CIEE: Santo Domingo - Liberal Arts Photo

Dominican Republic: Changing the American Dream

A Study Abroad Program Review For

CIEE: Santo Domingo - Liberal Arts

Program Information

This program is for advanced level Spanish students who are motivated to gain a deeper appreciation of the realities of Dominican society, and the Caribbean region as a whole, especially issues of underdevelopment, through both academic and internship activities.

Program Snapshot:

* Significantly imp... More

Provider: CIEE
Location(s): Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Year Founded:
Website Take me there!

Review By:

Nancy M. (Human Rights and English with a Film Concentration, Barnard College) on July 01, 2011

Overall Rating

Personal Information

* Start Date: 2011-01-02
* End Date: 2011-04-30
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

* Home Institution Advising:

How well did Barnard 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Very cheap living expenses. I was able to go 5 months in the country on $2,000.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate II
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

Host family, friends, everyone on the street. Santiago is better than Santo Domingo in this aspect because very few people speak English, unlike in the capital.

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

  • Americans

A Look Back

* If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? No
* What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? Yes.