Anyone ever study abroad?

[dak125]

I'm thinking about studying abroad next year, I'll be a junior. I'm looking for any tips or suggestions or complaints that you guys may have. I do have some questions, they're general and I'm sure they don't apply to all schools but if you have any idea please let me know.

-Where do you live? Dorms, someone's house etc..
-Are the classes basically the same thing at a current University just a different location?
-I'm leaning towards London. Anyone ever studied there? Did you enjoy it?
-COSTS! How much does it cost? This is more something I'd have to find out from a represenatitive at my school, but in general is it considerably more expensive to study abroad then taking classes at a private univ?
-How much time do you usually get to travel?

Anything else you may want to suggest is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance!

 

[Zysoclaplem]

To easy.

 

[absolu7]

if you have the opportunity definitely do it, life changing experience.
positives
new culture
europe is > america (ooh im preparing for the flaming)
new people

negatives
cost cost cost and more cost, london especially is way more expensive (its about 1.82$ for every pound now) might want to rethink destination
your friends are far far away (but thats ok you make new ones)

also there are different programs, yes you can do exchange program where u live in someone elses house or you can do through school where you get normal dorm.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
To easy.

The jokes just write themsleves, no?

 

[dak125]

Originally posted by: absolu7
if you have the opportunity definitely do it, life changing experience.
positives
new culture
europe is > america (ooh im preparing for the flaming)
new people

negatives
cost cost cost and more cost, london especially is way more expensive (its about 1.82$ for every pound now) might want to rethink destination
your friends are far far away (but thats ok you make new ones)

also there are different programs, yes you can do exchange program where u live in someone elses house or you can do through school where you get normal dorm.

My other main choice is Italy, Venice to be exact. My only concern is I won't have a clue wtf people are saying. Thanks for the response.

 

[SuepaFly]

I went overseas my sophmore year to London for a semester. My school had its own program there though, so all of us had a house and application went through our own university.

It was a great experience. I suggest that you use a credit card that has some sort of protection that you can use in the event someone tries to steal your cc number and such... it happened many times to many people.

London is especially expensive though, luckily my school provided a meal plan where they would give us 40 pounds a week toward food. Our Florence program had an in-house cook though. I would save your cash before you go.

 

[Cristatus]

i'm not very far from london myself and am studying abroad. i must say, it is a life changing experience. if you want more details, don't hesitate to PM me, i might be able to find out some stuff for you

 

[absolu7]

well check if the classes are taught in english which they probably are not, so you would not be able to go there either way because one of the requirments im sure is to know the language of country.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
To easy.

The jokes just write themsleves, no?

Makes my job that much easier.

 

[absolu7]

plus study abroad is a blowoff anyway who cares if you fail that one class, take it over summer
just go to have fun, studying .... what?

 

[dak125]

Originally posted by: logic1485
i'm not very far from london myself and am studying abroad. i must say, it is a life changing experience. if you want more details, don't hesitate to PM me, i might be able to find out some stuff for you

Will do, thank you!

I'll have to meet up with the person in charge and get more details. I'm assuming class schedules would vary for different schools too.

I definitely want to do this though, just have to figure out all the details. Please share your thoughts.

 

[DaWhim]

Greece. party on the beach.

 

[Ausm]

I have studied lots of broads..

Ausm

 

[dak125]

I probably should have check their website

Housing

? Flats shared by 2-3 students. Each flat fully equipped with kitchen, bed/sitting room and bath.
? Food allowance of $600 per term, paid in installments.
? Mid-term vacation period included.

Estimated Costs

(2005 fees when available)

? Program fees 2004?$13,350 (includes tuition, housing, group excursions, food allowance).
? Personal expenses: $400-$600 per month
? Airfare: $700-$800
? Vacation travel additional


(6-8 semester hours), consisting of:
? A project in the student's major area of study under the direction of a professor at Dominican and a British expert (tutor) in the field (if enrolled for the tutorial). A sample of recent tutorials include:

? Business: A Comparison of American and British Retail Markets: Gap Inc. vs. Harrods


Is this about in line with other schools?

