Tel Aviv: Play, play and then work Past Review

By (Wellesley College) for

Tel Aviv University: Undergraduate Semester / Year in Israel

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I now plan on double majoring in English and Jewish Studies instead of majoring in English with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. I am now both more interested in and fearful of politics.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The counselors were incredibly helpful in crises, they were particularly helpful with regard to medical issues. However, I wish that the program fee had been lower and they had offered fewer of the less popular programs.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The trips organized to the North and South of Israel were wonerful

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The city is incredibly safe. The health insurance policy of the overseas school is wonderful. The doctors come to your room and one of the counselors translates for you.

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

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? I spent about 50 USD a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Travel - not just from city to city but within Tel Aviv.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I took one year of Hebrew before coming to Israel.
Language acquisition improvement?

Too many people speak English, however I did use Hebrew daily.

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

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? As someone who has lived abroad before, I think studying abroad is one of the best experiences a person can have. I think that experiencing something that far out of a person's comfort zone is incredibly important for personal growth.