Studying abroad in South Korea's Sogang University was the most memorable experience of my life. Past Review
By Aelim J (Accounting, SUNY - College at Geneseo) for
Sogang University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I never expected my experience to be as amazing as it was. I literally visited an attraction every single day and took advantage of my days there. I will definitely go back to Korea again and will always remember the friends that i met. I had the most amazing time there and it was perfectly balanced. The workload was not too intense but it was intense enough that I learned as much as I would at Geneseo. I can't explain how amazing the trip was.. all I can say is that I HIGHLY recommend studying abroad at Sogang.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The educational experience was similar to the education received at Geneseo because the professors were from Universities throughout America. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Studying abroad at Sogang was the best experience of my life. It was just difficult to get a hold of them and communication was ridiculous. I wasn't even sure if I was accepted until I was already in Korea and my parents went to the University themselves to ask what was going on. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was amazing. My dorm room felt like a hotel room and I had my own bathroom. We needed our own bedding supplies (sheets, pillow, blanket etc.) |
| * Food: |
Food was delicious. There was 2 different varieties to choose from: Korean food or American Food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There is a 3 day field trip that I would highly recommend. It was a lot of fun and memorable. Every single day I would go somewhere on the subway and visit a fun attraction. Honestly, it was the best experience of my life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
You should definitely get a proof of health care (I got a physical from my doctor at home) or else they make you go to a doctor in Korea which is much more complicated than the physical check up you would get in America. You also need proof of health insurance. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | I spent a lot of money on clothes and gifts. I probably spent 100 a week, but you really only need money to buy lunch, which a meal typically costs 5 dollars (5,000won). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I spent money on riding the subway, renting a cellphone, buying alcohol (the legal drinking age is 19), and visiting attractions such as amusement parks and concerts. There is an international ATM at Sogang so I used my HSBC card to withdraw money. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
There was an intensive Korean program that taught students Korean, but I decided to enroll in non-language courses instead because I was already fluent from speaking Korean at home. I had to speak Korean with all my family members in Korea and everyone whom I encountered in Korea. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Treat everyday like it's your last day in Korea and visit at least one attraction everyday. Spend your time wisely and you will have the most amazing time. |
