Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I wish I could easily go back!! Past Review

By (Chemistry, Trinity University) for

Arcadia: Barcelona - Arcadia in Barcelona Summer

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was amazing!! I talk about it nonstop!

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 thought the workload was a perfect amount. We were forced to put in effort, yet it wasn't strenuous nor boring.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I am a little confused as to what this is asking.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Buy from the grocery stores and learn how to cook beforehand.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved visiting the tourist sites. I made sure to save money for those places, whereas a lot of the other students spent it all on other stuff. Just make sure you prioritize your spendings.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

My friend got sick and the doctor that was suggested was very helpful. He spoke English fluently and setting up an appointment was simple.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent about $300 on average per week. I kept track of every little thing I bought on an excel sheet and saved so much money! Being aware of what you buy is incredibly useful!
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep all receipts and keep track of spendings. I even converted it to U.S. dollars to keep in mind how much I truly am spending.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
Language acquisition improvement?

I spoke with my teachers a lot.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Field Trips
* What could be improved?
  • Food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? keep track of spendings

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Barcelona Capital of Catalunya: History, Culture, and Language
Course Department: BARC MSBS350S
Instructor: Silvia Serra
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really learned a lot about Catalunya and loved it!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Intermediate Spanish
Course Department: BARC SPAN 205S
Instructor: Carmen
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: I absolutely loved this class - the students and the teacher!! She made it really fun! We were very serious about learning and improving our Spanish. I learned so much!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Documentary Photography, the European and American Voice Compared
Course Department: BARC ARSP 113S
Instructor: Tom Hayton
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I learned a lot about photography and my photos improved tremendously.
Credit Transfer Issues: