Studying Abroad - FSU Panama

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
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<p>Alright, so I decided to make a thread about my experience with studying abroad. I did the FYA, First Year Abroad, program at the Republic of Panama campus. I completed an entire year there, from August 2008 to August 2009, so the experience is still fresh on my mind. If I don't cover something in this post, feel free to ask away.</p>

<p>I'll just do some pros and cons first.</p>

<p>Pros:
- Traveling is relatively cheap in Panama. It's fairly easy to take a bus within Panama to explore the country with a group of friends (if you want to do stuff in addition to the planned trips with the school).
- The currency is the same as the US dollar (they call it the Balboa). But you don't have to deal with currency exchange issues. This is a nice added bonus.
- Immersion in Spanish is wonderful! If you're not there for the Spanish portion of the experience, it's fine. You don't have to be fluent. You can get by with little to no Spanish, but for those who want to take advantage of espanol, it's everywhere. I took three years in high school, but learned a lot more with my immersion in a year than I ever imagined. This is nothing to be intimidated by. Don't let the language barriers pose as an issue.
- Shopping! If this is up your venue, Panama will be a shopper's paradise for you. There are two really worthwhile malls in Panama City. One in particular, the Albrook Mall, has a lot of bargains. Pack light, because you're gonna wanna spend money when you see how cheap things can be.
- The campus itself. FSU Panama has its own campus. It's not as if you're in the middle of total chaos; it's a proper campus.
- On campus, students have access to a very nice gym and Olympic sized swimming pool. :)</p>

<p>Cons:
- Don't bother going if you're not interested in traveling. An open mind is a must. You won't be comfortable with everything you come across. In all honesty, if you want to just 100% focus on your studies, Panama is not the best location for that. You're gonna want to explore and take in the culture. If you don't mind staying in your room all day, then it's alright.
- Drinking age in Panama is 18. Drinking is apart of the culture. If you're not a drinker, be aware of this and know that it will be happening aroundd you. And it's completely legal.
- FSU Panama just recently, this semester, finally moved into a new building in Ciudad del Saber. There will be kinks and it'll take time to iron it out. The campus is brand new, the building is brand new. This is both good and bad</p>

<p>Those are just some points that I came across off of the top of my head. I know I haven't addressed everything, but here are just some side thoughts.</p>

<p>In Panama, you're gonna need street smarts. You will have to rely on the public transportation system to get around (city buses) or taxis. The goal is to befriend Panamanians and have secure rides with them, but initially, you may have to rely on taxis and buses. Never ever travel alone. Groups of 3 or more are best. My friend and I got mugged in a taxi. We lost all of our money, our credit cards, ID, phone, keys, everything... This isn't to scare anyone off, but the school does not emphasize this enough. If I did this all over again, I'd ALWAYS call a reliable taxi instead of flagging them down. Find reliable taxi drivers, ask for their number, and when you need a ride, call the same drivers that you've come to trust. The school will be able to provide you with such numbers of said drivers.</p>

<p>The trips that the school plans are amazing and very enrichening. The San Blas Islands are one of my favorite trips. I went 3 times and would love to return back one day. You will not regret choosing FSU Panama when you are going on these excursions.</p>

<p>As mentioned before...pack lightly! No need to haul down your entire wardrobe. A few t-shirts, some jeans, and shorts and a jacket/hoodie or two are more than enough. The classes are AC'ed up, so you'll want that jacket.</p>

<p>Take note of the weather and the duration of your stay. If you're going in the Spring semester, you won't really need to worry about the rain as much. Fall and summer semesters, you're gonna want an umbrella. Panama is near the equator; expect heavy rainfall. If you want to avoid the rain, I suggest going during the Spring semester.</p>

<p>I'll edit this as I remember points to mention. But once again, feel free to ask questions. :)</p>

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<p>Great post! Thank you! How are academics? Are teachers mostly Spanish or mostly from the USA? Are they good? What is the workload? I would imagine that with travel opportunities and other distractions it must be hard to find time to study. How many kids were participating in the FYA and how many kids in total? How easy is it to maintain the 3.0 GPA to get in-state tuition?</p>

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<p>Hey brysia! :slight_smile: Well, in response to your questions…</p>

