125 reviews
4.25 / 5 based on 125 reviews
Useful |
5
Jennifer M
Overall
I wish I had known...
Korean....I wish I had known Korean. It would've made things SO much more easier. I also would've wished I was a little more 'prepped'....You know, they have all these pre departure meetings at your school about studying abroad but Its YONSEI that needs to be super clear with your schools before you come. If you have Mac...8/10 if you don't have Internet explorer on it your f'd cause their portal system works only on internet explorer. They also don't tell you that you're very under represented here. "Learning to be more independent" is literally an understatement. They don't help you ever....Not even the international office at times and thats the worst. All your probs are your own.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I think as an institution its awesome. Its intense but its because it is one of the top schools in Korea. It DOES expose you to real Korean day to day experience...but there's a big clarification with that...don't assume you are actually participating...You are there yeah, but you aren't involved. For their biggest 2 events (Yonko-jeon and Akaraka... they don't even have designated areas for you to sit because, well...you are just there and thats it. Areas are taped off by department and you probably aren't included in a department since you aren't a regular student so you probably won't get a chance to mingle with e.g.; Korean native poli science students because you are on exchange so despite you having the same major and being under the same department...your class is in english, you are already isolated)
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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
I reallllly really hope not to sound pessimistic because OVERALL, the country is AMAZING. As a "tourist" you get everything out of the culture an frankly the culture is beautiful and so are the people. There's always things going on and its actually quite fun! But don't expect much from Yonsei as a foreigner especially in the aspect of clubs and activities...I just want to be super super clear about it because I have yet to see any review be honest about that in that aspect. I'm a very social person...I have no problem going up to someone I don't know and saying hey! At first when you first get here it's funny to both you and them...because well you both can't speak to each other...but as you spend more time here you realize its no longer funny on your end...you sincerely wanna be friends with these people or find your niche in a sense not just be I guess the funny 5 second encounter. I think that was probably the hardest out of the experience. But just as I said it...it's the EXPERIENCE right? Good luck adventurers!
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Useful |
4
sarah b
Expenses
Main source of funding:
A private grant
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
real estate in seoul is crazy expensive, moreso than it is in the states. if you find something that looks reasonable as compared with prices at home, the apartment is probably only big enough to turn around in. prepare to pay more on your apartment. cell phones are also more, because the actual phone is typically more expensive than it is at home (or equal), but for people who don't have a korean identification number (that means you, foreigner!), you're not allowed to have your own mobile account. you'll have to use pre-paid phone cards. these cards are great for calling back home, but they get expensive with calling or texting friends in korea. only upside: if you call, it wastes your minutes... if someone calls *you*, your minutes aren't used up. so always get koreans to call you (it's free for both of you that way)
overall, everything else in korea is cheaper, so by the time you factor in the expensive apartments and phone cards, it pretty much evens out with all the money you'll save on food, etc.
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Housing, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Overall:
was the same price as at home.
Nightlife, Food, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
most of the text books are workbooks... so you write in them and can't sell them back. there are internet cafes (pc bang) all over korea, so if you don't have a computer, you can go to the pc bang and use a computer there for very cheap. most banks have account plans for foreigners, and the university has a health insurance policy through them. almost every cash dispenser in korea accepts foreign cards (unlike japan, where it's near impossible to get money from the machine!)
if all else fails, find a cash machine in the subway... they always accept foreign cards.
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Useful |
10
sarah b
Overall
I wish I had known...
be prepared to be swamped by schoolchildren who want your autograph (if you aren't asian). it can be pretty scary at first.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
the courses are challenging yet rewarding. i recommend them for anyone wishing to gain experience working with korean people and the korean language.
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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
as soon as you can, learn the subway system... or at least get a map from the counter at the subway. taxis are terribly expensive, and due to seoul traffic, it usually takes you longer to get from point a to point b in a taxi than it would the subway. the subway is the best mode of transportation in seoul, and should be learned fairly quickly in order to make your stay in korea better. also, from seoul station, you can take the ktx to several places throughout the country, and really cheap too!! definiately take it down to busan, the port city in the south. best fresh seafood you'll ever have!
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Useful |
0
“Yonsei GSIS - International Studies”
Tabea S
Austria, Graduate
Management Science, 2019
Overall
Both the main campus as well as the Career Development Center(CDC) associated with the Graduate School of International Studies are very helpful during the students' job/internship search.
The CDC offers mock interviews, CV revision sessions as well as general job hunting consultations.
All in all, as long as the student is serious about their job search and ready to put in the work, the university is more than willing to help with the process.
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Pros
mock interviews and CV revision
Cons
The CDC's job board is mostly focused on NGO/International Organisations and the financial sector
Useful |
2
Jennifer M
Academic
Course recommendations
Courses are NO joke. If you are in a curve class and have Johnny the A++ kid you are (excuse the word) f**'d hahahaha. He will totally ruin the class curve for everyone. The classes are hard, but worth the work....it def teaches you the educational culture in this country and how it differs from your own (at least mine did...in America its safe to say many colleges spoon feed you compared to Yonsei...It's a drastic change) NO interaction with local students unless you HAD to be or got paired into a group together..Or else they would've chosen each other. CLASSES ARE IN ENGLISH THOUGH HOLLLLLA!
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
I would've appreciated having the opportunity to meet more Poli Sci majors who were native to the school who I could've studied with...Only because sometimes like I said you feel at times as a foreigner isolated so they forget to include you.
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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
Useful |
7
Michael R
Overall
I wish I had known...
Although you can get almost anything in Seoul, I suggest you bring your medicine that you are used to (anything from Aspirin to Tylenol and etc), bring also your favorite deodorant, shampoo, shower-gel, and other hygiene products.
Don't forget presents from your home country that will be helpful when meeting with Korean friends.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Yonsei is the most international university in Korea. It offers freedom, energy, creativity, culture while pursuing the values of academic research and truth. It opened a new world for me, a world that has changed my life forever. I am happy to be here!
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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 come to Yonsei!
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