Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Formative and educational. Past Review

By (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/04/2015 to 12/16/2015 with

Aquincum Institute of Technology / AIT - Budapest: - Creativity in Computer Science & Software Engineering

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
History, independence, and perspective. It was very worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic rigor of the courses seemed fairly low or fairly high without many courses hitting the proper difficulty level. Professors were also generally unhelpful at supporting you in learning the course material. Students are expected to do work primarily alone.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrative staff was very supportive and helped students in any way they needed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Apartments were furnished, rent was affordable, and contracts were arranged for us.

* Food:

Students are required to cook for themselves and shop for themselves. Meals provided by the school are usually just mediocre pizza.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The local culture and people are separated from the school and students must make an extra effort to integrate with it.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Students were given health insurance, but the clinic we had access too was really difficult to get to and very few people within the clinic spoke English.

* Safety:

Budapest felt very safe.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $300

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? Listen to Hungarian podcasts for a few months before going to Hungary.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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?
  • The city of Budapest.
  • Traveling around Europe.
  • Learning to live abroad.
* What could be improved?
  • The course offerings and level of collaboration between students.
  • The course structure was tiring as all courses were in 2 hour blocks instead of more manageable time blocks.
  • Further office hours with professors.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I'd known how far the commute to the school's campus would be, and how the courses would be structured.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Quantum Probability and Quantum Logic
Course Department: Mathematics
Instructor: Mihály Weiner
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: