Barcelona Program Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Fordham University) - abroad from 09/16/2013 to 12/18/2013 with

Arcadia: Barcelona- Arcadia in Barcelona

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I met a lot of great people and learned more than I ever though I would about the host culture and about myself. It was absolutely worthwhile

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff in Barcelona were so friendly and helpful, they really made an effort to get to know every student and make our experience as good as it could be

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a great apartment in a great neighborhood, and it was really nice to have a flatmate from my Arcadia program

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues while abroad.

* Safety:

Barcelona is very safe for a major metropolitan city, but definitely beware of petty theft and pickpocketing.

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)

Groceries are cheap, but going out is expensive

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60 euro

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? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 2601
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? Speak the language any time you have the chance, and try not to fall back on using English

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Class size
  • Emphasis on host culture
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • Fewer hours spent in class and doing homework
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Three months is not a very long time, so I would have prioritized my activities better

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.