Eye-opening Experience August 17, 2022
By A student (Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/17/2022 to 05/20/2022 with
Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid: Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
A new perspective of not taking things too seriously. There's always another way.
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 chose the wrong classes by accident and didn't realize it until after registration finalized. I went on with the semester with growing anxiety and a helpless attitude. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was a bit confusing at times. Some staff was quite welcoming and approachable but others seemed too stressed to be reached. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were many events and groups to help meet others, however, it was mostly international students that I would socialize with, not so much Spaniards. There was a buddy system with local Spanish students but my schedule and my buddy's just never matched up. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Spanish healthcare is amazing compared to the US. No countless documents, extensive check-in/check-out, and long waiting rooms but simple and quick appts or even walk-ins. As far as covid, masks were mandatory for majority of my time there and online classes were only for those with covid. If you had the flu, you were not supposed to log on. |
| * Safety: |
There were countless late nights where I would be walking or taking the night buses back to my apartment by myself and I felt fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would choose a program that included pass/fail classes and a longer registration period. |
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 didn't create a budget until about a month in. After it was created, I felt more secure. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $160 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | cook at home, stick to free events, pre game at home |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | Advanced Spanish Grammar |
| 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? | Talk to anyone and everyone |
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 |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How classes and credit transfers would work for this specific program |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
