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Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU)

57 reviews
4.69 / 5 based on 57 reviews
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Useful  |  3
kefa118
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
History, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
Don't expect anything and keep an open mind. There's no better advice than that when studying abroad. Don't hide among people of your own nationality, but meet the local residents as well as any other people of different cultures you can! This will make your experience life-changing!
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
3
Culture
4
Costs
4
Activities
4
Campus life
2
Party / people
4
Weather / location
3
Personal recommendation
Ben-Gurion University is known for having the best student life in Israel, but it is a still a very academic university of world-renown reputation. Some of Israel's most controversial historians call this university home. It's a beautifully designed university. There is even a movie theater on campus for students only at half price (these are brand-new American films most of the time, not stuff from the 80s!). There is a pub on campus and in the dorms, which surround campus. The security is always present, so feel safe! There is a beautiful fence surrounding campus, so you can only enter through guarded gates. The guards are students and very friendly, so don't worry! There are more than enough computer labs and the library is fantastic. On nice days, which is almost everyday, Israeli students sit outside in large numbers, so sit with them and you're sure to make some friends. During the summer months, there is a outdoor campus pool. Tons of fun!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
3
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
4
Met people from other countries
4
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
3
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
This questionnaire left out a few questions that relate specifically to a Jewish state. If attending synagogue is important to you, or just participation in religous or cultural Jewish life, don't worry. There are synagogues everywhere. There is even a Conservative one, which I attended on a semi-regular basis. There are also synagogues of every Jewish ethnicity you can think of. The program is great about inviting rabbis to come and teach (which usually meants free pizza!). These rabbis will even find you a family for shabbat and for chagim (the holidays). If you're non-Jewish, then you might be upset by the lack of non-Jewish religious help from the program. But they do their best!
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Useful  |  0
ermp
George Washington University, Washington DC, United States
Religion/Theology, Undergraduate, Independent
Overall
I wish I had known...
It can get cold in the winter.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
2
Culture
4
Costs
4
Activities
3
Campus life
4
Party / people
3
Weather / location
4
Personal recommendation
You have the most oppurtunities to meet and become friends with Israelis at Ben Gurion because everyone lives with Israelis! The class sizes are small and it's just an amazing experience! It's also VERY easy and SAFE to travel from BGU because of the accesability of the train (10 minutes walk).
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
3
Met people from other countries
3
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
Enjoy every second you're there. Don't be afraid. It is safter than most countries. You never feel as if you'll get attacked on the streets like you do in most major cities. Enjoy the dairy and veggies and fruits...they'll never taste so good again! If you can do anything that involves working with the communtiy definetly try it out (i.e. volunteering with Bedouin children, volunteering with the rescue squad etc.). Tried to force your roommates to make you speak hebrew instead of english. Make a big effort to become close with your roommates because they will be your easiest way of learning about Israeli culture.
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Useful  |  0
anonymous
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, United States
Political Science, Undergraduate, USAC
Overall
I wish I had known...
How quickly the time would fly by.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
4
Costs
4
Activities
4
Campus life
4
Party / people
4
Weather / location
4
Personal recommendation
I would suggest it as highly as possible. If you have the desire to experience new things, this is the greatest place to do so. You will not regret your BGU decision!
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
2
Met people from other countries
4
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
Since studying at Ben Gurion University, my life has completely changed. My future goals have become stronger as well as my day to day life. I wish I could describe how all-encompasing this feeling has been, but I think because it is so large makes it more difficult to explain. Just know that an experience like this can forever change your life as it did mine.
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Useful  |  0
rachael01
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, United States
Political Science, Undergraduate, Independent
Overall
I wish I had known...
How quickly the time would go by. And of course, MDA!
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
4
Costs
4
Activities
4
Campus life
4
Party / people
4
Weather / location
4
Personal recommendation
I wouldn't hesitate to go again!
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
2
Met people from other countries
4
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
Plan, plan, plan! Make sure you feel comfortable with your decision and go wholeheartedly. If you have never been to Israel before, look around the first couple of days and don't be judgemental, being American isn't being perfect! The most important thing though, is each person will take out a unique experience and you get what you make of it.
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Useful  |  0
kefa118
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
History, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Activities
Nightlife
Travel
Overall
Personal comments
Israel? There is no way anyone could every do EVERYTHING! There's too much! My favorite night spots were the pub in the Gimmel dorms and Forum (talk about a place to meet hot Israelis...). Nafis is probably one of the best restraunts in Beersheva, but its open on Shabbat so its technically not kosher. Every Thursday is a Bedouin marketplace with great stuff. Outside Beersheva, Maccabee Tel Aviv is a fun basketball team to watch, and Maccabee Haifa is my favorite soccer team. In Jerusalem, get over to Ben-Yehuda street. Best shops outside of the Old City. Skiing up north on Mt. Hermon. Rafting on the Jordan river. The Golan is a beautiful place to hike. The promenade (spelling?) in Jaffa along the coast is romantic. Eilat has great snorkling spots that are absolutely beautiful.
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Useful  |  0
kefa118
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
History, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
A private grant
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
The shekel (the Israeli "dollar") was only 1/5 of the value of the dollar while I was there; however, travel is cheaper in general because mass transportation is so popular and if you stay in hostels when traveling, you'll save a ton! Since I was only staying for one academic year, I didn't want the problems of installing a phone, so I got a cell phone. The cost to call home was, thus, more expensive, then from a landline.
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Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Food:
was the same price as at home.
Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand text books
Second-hand household items
Computers / Internet
Administrative
Money from home
Personal comments
Any household items that you need should be bought from the marketplaces, which tend to be cheaper. Don't open a bank account. Just make sure you're debit card will work at the MANY ATMs in Israel. Don't worry about textbooks, because the courses mostly use readers (a compilation of various short readings that the university press puts together).
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