Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An experience like no other Past Review

By (Stevens Institute of Technology) - abroad from 01/02/2017 to 03/15/2017 with

AIFS: Galapagos Islands – Universidad San Francisco de Quito

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about the fragility of the Galapagos and the world in general. I learned how humans have a huge impact on our environment and how scary that can be. I found this trip completely worthwhile and would recommend it to anyone interested in these topics.

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 found the course material very interesting and engaging and loved learning about such a unique place!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My family was so kind and welcoming. They were always willing to make an effort to understand my limited Spanish and help out with anything we needed.

* Food:

The fruit and the seafood was all so fresh!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My only wish is that we could have stayed longer in order to become even more integrated into the local life.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had an issue or knew of anyone who had an issue with health care.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe. (Maybe only a little nervous when snorkeling with sharks)

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

This kind of program really appealed to me in the way it balanced learning about the country and going out and doing things that related to what we learned. We had so many interesting excursions and while it was tiring at times, I definitely felt like I got the most out of my time there.

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 think I spent closer to $200 a week but I think I could have spent less if necessary.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200-$250

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

My host family spoke a little English but it was definitely helpful to know Spanish. I know some other students had host families that spoke even less English.

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? 3 years of high school Spanish
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? Take a class, or just practice talking to people.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • the excursions
  • how the class material was so relevant to the things we saw on excursions
  • living with a host family
* What could be improved?
  • I would have loved to see some of the other islands
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had studied more Spanish before leaving so that I could have more effectively communicated with our host family and some of the guides.

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.