Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Egypt was a great place to make friends and grow January 05, 2024

By (Neurobiology, Neurosciences, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/03/2023 to 12/17/2023 with

Study Abroad in Egypt at the American University in Cairo

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about a drastically different way of life that expanded my thinking.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My educational experience was less than desired. I did not feel like my academic success was a priority to most of my professors, barring a few.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The international programs and services office was hard to communicate with. However, upon communication, the people were really lovely and always wanted to help you the best they could.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a high-quality on-campus dorm.

* Food:

There were several on-campus affordable options for dinning open generous hours and the staff was always super friendly and lovely.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were a couple of attempts from the college to engage students with the culture. However, if you wanted to experience cultural immersion you needed to fund and seek that out independently.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had friends who had experiences with healthcare. The insurance was great and covered nearly everything. There was no hesitancy to get care because you knew it would be covered. We had an on-campus clinic that served students 24 hours. However, sometimes it felt as though students were not taken seriously. Additionally, you needed a translator in the hospital which was offered by the on-campus clinic but wasn't always perfect. You have to go about getting prescriptions on your own after visits which can be a daunting task.

* Safety:

I felt very safe. The local area right off campus was super safe for students. In addition, travel around Cairo was always safe.

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

Although I did not feel fully equipped to succeed academically, I learned so much about Egypt.

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? $75

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

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? None
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? Going out into town was the best way to practice the language

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
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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 students
  • The campus architecture
  • Accessible travel
* What could be improved?
  • classroom engagement and support
  • school lead cultural immersion
  • organization and communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more about the in-classroom dynamic for STEM students studying abroad.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Probability and Statistics

Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Rasha El Kholy
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The learning environment was often hostile. You were rewarded if you had the right answers and called out by the professor for slowing down the class if you did not know. I did not feel comfortable asking the professor questions nor did it feel like the professor cared about the success of the students. Although the course was taught in English, the professor regularly switched between Arabic and English. When students asked lecture questions they were fully in Arabic, so it was difficult to benefit from classroom discussion. The course was only exam-based.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Colloquial Arabic (ECA)
Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Shereen El Ezabi
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course and the professor were fantastic. I felt like my language proficiency grew immensely. The professor was invested in student learning and worked to make sure students were engaged.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Fundamentals of Computing I

Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Mikhail
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I did not feel as though the course was engaging. Lectures were formatted from presentation slides. The labs were not aligned with the lectures and did not effectively allow students to feel confident with writing code. I utilized the on-campus tutoring resources but still did not feel I was ever well prepared for the class.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Egyptian Architecture

Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Daniele Salvoldi
Instruction Language:
Comments: The lectures were not engaging and consisted of presentations. The content was not always organized logically to fit the process of learning. The professor did not offer constructive feedback on papers or projects.
Credit Transfer Issues: My school did not accept this course
Course Name/Rating:

Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience

Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Ahmed Abdellatif
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was fantastic. The professor was genuinely invested in his students. The structure of the class gave students the opportunity to learn while being challenged.
Credit Transfer Issues: