Love the everything about Finland! Past Review

By (Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 01/11/2018 to 05/30/2018 with

University of Helsinki: Helsinki - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about life in the cold. I learned about government system that went through very interesting times. I met people that I could only imagine. my world view has expanded. Of Course it was worth it!

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.

really enjoyed some of the classes that i took. some were not that great at all and i failed to learn as much as i wanted about a topic.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The exchange team was only available two days out of the week for about 4 hours only. became very inconvenient when issues and paperwork needed to be signed

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Felt like I was overcharged for housing. The rooms outline we got was misleading and the company didn't deal with any issues promptly.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This was mostly of my own fault. The past time that was for entertainment purposes just didn't agree with me. when i did interact it was overall fun and interesting

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

easily accessible and cheap! with the student union was able to get things taken care of like a citizen of the country. Love it

* Safety:

Insanely safe city. Their are a couple of bad areas but easy to avoid

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

I learned so many interesting things about a place that is rarely remembered. It was so different than home and it warmed my heart on how awesome life could be somewhere else

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)

If you just did the student meals (lunch only) it could be very cheap. the dollar is weak to the euro and the supermarkets are a bit high. So you had to keep an eye on the budget

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? plan you meals. go to the store with a list ad stick to it. Do not go out to eat as Finland is very expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • School
  • Roomates
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The Finnish way to pay for things is vital knowledge to know getting there. Also explain the perks of a getting a bank account.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'