Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/07/2016 to 05/20/2016 with

UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
FRIENDS, PERSPECTIVE, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, FAMILY, MOST WORTHWHILE THING IVE EVER DONE

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.

challenging courses

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration was so accommodating a friendly ... felt like family away from home

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our housing was sick. Nicest place I will probably live in until im 30 years old. made the experience what it was

* Food:

great food in Prague!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

totally integrated socially made friends from all over both local czech citizens and in different countries

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

very well, very clear. always there for support although Inever had any issues

* Safety:

always felt very safe

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

I WOULDNT CHANGE A THING. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT

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)

WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT NIGHT WHICH RACKED UP OUR EXPENSES BUT FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $500
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? DONT HOLD BACK. WORK HARD AND SAVE SO YOU HAVE THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM ABROAD. I SPENT EVERY PENNY TO MY NAME AND NEVER REGRETTED IT FOR A SECOND.

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

ALL OF THE TIME!

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? 300 LEVEL
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? STUDY EVERY NIGHT! ITS HARD TO MEMORIZE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE ESPECIALLY CZECH!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • FRIENDS
  • ADMINISTRATION
  • THE SCHOOL BUILDING ITSELF
* What could be improved?
  • 8AM CZECH CLASS
  • TEMPERATURE OF CLASSROOMS
  • ATTENDENCE POLICY
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? DONT HOLD BACK. THIS WILL BE THE BEST 4 MONTHS YOU EVER LIVE.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Human RELATIONS IN CZECH AND AMERICAN FILMS
Course Department: SOCIOLOGY
Instructor: DANIEL SHANAHAN
Instruction Language: ENGLISH
Comments: CHALLENGING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING, GREAT COURSE, ALWAYS PARTICIPATED, VERY ENGAGING
Credit Transfer Issues: NO
Course Name/Rating:

PRAGUE AS A LIVIVNG HISTORY
Course Department: HISTORY
Instructor: TOMAS HRIBEK
Instruction Language: ENGLISH
Comments: BY FAR COOLEST CLASS , SAW ALL OF PRAGUE, VERY RICH IN HISTORY, ASSESSED THROUGH PAPERS, TESTS, AND ORAL PRESENTATION
Credit Transfer Issues: YES
Course Name/Rating:

BAROQUE AND MODERN ART
Course Department: ART HISTORY
Instructor: TOMAS HRIBEK
Instruction Language: ENGLISH
Comments: VERY COOL, HAD SOME FIELD TRIPS, WAS GRADED THROUGH EXAMS AND PARTICIPATION, AWESOME TOPICS, VERY INTERESTING
Credit Transfer Issues: NO, YES I WOULD TOTALLY REC
Course Name/Rating:

ELEMENTARY CZECH
Course Department: LANGUAGE
Instructor: ZUZANA
Instruction Language: CZECH
Comments: WAS NOT A FAN OF THIS COURSE... INSTRUCTOR MOVED WAY TOO FAST AND WAS NOT FORGIVING OF THE FACT THAT THIS LANGUAGE WAS ENTIRELY FOREIGN FOR US. DID MY BEST BUT ULTIMATELY REALLY DREADED GOING TO CLASS EVERY MORNING
Credit Transfer Issues: WOULD NOT REC ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE IT IS REQUIRED
Course Name/Rating:

GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
Course Department: COMMUNICATION
Instructor: TODD NESBIT
Instruction Language: ENGLISH
Comments: PRETTY INTERESTING CLASS ALTHOUGH THE INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT THAT ENGAGING. HE KIND OF JUST SHOWED UP MOST DAYS WITHOUT A REAL PASSION FOR THE SUBJECTS BEING TAUGHT. I WOULD STILL REC THOUGH BC VERY USEFULL KNOWLEDGE
Credit Transfer Issues: YES. I WOULD REC