Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I had a blast. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/05/2018 to 05/18/2018 with

IEF - International Economics and Finance Program (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I made some pretty amazing friends and saw places I’ve always wanted to go. In all honesty, Prague is a great place to study abroad because you can live cheaply during the week, enjoy your classes, and then travel anywhere for very cheap on the weekends.

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.

* 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? 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)

Prague is so cheap.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 10-15 dollars per meal, 3 meals a day
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? You can always find cheap food, which I would recommend because you always will spend more during weekend trips.

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? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? French 209, no czech
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? Talk to your roommates in Czech, order food and drinks in Czech. The locals appreciate it.

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • 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?
  • People
  • Courses
* What could be improved?
  • Exposure to culture/locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? 4 months is a long time, so have outlets that you can use when you get homesick/anxious, etc. Prague also does not have the best healthcare, so have a plan for when you get sick.

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:

Ideas behind politics
Course Department: Political science
Instructor: Juraj Hvorecky
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really enjoyed this class. Very interesting to get exposure to a professor who recognizes the impact of communism on politics and culture within central and Eastern Europe and can effectively convey that.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Environmental economics

Course Department: Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was so dry, I did not enjoy it very much.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Economics of transition

Course Department: Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I loved my professor, and the class was interesting, but I don’t think the knowledge is super applicable to anything outside Central Europe.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Intro to Czech language

Course Department: Language
Instructor: Sylvie prilatova
Instruction Language: Czech and English
Comments: 8 am is unfortunate, but my most fun class. Great professor.
Credit Transfer Issues: