Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

¡Que guay! February 08, 2021

By (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor) - abroad from 01/13/2020 to 03/14/2020 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - IES Abroad in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be more resilient, resourceful, and open-minded. The experience really helped me become more independent and adventurous.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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

Madrid is a lively and historical city. It is the ideal place for a younger crowd.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Many students want to travel to surrounding countries while they are abroad; make sure to make a budget for your weekly expenses prior to planning any trips.

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? Fluent
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? Watch a lot of shows or movies in the target language simply to familiarize yourself with the Spanish accent. Practice speaking Spanish with classmates or friends.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Excursions
  • Food
  • Social life
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known more about the culture in local universities. I did not know that university courses in Spain are built upon one another; meaning a course taken in sophomore year may be referenced to in a senior year course. Without much of the background knowledge of the previous course it is difficult to follow class content.

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.