Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Empowering through immersion Past Review

By (Political Science, Studio Art, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/31/2014 to 12/14/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: Czech Republic - Arts and Social Change

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile. I learned about my own adaptability and felt a sense of empowerment from the experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program had the potential to be fairly rigorous, but it involved taking initiative. Personally, I invested myself in the work, but other students on the program were able to get by without giving their work too much attention. The attitude of the other students made it harder to focus, but there were too many great educational opportunities to brush school work off completely.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a homestay family, and the home was fantastic. The only challenge was that my homestay was about an hour from the city center. This could be frustrating because I had to plan ahead, but I got to know the city well by living on the outskirts.

* 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)

SIT gives out stipends that significantly lower the living costs. Also, homestay families supply food.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $5
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? You will spend more money during the ISP than you do the first 2 months of the program. Plan ahead.

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? Spanish 220 at Middlebury
How many hours per day did you use 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?
  • homestay
  • ability to study what I wanted/ academic freedom
  • ISP
* What could be improved?
  • time planning/organization
  • Czech class
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? All roads lead to the ISP

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:

Czech language

Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Arts Field Studies Seminar
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Independent Study Project
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Creativity in Context
Course Department:
Instructor: Jana Hradilkova
Instruction Language:
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Czech History Arts and Civil Society
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: