Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I'm Already Planning my Return Trip Past Review

By (University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire) - abroad from 02/11/2013 to 06/07/2013 with

American College of Thessaloniki (ACT): Thessaloniki - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained perspective on another culture that I hope to share with others in the future. This trip also increased my desire to travel more. This trip was one of the best decisions of my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic side of the study abroad experience was perfect at ACT. Students were expected to work hard and learn by the professors who were knowledgable and kind. They also understood that we were there to also travel and site-see, not putting too much pressure on us. I also didn't have any easy classes, all classes were interesting and enjoyable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was always kinda and helpful. They clearly knew how to deal with abroad kids and were prepared to deal with any problem that arose. I never felt alienated by them.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I like our apartments more than a school dorm. The rooms were nice enough and we had a weekly cleaning service. The location was nice too, removed from the downtown but close to markets and bakeries. The beds were not very good however.

* Food:

I loved the food here, even the school food too. The open air market provided a lot of great food and the restaurants were great, cheap gyros or expensive meals. Absolutely loved

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated in the culture. Our housing was off campus which helped us integrate with the neighborhood and we were encouraged to mingle with the locals.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There were some initial health problems when we were adjusting to the new environment that I believe wasn't addressed properly. But overall, there were not too many health problems during my stay.

* Safety:

Safety was never an issue in Thessaloniki. We were warned of the dangers that abroad students could face but no one in our group had a safety issue. All school led trips also were safe, with a guide or professor with us the whole time.

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)

The student budget in Greece was fine. The food was fairly cheap which saved us money to enjoy extra luxuries like trips, drinks and tours.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Most of the things you will by will be memories later in life, however always be mindful of how much your spending a week.

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

We were always expected to speak Greek to our professor during class. We also had assignments to go out in the city and record conversations in Greek with locals. A practical assignment that was better than just reading text out of a book.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? 4 years of Spanish in high school
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? Use it as much as you can out of the classroom. This practice is especially helpful for common questions like where something is, how much is something, etc.

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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The friends I made
  • The city of Thessaloniki
  • The memories I made
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Never stop exploring.

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.