Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

No Expectations Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/16/2018 to 07/21/2018 with

IFSA: Mérida - Language and Cultural Studies in the Yucatán

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Acceptance, Perspectives, and additional family. Worth it.

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.

Great! The professors were amazing and the courses were very engaging.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They are amazing, I'd call them family.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I do not speak Spanish so it was very hard for me to communicate with my family. I wish the program notified me that I needed to know more Spanish than the basics.

* Food:

AMAZING !

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everyone that we met were willing to share their stories and knowledge.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not face any medical issues. I only had upset stomachs because i was not used to the food.

* Safety:

I always felt safe, even walking at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I would pick the same program because I met amazing people that gave me amazing life advice and allowed me to be myself. But I hope for program mates that are understanding.

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)

Great!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $40 US dollors
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't let the people in the program pressure you to pay the tip. Put in the amount you can.

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? 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? Learn conversational Spanish and Beginning levels. Once you get there, people will assume you speak the language.

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

  • 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?
  • The people
  • The pride
  • The stories
* What could be improved?
  • language requirement
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more Spanish so that I could communicate more with my host family and others.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Medical

Course Department:
Instructor: Sandra Alfaro
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The course is a little fast paced. Every week there's a quiz so be prepared. Other than that, the professor was very helpful and clear about the guidelines and the goal of the course.
Credit Transfer Issues: No complication. Just do the course registration form ahead of time and make sure you fill it out correctly.
Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Issues in Public Health in the Yucatan
Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Adrián Esparza
Instruction Language: Engish
Comments: This course was very useful in understanding public health and how a government provides healthcare policies.
Credit Transfer Issues: No complication. Just do the course registration form early and make sure it's filled corrected.