Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The south of Spain: get used to relaxing! Past Review

By (Psychology, University of Northern Iowa) for

Universidad De Jaen: Jaen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes. I think I would have liked a larger city. Jaen was not very cool, it got boring and did not have a lot to offer. While I valued my experience it has made me appreciate the US more than ever.

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.

Very little work or help from 2/4 professors. I was never told how I would be graded by 3/4 professors. The quality of education was very poor.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I was annoyed a lot by the administration and my advisor. I think it is cultural but still it was very annoying how slow and unorganized the education system was there. I feel my money was wasted in the education area but outside of the university I found value in learning the culture and language. I was upset that I was allowed to attend even though there was an overlap of semesters, students from UNI should not attend Jaen in the Fall only. They should be allowed to for a whole year or only spring.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It was very difficult to find a flat for only six months. Most landlords only wanted to rent for a year so I had to take a tiny room in a junky apartment. I lived with three Polish girls and we mainly spoke English. I had to buy sheets, the cookware was junky but worked, the hot water went out a lot, and in general the living conditions of a 140 euro a month room was a lot less comfortable than in the USA. The location was good, and it was a safe neighborhood and city.

* Food:

I enjoy cooking and was able to enjoy the local products. I shopped at Dia mostly and found the prices very reasonable. I am a vegetarian and I was OK, but that meant I needed to use my cooking skills.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was not really an Erasmus student but they let me join and I felt very comfortable with my international friends. We took many trips around Spain that were fun and educational.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I did not get sick or injured so I am not sure about healthcare. Jaen is very safe, Barcelona is not very safe like pickpockets, drugs, prostitutes, etc. but my favorite for other reasons such as culture, architecture, food and the sea.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

The pre academic course in Spanish I took was very good. My psychology classes during the semester were all in Spanish and the degree to which I was lead to believe there would be English help was a lot lower than expected. I had a pretty comfortable level of Spanish before going so I was OK. Not many people in Jaen spoke English, in other cities like Madrid and Barcelona there was more English.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Language learning
  • Travel
  • Culture
* What could be improved?
  • Administration organization
  • At home university help
  • Education Quality
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If you are very concerned with learning a lot from your classes this university is not for you. But if you want to learn about the Spanish language and culture and meet and become friends with other international students it is for you! You should be laid back and OK with being patient. If you like trying new food and drinking wine you will have more to enjoy. Traveling around a lot is also a must while you are in Spain since it is so cheap.