Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Made life long friends within & outside of the program! Def. recommend! Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/26/2016 to 12/17/2015 with

PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned alot about Spanish culture from my host family and my classes. Also, I friendships with Spaniards (and fellow peers in the program) and developed a strong relationship with my host family. I also gained invaluable experiences when traveling to neighboring countries (like the UK, France, Netherlands, and Italy).

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.

Although not as rigorous as Wellesley, the classes I took did teach me about the contemporary history and political system of Spain. I did not know much about Spain coming into the program and I feel like my living arrangement added to my educational experience. Also, the class I took at the University of Cordoba was definitely more challenging because it required a familiarity with Spanish history, law, and political system.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I appreciate the way the program was structured. I liked how the program took us on a tour of Spanish cities (before the semester started) because I used that time to get acclimated to Spanish culture and way of life.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I learned a lot about Spanish culture through my host family. I felt very comfortable living with my host parents and developed a strong relationship with them.

* Food:

My host mother cooked traditional Spanish dishes.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My host parents went out of their way to make me feel included. They took me to their countryside town and I got to experience local tradition. The program also made an effort for us to network with Spaniards in Cordoba by pairing us with conversation partners. In my UCO course, however, sometimes I felt excluded because everybody in the class knew each other.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Thankfully, I did not have an experience with healthcare. My friend in the program did. It seemed like they were really attentive to their needs.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Cordoba.

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)

I was easily able to live on a student's budget, especially because your host parents provide meals for you. Also, after travelling to other countries that semester, I can say that food is relatively cheap in Spain.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent a couple of euros a week on coffee and snacks for myself.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to find the cheapest way to travel. Instead of taking the RENFE trains to neighboring cities, take the bus.

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

The program always encouraged us to use Spanish. Also, in order to engage with our host parents, we needed to have a grasp of the language.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I took Spanish in high school.
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? Speak Spanish with your friends in the PRESHCO program.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Cultural component (I did theater, but some did Sevillanas and Spanish guitar.)
  • Orientation tour of Spain because I got to visit Barcelona, Salamanca, Toledo, Segovia, and Madrid before classes started.
  • The outings during the semester. (We took a group trip to Granada and Morocco, both incredible experiences.)
* What could be improved?
  • Preparation/guidance with UCO classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It gets colder as the semester progresses, so come equipped! (Also, bring a swimsuit!)

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.