The Best 4 Months of My Life!! Past Review
By Alex F (International Law, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/16/2015 to 12/19/2015 with
IES Abroad: Amsterdam - Law & Criminology
This was the absolute best program and best experience of my life! IES took care of every last detail and so I did not have to worry about anything when I first got there. I have made so many great friends in this program and I so forever thankful for this opportunity. I learned so much about myself and the world around me in a way that I could not do so in a normal college experience.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES is amazing!!! I love the entire staff Chantal, Diana, Flor! They were all so helpful with everything and took care of any problem that I had while I was abroad. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was easily accessible and IES provided information of 2 local doctors and were extremely helpful in working out insurance issues |
| * Safety: |
Amsterdam is extremely safe and not once was I was ever worried for my safety |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Like everything living on a budget was a learning curve for me especially having to buy my own groceries but the Netherlands was also not the cheapest place to live. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | None |
| 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 in the grocery story, with friends, and in everyday situations so that you get used to it |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | That I was going to have difficulty in transferring my classes to my home school (Wellesley) |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
