Confirming My Future in Surgery October 15, 2026
By A student (Medicine, San Diego State University) - abroad from 06/01/2024 to 07/27/2024 with
Cerca Abroad: Medical in Greece
I gained a clearer perspective on my medical career and a deeper appreciation for different approaches to healthcare.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Observing real surgical procedures brought a new depth to my understanding of medicine |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The local coordinators made everything run smoothly while allowing us plenty of indepedence |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The accommodation was very comfortable and well located! |
| * Food: |
Greek cuisine was a delightful discovery , with fresh ingredients and wonderful flavors around every corner. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyday encounters with locals gave me a genuine sense of belonging in Athens |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues during my stay, but it was reassuring to know that medical assistance was readily available. |
| * Safety: |
Athens felt safe and welcoming. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Hello, my name is Elisabeth and I am from California and I study at San Diego State University. I picked this program because in the future I want to become either a nurse, surgeon or a plastic surgeon, which was solidified while doing this program. I got to witness tons of surgeries in the operating room and it really helped me along the decision of what I want to do when I am older, which is something I’ve been pondering for a little bit. With Cerca Abroad, they’ve been really responsive, so quick and great at communicating for anything I need- from directions to any issues, if there was anything with the apartment. Athens overall has been a great experience. There’s so much to do here and I would definitely recommend doing this program to anyone who is interested in healthcare. It’s extremely flexible and will help you figure out your decision on what you want to do in the future. |
Finances
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* 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 110$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop at local markets , use public transport and take advantage of student discounts |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Everything was so well organized that there was nothing I needed to know in advance. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
