School in the outskirts of the main city- be prepared to bike everywhere January 03, 2025

By (Economics, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/21/2024 to 12/20/2024 with

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: Amsterdam - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I thought it was worthwhile- I got to travel a lot and go to a lot of different countries

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Lived in Hotel Jansen- They had a rat issue in the communal kitchens that they never fully addressed. Fine if you buy a hot plate for your own room.

* Food:

Food is not included so you just provide your own.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Never used it

* Safety:

I got cat called in a street a bunch at first and my bike was stolen.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would choose a program that had breaks or was shorter. This program had no breaks from September 1st to December 20th except for the reading week before the two exam periods.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • End of semester boat tour
  • Day trip to Texel
  • Proximity to other countries
* What could be improved?
  • Course registration
  • Mid-Semester breaks
  • Integration with Dutch Students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? They didn’t offer the class I wanted to exchange students (despite listing that they did)

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.'