Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Eat. Sleep. Travel. Repeat. Past Review

By (Christian Education and Spanish, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 01/09/2013 to 05/10/2013 with

Universidad Pública de Navarra: Pamplona - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned more about myself and my capabilities. I loved being in Europe and experiencing a new culture.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I didn't find it super challenging, per se, but the professors were great and I enjoyed my classes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I'm probably biased though--my school back home does so much for the international students to help them acclimate. In Spain, they were just like, fend for yourselves!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a host family and LOVED it.

* Food:

My host mom cooked for me. Delish.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with a Spanish family is what made me feel somewhat integrated. Otherwise, I didn't even feel like I was integrated with the university culture, much less the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Pamplona is super safe. Don't worry about going there--unlike, Barcelona which is crime ridden.

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)

My scholarships applied to my traveling. It was great!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Hard to say. Maybe 10-40 euros? Just for basic things.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't eat out all the time. My meals were provided, so if I went out, I only ever got a drink or something. Save your money for traveling!

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? Spanish 300
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Converse, converse, converse. We can all understand a language pretty well if we've taken the classes...producing it is the real challenge.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

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

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

  • 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?
  • Travel
  • Professors
  • Host family
* What could be improved?
  • Immersion with the real students
  • Communication between the international office and the students
  • Having more opportunities to meet people other than parties
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would be in classes with other international students and not Spaniards. If I'd known that, I would have signed up for real Spanish classes, not Learn Spanish classes.

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.