Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Amazingly sureal July 06, 2021

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/01/2021 to 06/18/2021 with

Yonsei University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Self love

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.

All the study abroad classes were great, the only one that was not was a science class that said that it was in english but the professor spoke korean a lot of the times. I would definitely say check the professor ratings and comments before taking a non study abroad class.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Great COVID testing services and effective organisation. The only thing I would say was slightly frustrating was that they asked us to pay for the national insurance 2 months into the program when the university had previously already asked us the get international insurance. This was a sudden national requirement that I think the university did not know about. But it was very hard to get out of.

* Safety:

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)

It was definitely hard because I had to eat out most of the time as I did not have easy access to a kitchen. Food however was realtively cheep and was able to find good places. The university cafeteria was particularly good as the food was delicious and the prices low.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would say eat at the cafeteria often even though it is rather far from the international students housing building.

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? Take a language class

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • More relaxed classes than at home
  • How easy it was to travel on public transport
* What could be improved?
  • Transparency in non study abroad classes
  • access to fruit and vegetables
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? English is not spoken as much as I thought it would be. I was still able to manage but most of the people do not speak any english and I should have studid the language a minimum before going.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Biological Transport Phenomenon
Course Department: Bioengineering
Instructor: Chong-suk Han
Instruction Language: English/korean
Comments: The class was listed as an english class but it mostly wasn't and the professor explained the material very poorly. I realied on YouTube lectures and struggled a lot with the material. By itself the material is already hard but the professor made it even harder.
Credit Transfer Issues: