Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

PRESHCO Past Review

By (Connecticut College) - abroad from 01/25/2019 to 05/26/2019 with

PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I've definitey learned more about myself, improved my ability to communicate with those around me, and become a bit more independent.

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.

I thought it was the perfect level of challenging--four courses was ideal and, while the material the classes covered wasn't necessarily groundbreaking, I learned tons of new words and a bit about the Spanish persepective on different things.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

PRESHCO staff is very helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family and I couldn't have been better matched.

* Food:

I got sick of fried food and not having many vegetables, but my host family did let me use the kitchen if I ever wanted to.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was pretty hard to get to know the students at the UCO.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

If you're not a Smith or Wellesley student, make sure you opt out of the healthcare!!

* Safety:

Córdoba feels incredibly safe.

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

It truly had everything I was looking for in a program, and I felt like it was completely worth it.

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 practically didn't have to spend money if I didn't want to. Córdoba was insanely economic when I did.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20-40
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat with your host family!

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? SPA 312
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? Finding a way to get immersed for a few days at the beginning and speaking nothing but Spanish helped me be comfortable with my use of the language and improved my listening skills immensely.

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?
  • people I met
  • city of Córdoba
  • UCO courses
* What could be improved?
  • not many free weekends
  • orientation trip is very long
  • scheduling is difficult and stressful
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I had imagined that there would be ~60 of us in the program, but there were actually only 18. It didn't end up being a bad thing, but not knowing until a few nights before I left stressed me out a ton.

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.