Best Summer of My Life Past Review

By (National University of Singapore / NUS) - abroad from 06/26/2017 to 08/02/2017 with

Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think besides learning more about Korea, one of my biggest takeaways is what I learned about myself. I found that I was capable of travelling on my own, planning itineraries, finding my way around a country I had only been to once before. I even had a good experience speaking to locals - once, I had an ahjumma kindly ask me to sit next to her on the subway, and we had a simple conversation (in Korean!) about my time in Korea. I was also more comfortable with practising my Korean in a native setting, and that really encouraged me to work harder on my Korean.

Review Photos

Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus Photo

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.

I loved the pace of the classes. It was rigorous enough to cover enough content, yet manageable for us to balance both work and play throughout the program!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was very well-run, with sufficient, timely and accurate information given throughout. The administrators (staff and students alike) were all very helpful and provided help as and when needed, made sure that everything ran smoothly, and put in their best efforts to make us feel at home even though we were overseas.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing totally exceeded my expectations! My room in CJ Internation House was spacious and well-ventilated, the bed was comfortable, and the toilet clean. I also liked the kitchen where we could eat and drink, with fridges provided as well.

* Food:

The food sold on campus was cheap, affordable and delicious. The portions were often really big and satisfying, and the quality was definitely good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think the school program made a lot of effort to try and introduce Korean (and KU) culture to us, with a grand orientation and many cultural activities organized every week. Sometimes I even forgot that I wasn't in my own country, because it felt so easy to blend into the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have major health issues during my time there, but there was a pharmacy located near my dorm, which made it pretty convenient to buy medication from there. If I'm not wrong, there was also medical assistance available on campus, with English and Chinese translation available for foreign students.

* Safety:

I travelled very frequently throughout Korea, and went to many different cities. Often, I can travel at night alone without fearing for my safety - that is how safe Korea can be! I think one thing to take note of will be the roads. Drivers in Korea are a bit more impatient than what I am used to in Singapore, and sometimes the roads in cities outside of Seoul (Jeju, for example) are a little disorganized.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I had always wanted to live and study abroad in Korea, so this was basically my dream come true. I had a great time travelling around, truly observing Korean society and their way of life, and never once felt like I was out of place. I loved the food, loved the shopping, loved the beautiful scenery - everything was exciting and interesting to me, even though it wasn't even my first time in Korea.

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)

This was pretty easy for me because I stayed in the campus housing, and could buy meal plans from the dorm cafeteria. The school cafeteria food is also very affordable, so you'll be looking at spending a maximum of 5000 won for every meal. Travel is also quite affordable if you're taking the subway; even the taxi is not as expensive as I had expected. If you're looking to travel to other cities, however, it can get a little more expensive. A plane ticket to Jeju will cost you about $100++, and a train ride to Busan about the same price as well.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent about $250 per week, which included expenses on souvenirs that I shipped back to Singapore (haha).
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan wisely! I was so overwhelmed and excited by all the cosmetics I could buy in Myeongdong that I overspent on my first day in Korea, but afterward, I learned to allocate how much money I should be spending each week. For example, on weeks that I am going to Jeju and Busan, I will spend less on the weekdays so that I have more to spend on the weekends that I am out of Seoul. This helped me to save on quite a bit of money because I ended up not spending as much, and actually had enough money to get a good hair perm near the school (HAHA!)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes

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

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International 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?
  • Variety of courses
  • Ample free time
  • Well-organized program
* What could be improved?
  • Longer duration - 7 weeks program? :D
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing. Go with an open mind, and you'll be pleasantly surprised!

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'