Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Once in a Lifetime Opportunity! Past Review

By (Northern Illinois University) - abroad from 05/15/2018 to 06/06/2018 with

International Business Seminars: Summer Europe

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This experience was 100% worthwhile and I learned a lot while traveling abroad! My Europe seminar with IBS was my first time traveling out of the country. I’ve traveled some within the United States, but traveling abroad is a completely different experience. In the States we’re so used to the same language being spoken everywhere you go, but in Europe it’s a different story entirely. This trip was amazing because I got to experience several different languages and cultures over the course of three weeks, as well as gain insight into living and working within the European Union. It was a great way to learn more about myself and make some amazing friends as well. There's nothing like studying abroad and I would recommend IBS to anyone interested in traveling internationally and learning more about international business.

Review Photos

International Business Seminars: Summer Europe - 6 Countries in 23 Days! Photo International Business Seminars: Summer Europe - 6 Countries in 23 Days! Photo

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:

Only breakfast is included, so be sure to do a little research on restaurants before you go! Lots of fun to eat out with new friends and try the local cuisine!

* 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

This was a great trip for my first time abroad. Everything was well planned out and very interesting and I am glad for the experience! The faculty was really helpful and always checking in with us to make sure we were having a good time. I learned a lot travelling between the different countries. This was a truly unique experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

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 very easily. The only meal included in this trip was breakfast, which meant we were regularly eating out two meals a day. However, this is a fairly short trip (only 3 weeks) and I kind of expected this. Also, there's a lot of really cool excursions, which is why I ended up spending so much money on personal expenses. However, the trip was very fun and was worth every penny.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Quite a bit, probably around $350-$400 a week (I had budgeted $500 a week).
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try not to eat out every meal, maybe stop by a grocery store or a market for some cheaper options.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Visiting so many countries.
  • Visiting different international companies.
  • Traveling and experiencing new languages and cultures.
* What could be improved?
  • Hotels closer to city centers.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How easily I would make friends. I didn't know anyone going on this trip and I was really worried about it at first, but everyone attending was super friendly and open-minded about meeting people which made it super easy to get to know others! It was a great experience and even if you don't know anyone going, don't let that hold you back!

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.