to practice, and make sure to get off campus and try using the language with the locals!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The amazing friends I made
  • The unique culture I became apart of
  • The classes I took
* What could be improved?
  • The international office's efficiency
  • Getting our residency permit on time
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew about the issues we would have getting our residency permit. I also wish I knew that downtown Istanbul was farther from the University than I thought.

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 Adventurer
The 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.