Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Sea Lions and Rice in the Equatorial Sun Past Review

By (Biology, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/10/2015 to 05/09/2015 with

Universidad San Francisco de Quito: USFQ Galapagos Semester Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the Galapagos Islands and the importance of conservation. It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life and I would recommend it to anyone.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

If you want to spend time with the local people and learn about the culture, you have to actively seek it out. It is very easy to only spend time with the other students in the program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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? about $30/week on food, about $100 on souvenirs
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make a budget- it's really easy to forget how much money you are spending, especially with going out at night and the small daily expenses that add up.

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 really only had to use the language when we were speaking with our host families

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? NA
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? Talk to as many locals as possible, especially the kids. They won't hesitate to correct you and are more likely to want to talk to you.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The food was amazing
  • You get to study in paradise
* What could be improved?
  • I wish we could have interacted more with the locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I had known what living in such a small community would be like. Initially, the thrill of being on the Galapagos Islands was enough to be exciting but I felt that towards the end of the semester, I was getting bored. I also wish that I had known I get seasick easily. Luckily, drugs at the pharmacy are quite inexpensive.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.