Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An engaging semester Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/16/2019 to 05/16/2019 with

CET Prague

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I was surprised how much living in a post-Communist country that has undergone so many changes over the past 100 years would challenge my perspectives. This was a valuable opportunity to live in a new part of the world and shake up my routine at my home university.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic experience was mixed for me. Some professors were definitely better than others. Overall, I'd say that this program is more academically demanding than many other abroad programs.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I loved the staff. They were all so helpful, organized, and so kind. They truly set a positive tone for the program as a whole.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

As a vegetarian, being in Prague is a little challenging, but I was able to find a few incredible vegetarian restaurants and several vegan supermarkets. Anyways, everyone lives in an apartment with a kitchen so it's definitely possible to eat well, with a little extra effort.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Prague felt like a very safe city. Though there are some pickpocketing issues, I never felt unsafe there.

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)

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? None
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Staff
  • Living in an apartment
  • Included trips to Poland, Austria, Hungary, and a few cities across the Czech Republic
* What could be improved?
  • Most students agreed that some of the program's policies were unfair or too harsh
  • More warning that this is a more rigorous program than what most students expect from study abroad
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that this program is more academically demanding than some other programs. I thought I would have more time for immersion and experiencing living abroad, but I spent about the same amount of time in the library doing school work as I do at my home university.

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.