Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU)

You have to be flexible and understanding. With the security situation in Israel right now, the number of students studying abroad there is down from previous years, so the range of courses has been reduced due to inability to fill the classes enough. The teachers are high quality and challenging, but most realize that the students want more than just an academic experience in Israel. Grades for most courses are based on only two grades, midterms and finals. This is good because your time is not consumed with busy work everyday, but it obviously good have its bad side. The midterms and finals are either exams or papers or some combination of both.

none

that I would inevitably want to stay for the year, as opposed to just the semester

truth in advertising. there were a few things people were disappointed about that they really would not have been if their pr would have been more honest. for instance, the guidebook says there's a Desert Adventure Club(or something of that nature), so we asked about it. when we did, we were told that if we wanted to form one, we could. realistically, all it was, was one of the madrachin giving advice & guidance for hikes and campping. it was not as established or organized as the guidebook had made it out to be.

Actually, I would consider living off campus for the experience, but the dormitories are a safe and secure environment and also allow for easy participation in student activities.

I know there is stuff I have thought along the way that it would have been nice to know, but I can't think of anything specific right now.

I reallt love the location and atmosphere of the university, and the staff are wonderful! I strongly recomend BGU. You have the chance to study in a quiet atmosphere, but if you like to party, you also have the opportunity to do that every night if you want.

not really, I was pretty eager to get involved in an adventure. It did not dissapoint me.

Since Be'er-Sheva is not in the highly populated area of Israel, we always felt safe. However, since Israel is a small country, we could easily travel to other cities and tour around, or simply go to a nature reserve for a great hike.