Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Experience of a Lifetime Past Review

By (Connecticut College) - abroad from 08/31/2017 to 12/16/2017 with

IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be independent and had to go out of my comfort zone in many situations. You learn how to make friends easily when you are in a place where no one knows each other.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

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?

* 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? $300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries instead of eating out all the time!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes

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

  • 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?
  • I loved my Spanish Class
  • I loved how close the students were in the program.
* What could be improved?
  • Many of the classes required group projects. However, some home institutions were only pass or fail while the grades of other schools counted in ones GPA. Those students who were pass or fail would not put in much effort into group assignments since their grades did not matter.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To utilize as many resources as possible and to get to know your professors!