Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Granada was simply AMAZING Past Review

By (The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 05/27/2013 to 07/01/2013 with

API (Academic Programs International): Granada - Universidad de Granada

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This program was everything I hoped it would be. I could rave about Granada and the API program forever. It was the perfect mix of freedom and structure. I fell in love with the city- it is the ideal mix of culture, language, and people.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The professors were great, so engaging and smart. They loved their subjects and their students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I absolutely LOVED the API staff in Spain, especially in Granada. They were so great and really helped me. Especially when I lost my wallet, they were there providing all the assistance I needed. They were eager to share their beloved city with us!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I could not rave enough about our Spanish residencia. It was perfection. Antonio was an amazing residencia father. He showed us where to get Sunday tapas when the residencia kitchen was closed. I loved living with other Spanish students and some Americans. It was the perfect mix. The Spanish students were really eager to reach out and talk to us in both English and Spanish.

* Food:

Amazing. Paella was awesome!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Granada is a unique city that is small enough to get to know in 5 weeks. The city is very college student friendly and mainly is supported by Spanish university students. Perfect place for study abroad.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My friend had a healthcare issue and the API staff were very helpful in getting her help and translating!

* Safety:

Very safe city- you still need to generally be aware like don't walk alone late at night, but I never felt unsafe.

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)

Really depends on what you want to spend money on and your own personal costs.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-100

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

It was awesome. The perfect balance. Obviously if you struggled to understand, they would help you out, but you were encouraged to use Spanish as often as possible!

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
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? Make native Spanish-speaking friends!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • PEOPLE
  • CITY
  • FOOD
* What could be improved?
  • classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how AMAZING it would be. I would have signed up for a semester!

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.