<p>The professors are mixed up. My bio professor was from El Salvador, my philosophy professor from the UK… But I’d say most are from Central America. Many of them are well traveled and go to the States often. My accounting professor would often speak Spanish in class, forgetting that there were English speakers in the class. It wasn’t too bad, but the classes are immersed with Panamanians. All of them can speak English well enough as they’ve all passed the TOEFL. They just sometimes get lazy and speak Spanish. But it wasn’t a problem or a big deal, really. Accounting was my only class that it was even something to think twice about.</p>

<p>The workload is decent. I took a lot of science pre-reqs while down there, so my load was actually heavier than most of my friend’s who were taking business and international relations related classes. Overall, I’d say classes in Panama are easier than classes on main campus.</p>

<p>It is a challenge to find time to study. Thank goodness the classes weren’t crazy hard. If you’re good with time management, it’s totally do-able. That was where most people got caught with their GPAs; not because the classes were too hard, but because of the “distractions”. My first semester there, I went out maybe twice? I had a 3.9. My second semester, I went out more and was more social. 3.2. The next semester, summer, I learned how to balance work and fun. 3.6. Came out with a 3.5 after being in Panama and got a lot of my major pre-reqs done while having an amazing experience. I have instate tuition now. Completely do-able. I actually feel I should have done better, looking back… Haha!</p>

<p>There were 6 FYA kids total. This year, I heard there are 12 or 13! But when mixed in with the students there for a semester at a time, there was always at least 20 or so of us. This is without looking into the Panamanians, of course, who come and hang out at the “dorms” (houses) all the time.</p>

<p>Hope that helps. Let me know if there’s anything else. :)</p>

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<p>Oreos&Milk, thank you for your answers. It all sounds great. DD wants to do 2 semesters in one country and summer in another.</p>

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<p>Oh yeah? Where is the other location she’s considering? Valencia perhaps? I’ve heard great things about that study center as well. :)</p>

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<p>2 semesters in Florence and summer in Valencia or Panama. The idea is to pick up some Spanish.</p>

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<p>Oh, okay. Well, Panama will be cheaper than Valencia. If that factors in at all. Haha! She won’t go wrong either way though. FSU is great with studying abroad. #8 for it, if I remember properly. :)</p>

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<p>Yes, all programs sound great. She is counting the days till priority decision.</p>

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<p>We have a vacation home in Panama and although I don’t know much about FSU’s program, I wanted to add one thing to Oreos’ very detailed and helpful post. Panama has a very large (proportionally of course) Jewish community that is very warm and welcoming. Panama has a very diverse and tolerant population, Many ethnic groups came when the canal was being built and somehow everyone learned to be respectful of one another. The Jewish community has been there a long time and Panama boasts the only country outside of Israel to have had 2 Jewish presidents. I can’t verify that, but it is the going word.</p>

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<p>Yes, I noticed every possible ethnicity in the city when I was there for a day off the cruise ship. Local “Europeans” were clearly visible too. A lot of French names in addition to Spanish and English. It was amazing to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and back all in one day.</p>

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<p>This is an excerpt from an email I sent that FSU Panama refuses to answer and I was hoping someone here might be able to help. It is seriously impossible to get any information concerning this school which leaves me a bit worried. I couldn’t find a review of anyone’s experience at this campus and I have no idea why that is the case. So If someone could help me out and answer what they can I would really appreciate it because I don’t know where else to turn. Calling Panama is very expensive I discovered. </p>

<p>" I am emailing you because I want to ask you if it is common for the American students to work while in Panama or not. What is the likelihood of finding a job?</p>

<p>I’m sorry to bombard you with questions but this information will be very helpful in my decision as to whether to attend or not. What is the social life like? I am a non-traditional student so would I feel out of place as I will probably 26 by the time I arrive. How often do students go into the city? Is it far? Do students drive? Is it useful to purchase a car? How many students attend this campus? What is the area like surrounding the school? I found out that I am a Panamanian citizen also since we last spoke and I wanted to know if there are any benefits to my citizenship. Would tuition be cheaper for a citizen? What is the process like for obtaining a driver’s license? Every car I’ve seen for sale in Panama is really expensive when I compare them to how cheap they are in Michigan, do you know why? Speaking of expenses, If I were to get a job, what could I expect pay-wise?</p>

<p>How much is it to rent a one bedroom apartment? Should I buy an insurance plan? Do citizens receive free health care? While I am at the FSU Panama campus is it possible to still study abroad somewhere else?</p>

<p>What else do I need to know?</p>

<p>I hope you are able to answer most of my questions, I know there are many to consider but I really do appreciate you making the effort. I am sure this will be immensely helpful. Thank you for your time.</p>

<p>Ricardo Jesus "</p>

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<p>^Maybe they’d respond better if you email Panama in Spanish.</p>

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<p>Woah, thanks for bumping this thread. I’m planning to go there for Fall '12 (I don’t really want to be in the states for 12/21/12…).</p>

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<p>^ Yea the NCAA is going to have to move the bowl games up a little earlier in 2012</p>

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<p>*Calling Panama is very expensive I discovered.

