University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
University Information
Below you will find study abroad reviews from students at University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. We hope you will find these helpful in your search for options in education abroad. If you are a University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign student, please check with the Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange Office for guidelines on enrolling in a study abroad program and receiving credit for your study abroad experience. If your university has listed recommended programs below, please consider them first and contact any of the program providers referenced in the reviews listed below for more information.
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No important dates configured."Practical hands-on experience in writing and production. Very worthwhile."
Ryan Yapp University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I gained life long contacts with other students, my host mother, and the program director Fabiola. I was exposed to so much of Mexican culture as well as the language. It was genuinely the best summer of my life."
Julia Pettersen University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"It is important to explore and broaden you horizons. "
Patrick Fox University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I broadening my international experience and sharpened intercultural communication skills. Even more importantly, I took a big step in my personal life. I grew by having a greater desire to challenge myself and self-reflect more. I can confidently say that my life would look a lot different had I not studied in London. "
Michael Mitchell University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"My Japanese substantially improved, and I made many friends around Japan and all over the world."
Jenny She University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"It was absolutely worthwhile, in every way possible. My language skills improved, my abilities to interact with other people and make friends improved, even things like my independence and self-confidence improved. I really feel like I changed as a person, while working on my goal to become more advanced at Japanese at the same ..."
Maria University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"Since it was my first time getting to leave the country there were a lot of things that I was nervous about but I can safely say that going to Japan for a year to study was worth every moment. Kobe University was amazing school and I met many excellent teachers and lifelong friends who I still talk to even upon returning. ..."
Joseph w University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"The memories, my friends, and an N2 certificate"
Jiaao Xue University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"Language skills Intercultural collision"
Minmin University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"Over the course of one year, I not only gained a wealth of textbook knowledge about Japanese language and culture, I also was able to experience Japanese life firsthand, which was very important to me. This "extra-curricular" way of learning pushed me to break the limits of my own independence and courage: there was a whole new..."
M J H University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"Difficulties international businesses face between domestic and internatinal regulations, markets trends, and general industry challenges. The proper way to drink wine and how to recognize tasting notes."
Cody Daech University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I feel like I gained more self-confidence through this program. I feel less nervous and anxious speaking the language with natives and am willing to take more risks in solo traveling. "
Monica University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"Living in Japan helped me to become more self-confident and independent. At the start of the program, I was nervous to go places by myself, but received advice from a former student that it was best to go out by yourself, because if you went with another international student, you would just end up speaking English. This turned ..."
Zoe Goldenfeld University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I won't say my time in Japan was a fairytale or any kind of long vacation. Because the length of the program is a full academic year, it offers you the opportunity to genuinely experience Japanese society. My Japanese improved not only through taking classes, but also by working through conflict and exchanging ideas with my host..."
Alexandria University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
" Going abroad is usually a very rewarding experience no matter where you go, and the YIJ program is no exception. However, it is easy to have a bad experience if the program itself is not organized properly or the staff are not helpful. I was happy to discover, from my first inquiries into YIJ to the end of the program, that YIJ..."
Kavi University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I’m not a huge fan of traveling, so at the outset of my college experience I hadn’t even considered studying abroad, but by chance I wound up spending a semester in the Year in Japan program, and I am so glad that I did. While in this program, you don’t feel like you’re a tourist on vacation; you get to fully ingrain yourself an..."
A student University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"1,000% worthwhile. I shudder at the thought of having not gone. Going to Japan has allowed my Japanese to improve exponentially. I can without doubt say that I have gotten much better at using and understanding Japanese, so much so to the point that I feel very comfortable accomplishing things by myself here, using only Japanese..."
Taylor Peters University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"It got me out of my introverted comfort zone. My language skills improved so much as well"
Nick Iftner University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"There will be hard times for sure, and you may feel tired and homesick more than once, but it’s not until you travel that you realize how much the world has to offer and how much there is left to be seen. Having made new friends from all corners of the world, I came out of the program feeling like I had become a global citizen, ..."
Joe Tan University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"A lot of friends both Japanese and foreign, fluent japanese language ability, and a broader perspective. "
Sam Bizot University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I think it was very worthwhile. I was able to experience Japan and gain an appreciation for the culture that isn't attainable with other programs."
Justin Brook University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I gained the ability to be more independent, since I had to live on my own in a foreign country whose language I did not really speak. It was worthwhile because I was able to get a more global view of the world and learn about and be immersed in another culture. "
Katherine Warzocha University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"i learned how to be more adapatable, patient, determined, and to figure things out for myself while staying calm. It was absolutely worthwhile. "
A student University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"I learned how different the world is outside of America. I had been to Europe before, but only by living in another country for an extended period of time can you understand the different cultural nuances. I think this un-American view is important to have because I plan on spending more time out of the states. "
A student University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
"Abroad was definitely worth it and I had an amazing time due to being with close friends, however the program was almost unbearable."
Student University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
