Singapore - the new Melting Pot! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was a wonderful experience studying at NUS! The studying style and methods were at first stressful and intense, but you truly learn from the studies. The exams are difficult, however, the professors emphasis more on critical thinking and analysis rather than remembering materials from the textbook to pass the exams.

On-site administration of your program

It is very confusing to go around the administrative buildings. There is always someone telling you he or she is not responsible for what you are asking for and refer you to somewhere else. They were not clear of who will/can handle what. It was difficult to have someone take care the situation for you right on the spot.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living on campus was amazing!

You cannot be wrong with the food in Singapore. It has a mix of Asian, European, and other cuisines.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I grew up in China, so the Singaporean culture was at most similar to the Chinese culture. However, there were differences because Singapore integrates multiple cultures. The Western influence in Singapore is huge, and yet it doesn't throw away its Asian influences so the mixed culture can be strongly felt in Singapore.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Whenever I felt as if I had a health issue, I went to the health services on campus and they took good care of me. However, I had to pay for any medication or treatment that they provided.

Singapore is extremely safe with strict governmental regulations.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Singapore imports everything (were probably taxed heavily as well) and it is a small country/state/city, and thus living expenses are generally higher than those in other Asian countries.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Local Students

• I met a lot of people from all around the world in Singapore and was able to expand my network world-wide.
• I traveled to several countries in Southeast Asia and it was a wonderful experience.
• The food was absolutely amazing in Singapore!

• The e-mail to help students get cheap tickets to study abroad could have been sent out much earlier than just two weeks before the program starts.
• If students who were going to the same university could have met/contacted each other before the program started, then that would have been appreciated.

The Outright Urbanite