  • That’s because phone companies here are a little messy, sorry about that.</p>

<p>*What is the likelihood of finding a job.

  • That depends on your skills and legal status. Since you say you are Panamanian, then it’s ok legally. The rest depends on what you can do and, of course, you MUST know Spanish.</p>

<p>*What is the social life like?

  • As the OP mentioned, drinking is a part of the culture around here, as well as clubbing. There’s not much else I can mention that’s outstanding, it’s like any other city. There’s malls, clubs, bars, stores, etc. everywhere so social life is what you make of it.</p>

<p>*How often do students go into the city? Is it far?

  • The city is right there, but going to the interesting places is a different matter. It does require some distance to get to places such as clubs and malls, but it really depends on what places you like to frequent. Since most students are locals, they surely go to the city a lot since they know their way around.</p>

<p>*Do students drive? Is it useful to purchase a car?

  • If you are only going to be there temporarily, purchasing a car is not a good idea. Yes, young people love to drive, but they also love to hop into friends’ cars to go around. Plan what you might from that.</p>

<p>*I am a Panamanian citizen also since we last spoke and I wanted to know if there are any benefits to my citizenship. Would tuition be cheaper for a citizen?

  • No. FSU-Panama is just a branch of the USA FSU, so for tuition matters, Panamanians are still international students to the system and we don’t get lower tuition. Because of that, it is also considered a ‘private’ university in the government’s perception so there’s no scholarship either.</p>

<p>*What is the process like for obtaining a driver’s license?

  • You must go to an authorized driving school for practical/theorical study and, after getting a certificate stating you are qualified, you will do an exam for the Ministry of Transport to grant you a license. </p>

<p>*Every car I’ve seen for sale in Panama is really expensive when I compare them to how cheap they are in Michigan, do you know why?

  • Cars here are shipped from overseas because we do not have factories here, so costs are high when you add up shipping costs, legal, etc. In the US, they are made in your territory’s own factories so costs are lower.</p>

<p>*Speaking of expenses, If I were to get a job, what could I expect pay-wise?

  • It really depends on your experience and skills. Cost of living here is low, so wages are proportional to that. Last time I read a newspaper, no-experience technical jobs are $600/month maximum. </p>

<p>*Should I buy an insurance plan? Do citizens receive free health care?

  • Health care in Panama is a delicate matter, but I personally do not trust anything government-provided. What I recommend is a proper insurance plan and have proof of it with you at all times. Private hospitals here are quite high-tech (and still very cheap compared to the US), but you wouldn’t reject a public hospital if you were in an emergency, I assume.</p>

<p>I am from Panama so I know almost every tidbit of information about my country. I answered what I could, and I also want to second all of the OP’s information regarding the matter since they are quite good guidelines.</p>

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<p>I want to thank you Andrewheat for answering my questions, it is very nice to finally have someone address my concerns.</p>

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<p>It’s no problem. I know it’s hard to get info on small countries such as Panama, and it sometimes leads to experience through trial-and-error.</p>

<p>As extra info, I would like to point out that we just recently had a change of government and have been going through lots of changes lately, which are looking good at the moment (no idea what it will lead to for the future). Some examples include, creation of new ministries, raises in police’s salary, persecution of corruption suspects, increased police operations, many important new projects (widening of the Canal, construction of a metro, etc.) so we are heading in a great direction in regards of development.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, we are still far from being perfect or organized, so precautions must be taken when living here, such as the OP’s incident with the taxi.</p>

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<p>Sorry this question is so late but do you think it’s easier to get accepted to fsu or the program if you call the admission office and let them know you want to do first year abroad? I know some people are offered it but should you let them know your interested as you apply?</p>

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<p>Don’t call admissions. Call International Program and express interest. They can make things happen.</p>