Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Go to Prague Past Review

By (Political Science and Government., Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/04/2014 to 05/16/2014 with

UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Prague is a fantastic city with access to Europe. Go!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses are much easier than Midd, but that is understandable. My teachers for the most part were decent. 2 were actually quite good.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

UPCES does an excellent job on all fronts.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our first apartment got bedbugs and we lost our deposit and had to pay a forward month's rent. That said our new place was spectacular, however this was researched independently of UPCES.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

NA

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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? na
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? bring more money than you think you'll need even after factoring in rent. ie unexpected need to move cost us over and extra $1300 the first month

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 220
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Czech is very challenging and practice will not be unlikely to be beneficial.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Friends
  • Night life
  • Reduced academic rigor
* What could be improved?
  • NA
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Prague has surprisingly great Vietnamese food.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

European Integration
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Lucia Najšlová,
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Professor was very passionate and well informed of the subject. I enjoyed this course and felt is was arguably the most academically rigorous and equivalent to a Midd course.
Credit Transfer Issues: preapproved for major transfer
Course Name/Rating:

Czech Language
Course Department: Czech
Instructor: Suzana
Instruction Language: Czech
Comments: Teacher was knowledgeable and well prepared. Her grading procedures are quite arbitrary and she is quick to play favorites.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Economics of Growth and Development
Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Dragana Stanišić
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting course. Great professor and she brought in experts from different and applicable fields to lead discussions. Would definitely recommend.
Credit Transfer Issues: Does not count for minor at Midd.
Course Name/Rating:

Prague as a living history
Course Department: social sciences
Instructor:
Instruction Language: english
Comments: Interesting walking tours of Prague. Takes you places you'd otherwise never see. This is a must take course at UPCES
Credit Transfer Issues: Relatively arbitrary grading. Not many assignments.
Course Name/Rating:

Human Rights Issues in Eastern Europe
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: liliana huszthyova
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Fairly challenging course with focus on relevant as well as historical examples of human rights issues in central and eastern Europe.
Credit Transfer Issues: Yes. Will need to request a major transfer approval upon arrival.