Exciting 1 Year Exchange at Korea University Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/22/2018 to 12/21/2018 with

Korea University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be independent and how to deal with being uncomfortable when faced with issues relating to language or cultural barriers. I learned that it's okay to ask for help and lean on others when things are hard or scary. I gained a once in a lifetime experience and many many new friends.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The amount of rigor in your courses really depends on the classes you pick. Most courses will be a midterm, final, and either a presentation or paper. The university's policy states that attendance is not mandatory, but most professors will require it anyway. Most professors will be very willing to help you if you have any trouble in the class!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

In the first semester, I lived in CJ International House which is one of Korea University's dorms for international and exchange students. The dorm itself was wonderful and very clean (cleaning staff would come once a week and clean everything except individual rooms). There are two kitchens on each floor with a stove, microwave, water dispenser, and two refrigerators where you can put one labeled box of your own food. There were, however, some instances of food stealing and administration does not deal with that unless you file a police report. The dorm location is very poor because it is on top of a tall, steep hill away from most restaurants and convenience stores. In the second semester, I lived in a guesthouse on a main street where all Korea University students go to hang out. The location was much better than the dorms and there are many different guesthouses on this street if you don't live in the dorm. Most of the rooms in these guesthouses are rather small, but they usually come with more amenities (like food, free laundry, vacuum).

* Food:

Korea is known for very spicy cuisine, and while there are plenty of non-spicy options, it was still difficult to completely avoid spicy food. I went to Korea with a very low spice tolerance and after being in Korea for one year, my tolerance rose significantly. There is also a variety of non-Korean foods to choose from around campus and in Seoul. I have met people who found it difficult to be a vegetarian in Korea, but it is possible.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Pharmacies are very abundant around Seoul and the medicine is very cheap. I went to one ENT doctor and it was cheap as well. There may be a language barrier with the doctor even if they are advertised as English-speaking, so I would recommend going with a Korean friend or Korean buddy from the exchange program. No specific vaccines were needed for this program, but you need to be tested for TB. Fine (yellow) dust is very prevalent in Korea year-round, so you need to wear a mask otherwise you can contract bronchitis or other throat related health issues.

* Safety:

Seoul is very safe as long as you are vigilant and around other people. Koreans generally never steal; you can leave your belongings in a cafe for hours and no one will touch it (although do this at your own discretion)

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

I loved living in Seoul and the buddy program for exchange students really helped to integrate exchange students into Korean culture. I was able to meet, not only local Koreans, but other students from all around the world and made lifelong friends.

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? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try buying a specific thing only once a week (like buying one new shirt once a week, or going out to an expensive restaurant once a week)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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?
  • The ability to make new friends from all over the world
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Course Registration Procedure
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Think carefully about where you want to live! The dorms are nice but they can be very isolating because of the location. Also, KUBA is really intense, but if you meet the right people, you can have a lot of fun. Don't feel forced to do anything.

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 Linguist
You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

KORE003: Topic Course (Korean Language Variation)

Course Department: KORE Korean Language and Literature
Instructor: Jeffrey Holliday
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course is essentially a sociolinguistics class with a focus on Korean language variation. The professor is extremely passionate about linguistics and is very knowledgeable about the course's subject matter. We were assessed by midterm, final, and a presentation (with a paper on the research done on the presentation). For linguistics majors, this course is similar to an elective course and is easier than linguistics core courses.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

ENGL329: Sociolinguistics of English

Course Department: ENGL English Language and Literature
Instructor: Park Hyunju (박현주)
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was very engaging and passionate about linguistics and was very willing to help if you have trouble in the class. The assessments were very straightforward (midterm, final, paper, presentation). This class is typically offered once a week for 3 hours.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

GEFC053: English and the Human Mind

Course Department: GEFC World Culture
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was very close-minded and did not listen to what students had to say. The content of the class was haphazard and some of what he was teaching was actually just wrong (in terms of truthfulness). The organization of the class was also a mess and your grade did not reflect the amount of work you put into the class (most of the grades were peer review and feedback).
Credit Transfer Issues: