Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A new home Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/21/2016 to 05/23/2016 with

PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I would absolutely recommend PRESHCO and studying abroad in general. It forced me to push my boundaries, explore new places and have amazing experiences. This experience allowed me to broaden my horizons and gave me a new perspective on my life and made me think more about what I want to do in the future. Most importantly I found a new place halfway across the world to call "home".

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

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)

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? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
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? Start out speaking spanish from the beginning and if you find yourself slipping into english make an effort to switch back to spanish

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
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?
  • Program travel and excursions
  • Host family
* What could be improved?
  • Academic rigor
  • Language emphasis
  • Integration into local life
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There are a number of things that I wish I could tell myself before starting this program: to speak Spanish all the time, even if other people are speaking English and to keep trying every moment of every day because that's the only way to really improve; to reach out to people in the program and really get to know all the awesome people I was with; to make an effort to make contacts with local students, and to take initiative in creating those relationships

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.