Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Everybody should experience central Europe Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/16/2016 to 12/22/2016 with

API (Academic Programs International): Krakow - Jagiellonian University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely worthwhile, I feel I really grew as a person.

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.

Classes were taught in English to majority non-native English speakers, so everything was easier than what I have come to expect at Middlebury. Academic culture in Poland is also not as open as it is in the United States, so teachers are not always available.

* 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?

Program did an amazing job helping us to explore and integrate with polish culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Never had any personal experiences, but friends had no problems.

* Safety:

Incredibly safe city and country as a whole.

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

Great program. It had its downsides, but I really don't think on the whole my experience could have been better

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)

Poland is incredibly cheap for being so "western." You could live on a complete student budget for less than $100 a week

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? No! Enjoy everything while you can because it will always be worth spending the money

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

Polish class was amazing

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None in Polish
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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

  • International Students
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?
  • Cultural experiences
  • Polish language class
  • Small size
* What could be improved?
  • More immersion opportunities early in program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't be so nervous about everything bc you only have 4 months and it goes by so quickly!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Polish A1.2
Course Department: Polish Language and Culture
Instructor: Natalia
Instruction Language: Polish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Poland in the EU
Course Department: Interdepartmental
Instructor: Góra
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Cold War
Course Department: Interdepartmental
Instructor: Jakub Basista
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Culture Shock - Cultural Psychology
Course Department: Interdepartmental
Instructor: Split between 2 instructors
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: