Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best months of my life! Past Review

By (Chapman University) - abroad from 01/31/2016 to 04/30/2016 with

Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
ABSOLUTELY worthwhile! I learned way to much to explain.

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.

* 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?

I had no personal experience, but friends of mine had better coverage then back in the United States.

* Safety:

As with traveling to any foreign country there are always risks, however, I always felt very safe in granada.

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

They were attentive, less expensive than the other programs, and smaller which allowed us to get to know our program directors.

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)

Granada was a very inexpensive city! Being fed by my host family 3 meals per day, I needed less money than I had at my home university.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 40 (not including distance travels)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Kayak.com and skyscanner.com / Flix bus are excellent sources for traveling when abroad.

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 0
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? Go to a city where very few people speak english! In granada, I was forced to speak the language everywhere I went and it made a world of a difference!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Perfect location
  • The friends it connected me to
  • the small, close, program environment
* What could be improved?
  • More communication about arrival process (it still worked well, but was confusing)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That making friends and being comfortable in a new city will come naturally.

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.