Challenging, Rewarding, Beautiful. Past Review
By Katelyn Prevenslik (Washington & Jefferson College) - abroad from 08/25/2018 to 12/22/2018 with
Webster University: Athens - Odyssey in Athens
Studying abroad was DEFINITELY worth while!! Even if your program is not ideal, that is no excuse to not make the most of it. I went from being a girl who never even left Pennsylvania to traveling 7 countries in Europe by myself. You gain so much confidence in yourself that you could never appreciate if you did not go outside of your comfort zone.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were not the caliber at which W&J courses are. While this was nice, and I was able to travel Europe a lot, there is very little punishment for students (such as my peers) who never show up to class or turn in assignments. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I would have never made it through these four months without Dina. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing is nice as it gives you a chance to be independent, however, there need to be a few changes or at least some information given to students before hand. I think everyone should know who they will be living with, as that served as a HUGE issue in our apartment. Also, it needs to be informed early that you cannot cook and turn on the hot water at the same time because multiple girls living in a small space need to realize this before they get bitter with one another. |
| * Food: |
Greek food is amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did not feel integrated at all with any local Greeks or with the culture. I am only exposed to American students in this program which makes it hard to venture out. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did not feel safe at all going out at night alone or even with my roommates. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
The program seems ideal, especially for first time travelers such as myself, but it is just way too suffocating being surrounding only by 7 American students every single minute of every single day. I love Greece, but I wish I would have been more integrated with other students. |
Finances
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* 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) |
If you grocery shop and cook yourself, it is very easy to save money and use that to budget trips. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-$40 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure you plan your trips in advance!!! I planned all of my travels within the first month of being here, so I knew exactly how much money I had left to budget. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | No Greek exposure |
| 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? | Definitely take the Greek language courses and do not be afraid to use it at shops. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Although I knew that Webster was very small in Athens, I wish I would have known that the same people I live with would be the same people I have classes with every single day. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
