Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

eye opening Past Review

By (Brigham Young University) - abroad from 04/22/2012 to 06/15/2012 with

Brigham Young University: Madrid - Madrid Study Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The world is a very different place outside of the Americas. I've traveled to Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica, but Europe was a whole new experience. Visiting Spain made me realize that I truly do love the culture, people, and land that I call America.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Universidad de Alcalá
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.

* 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? No

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? 50$

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
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? 321
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • all the places I got to see
* What could be improved?
  • focus on fewer locations. some places I could have cared less about while some other places were absolutely amazing and i would have liked to stay much longer. also, visiting the north in the beginning of the program and the south in the end of the program isn't the best idea. we went to the colder cities when it was early spring and it was really cold and we went to the hotter cities when it was late spring and really miserably hot
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's cold in Madrid in the spring!