Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Best Study Abroad Experience Is In La Plata Past Review

By (The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 02/14/2012 to 07/15/2012 with

William & Mary: La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was incredible. I am going back for sure.

Review Photos

William and Mary: La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata Photo William and Mary: La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata Photo William and Mary: La Plata - Universidad Nacional de La Plata Photo

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 15 dollars
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Find a place to study that is NOT in a cafe. We didn´t have a place to study that was quiet and open at good times, so I spent a lot of money on coffee and medialunes so that I could study somewhere.

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

La Plata was perfect to practice Spanish.

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? HISP 391 Translation, or HISP 305 Advanced Spanish Grammar
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Read the newspapers! Talk with your peers at the university all the time. Make friends!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Meeting Argentinians all the time and hardly meeting English-speakers
  • The tranquil and comfortable vibe in La Plata
  • Class that Gisela taught, Derechos Indígenas
* What could be improved?
  • The trips to Tandil, Misiones should be pushed up more and not left til the very end of the trip
  • WM students need a place to study, from 10 am until 8 or 9 pm
  • The internship
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the first two months would be very boring and empty of local friends, so it would have been good to write the History paper in that time. It would be best to make it so you have allllll your work done before the last month of classes.