 

[aphex]

I studied abroad in the Netherlands for 5 months in the fall of '02. When i have some more time this afternoon i'll fill ya in on the details, but lemme just say 'BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE'

Seriously.....

 

[dak125]

Originally posted by: aphex
I studied abroad in the Netherlands for 5 months in the fall of '02. When i have some more time this afternoon i'll fill ya in on the details, but lemme just say 'BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE'

Seriously.....

Awesome!

These are the other possiblities:
Nantes, France | Fanjeaux, France | Florence, Italy | Milan, Italy | Salamanca, Spain | El Salvador | Literary London and Beyond: Study Tour

 

[kami333]

I studied abroad, loved it so much that now I work for the program

I think it's a great oppurtunity, both personally and academically.


It all depends on the program, each have their own system.

For example, the one I work at students get a choice of home stay(best and cheapest since they feed you), a dorm, a roommate (a younger person like another student), or independant.

Classes are taught at neighboring universities, mostly by part time professors who work in that particular field or are professors at the universities. Only a few are actual university classes with students from that university enrolled.

Payment is either directly to the program or through the school, ours is cheaper than the majority of private schools ($11000/semester with room and board or something like that). Outside of that I spent about $500-600/month with travelling and going out.

We had 2weeks in the middle of the semester for study break, plus weekends and before/after semester. Classes were rather demanding so I didn't travel alot during the semester.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
Greece. party on the beach.

I was an exchange student in Greece in high school (AFS). Didn't study there, though, took the summer program.

 

[absolu7]

those are bumblefxck destinations in france, you want to be in florence or milan for sure

oh also see the movies "the spanish apartment"

 

[biostud]

Copenhagen, Denmark

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: biostud
Copenhagen, Denmark

DIS? Or CBS?

 

[dak125]

Originally posted by: kami333
Outside of that I spent about $500-600/month with travelling and going out.

*jaw drops*

Mind me asking what type of spending habits you have? I can be a very cheap bastard and can usually limit myself. I'm assuming when you go travel on your own you have to stay at hotels? They don't offer any type of student housing throughout the countryside or anything?

Thanks for the helpful info everyone, keep it coming.

 

[absolu7]

dak to tell the truth youll go bankrupt unless youre rich after this program, that is what it is primarily designed to do if youre ok with that, do it! because its very expensive.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: dak125

Originally posted by: kami333
Outside of that I spent about $500-600/month with travelling and going out.

*jaw drops*

Mind me asking what type of spending habits you have? I can be a very cheap bastard and can usually limit myself. I'm assuming when you go travel on your own you have to stay at hotels? They don't offer any type of student housing throughout the countryside or anything?

Thanks for the helpful info everyone, keep it coming.

I lived (and live) in the 5th most expensive city in the world (London is 3rd or 4th).

A sit down dinner can easily run $30 just for the main course. Half a liter of coke from 7-11 is about $2.00, a value meal at McDonalds is easily $8. $6 for a pint of beer at the bar is not bad, I've paid $11 for a Smirnoff Ice at a club.

As for travelling, for example, last weekend I took a minicruise to Oslo, Norway. $180 roundtrip for the ship, stayed at a hostel which was $100 for 2 (so $50), dinner at TGI Fridays (I was craving wings and jalepeno poppers) was $40. Had coffee and cheesecake later which was another $20. Couple of bus rides and entrance fees the next day was another $50. Ended up spending about $400 and it's not like I was being extravegant or anything.

Or when I went to Berlin when I was a student, $170 for roundtrip sleeper cars, $25/night for 2nights at a hostel, maybe $75 for food over 3days, another $50 in entrance fees and transportation.

 

[dak125]

Holy hell. Where do you live right now?