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Considering applying for study abroad programs in Amsterdam and Budapest (University of Amsterdam and Central European University). Leaning towards Budapest cause I've been to Amsterdam several times before.

Anyone have any insight into these study abroad programs? How academically demanding are they? Is it similar to college study abroad programs where you have opportunities for travel? Are there usually lots of other exchange students who are down to go out, travel, etc. or are you kind of just on your own?

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Budapest - beautiful city, great food. Hungarian is a very hard language to pick up. Half of my family speaks it. I'm from the other half that never figured it out.
Can't say much about Amsterdam but you've been there.

What are the laws like in Budapest? I find it hard to imagine having a better time than in Amsterdam, but I'm not sure what kinda stuff they let you get away with.

i'd do amsterdam just because it is sooooo easy to get from there to anywhere else in Europe. Even though you have already been there if you want to be able to take weekend trips to other countries etc. And it will be way cheaper to get back and forth from the states.

budapest could be great too and might give you pretty good access to to eastern europe but i don't know too much about all that

Having been to both I would say Budapest was the most interesting while amsterdam makes for an easier way around. Budapest was very modern yet still has that Hungarian interest to it while well you have been to Amsterdam so you know what you are getting into. My vote if I was in your shoes is Budapest.

Not sure how important this is to your decision, but keep in mind that Budapest is considerably cheaper than Amsterdam.

I envy the decision you are making; both are amazing cities!

I can't speak to the academic RIGOR of those programs, but every law student I've talked to who studied abroad over the summer--in various programs from different schools--have more or less said the classes are a joke.

TTH wrote:I can't speak to the academic RIGOR of those programs, but every law student I've talked to who studied abroad over the summer--in various programs from different schools--have more or less said the classes are a joke.

Someone from my school talked about it at a 1L career panel we had. Said study abroad was amazing and fun, but put him at a HUGE disadvantage for jobs this year. OP, I would think twice before doing this unless you are a 0L (then you should go).

Haven't been to Amsterdam (other than the airport) but absolutely loved Budapest. Hungarians were friendly, the food and wine was great, city was absolutely beautiful, and it was much, much cheaper than Germany and Austria at the time. I would go back in a heartbeat.

I'm a 2L with a SA gig for the summer, so this would be for me fall semester of 3L year.

Anyone speak to the social aspect of these programs? Easy to meet people? A lot of other American exchange students or visiting students? Study abroad in college was particularly fun because I was in a program with 100 or so other American college students - so always had a group to go out with, travel, see sites, etc.

bringmehome wrote:I'm a 2L with a SA gig for the summer, so this would be for me fall semester of 3L year..

Then have fun!

I'm guessing it's probably not that different from college programs and you'll be able to travel.

General question about study abroad - is it easy to meet other exchange students? It would kinda suck to be in a foreign city and not really know anyone, especially if you want to go out, travel, etc. In my college study abroad program, there are around 100 other American students, which made it a lot of fun.

bringmehome wrote:I'm a 2L with a SA gig for the summer, so this would be for me fall semester of 3L year.

Anyone speak to the social aspect of these programs? Easy to meet people? A lot of other American exchange students or visiting students? Study abroad in college was particularly fun because I was in a program with 100 or so other American college students - so always had a group to go out with, travel, see sites, etc.

Bumping this thread -- would love to hear about experiences with workload, courses, getting around and just general life when you study abroad in Amsterdam.