CIEE: Alicante - Liberal Arts Photo

A GREAT EXPERIENCE

A Study Abroad Program Review For

CIEE: Alicante - Liberal Arts

Program Information

This program is designed for students who have completed a minimum of five semesters of university-level language instruction in Spanish. Students interested in furthering their language skills, and in learning about Spain will find that this program provides an ideal option for students who seek a study abroa... More

Provider: CIEE
Location(s): Alicante, Spain
Year Founded:
Website Take me there!

Review By:

whitney g. (spanish education, Hope College) on January 18, 2012

Overall Rating

Personal Information

* Start Date: 2011-08-26
* End Date: 2011-12-22
If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: NO
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

THE CIEE PROFESSORS WERE GREAT!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I WISH THAT I HAD BEEN MORE PREPARED TO TAKE A CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY. I FEEL THAT I DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SO DIFFICULT

* Housing:

IT WAS PRETTY SAFE, I LIKED THAT

* Food:

THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PLACES TO FIND FOOD, THEY ARE ALL PRETTY GOOD

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

WE WENT TO THIS PARADISE-LIKE PLACE, IT WAS GREAT!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I THINK IT WAS PRETTY SAFE. THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE ON CAMPUS IS VERY USEFUL-GO THERE FIRST IF YOU ARE SICK BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL COULD BE EXPENSIVE.

* Home Institution Advising:

How well did Hope College prepare and support you for your time abroad?

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I SPENT ABOUT 50 DOLLARS A WEEK, THIS INCLUDES PHONE MINUTES, BUS PASSES, AND SOCIAL EVENTS
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? NOPE

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • THE PROFESSORS
  • THE CITY
  • THE BEACH
* What could be improved?
  • MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIFFICULTY OF ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY
  • MAKE THE CLASSES 4 CREDITS INSTEAD OF 3
  • MORE STRUCTURED GROUP ACTIVITIES WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD
* If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? Yes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE, DO IT!
* What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? IT HAS AFFECTED ME IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. I AM NOW CONSIDERING TO GO BACK AFTER I GRADUATE