204 reviews
4.11 / 5 based on 204 reviews
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1
anonymous
Student life
Describe host city:
Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
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Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Rackert, Romkert, and the other outdoor places during the summer can be fun. Avoid the Kozgaz Pince club like the plague. The house parties could be fun, but the ISC doesn't have nearly enough decent females and the crowd was usually the same at every party, but at least there weren't too many Hungarians.
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1
anonymous
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
Do yourself a huge favor and make sure that your future neighbors don't party 24/7. Also, check ahead for possible renovations in your building, as it will be seriously annoying when you have to get up at 7:30 on a Sunday morning since Hungarians just don't give a s**t.
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1
anonymous
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
none
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
Food, booze, and nightlife in general are a third of the price as in the US, while housing is also slightly cheaper. Phones are definitely more expensive, whether you have a land line or a cell phone.
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Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Utilities add up and phone usage is expensive. Get an apartment with other students.
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1
anonymous
Academic
Course recommendations
Profs I can recommend: Szentes, Suranyi, Kacsirek, Palankai. Avoid Hajna Istvanffy and her course (FIN 559) at all cost.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
More international teachers are needed, as well as young Hungarians who have lived and studied abroad. Courseloads need to be tougher in most cases and the administration needs to change their mentality regarding their role, the students, and what the ISC is for.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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4
anonymous
Overall
I wish I had known...
That the ISC is geared toward exchange students, which diminishes the academic quality, while improving the party scene. Better prepared for the Hungarian mentality.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the ISC even though I spent two years there getting a Master's degree. My two years there really made me get in touch with who I am and where I belong, which was absolutely invaluable. For most people I would recommend spending a year there at the most, but for me two years was needed to fully get the picture. Overall, my two years there helped round out my undergrad education and better prepared me for more grad school back in the States.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Most people I know had a great time there and the nightlife can be fun for a semester or two before it gets really old. I made some great friends (very few new Hungarian friends though) and had the best and worst times of my life there. Hungary and Hungarians were a big disappointment, but I met some cool people from all over the world.
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1
anonymous
Languages
Language of instruction: Hungarian
Was learning Hungarian a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your Hungarian?
My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I was born in Hungary and left when I was 9, but speak the language at home. Trust me, the less Hungarian you know the more enjoyable your experience will be. The language at the ISC is English and most profs were decent, although some were flat-out awful.
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