EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! February 24, 2026
By Brandon C (Marketing, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities) - abroad from 08/27/2025 to 12/20/2025 with
CET Barcelona
I gained insight into my Major (Marketing and International Business) along side many connections for my future career. To be able to say you went abroad is something that not many students can say and is definetly worthwhile as it'll help you stand out and go furthur in your career.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Courses are perfect for students who wish to study abroad, you recive an education with classes from monday-thursday giving you 3 days to explore your host country! The courses are very immerseve with outside the classroom feild visits and in-depth thinking rather than memorization. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff are by far some the most helpful people. 24/7 emergency contact and overall all greate people to talk to. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Personal Dormitory/Aparment with personal bathroom and shower. Weekly cleaning every friday. Rooftop pool, Game Room, Shared Kitchen, 24/7 reception, and a 24/7 gym |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Course work often times implements the local culture so you get real experince from culture inside the classroom, and even during outside classroom feild studies you learn about the people and the culture. There were many traditions and festivals going on during my time abroad and got to experince them with the locals! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health Insurance covered medical expeinses, and was accessible. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
CET Spain opened so many oppertunities for me but overall by going abroad I met so many amazing people and the experince alone allowed me to be more confident and see who I truley was. |
Finances
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* 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) |
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| 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? | Explore your host country. Many people often want to travle outisde of their host country and spend a lot of time travling to other countries paying for food, places to stay, events, and more. Take some time to explore what your host country has to offer. Also you don't have to eat out or go out every night/day some days take advatage of what you housing has to offer and try to cook a meal to save moeny rather than spening it on resteraunts all the time. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
If you could speak spanish you should, and if you wanted to learn spnaish the locals were a great way to practice and improve. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Fluent, grew up speaking spanish |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Don't be affraid to speak spanish, and if you don't speak spanish this is the perfect way to learn. Also there is NO requiremnt to speak spanish, courses are in english and majority of people will understand you when speaking english. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I stuck to a routine. When being abroad its easy to lose your routine as everyday is exciting and brings something new. However, a routin will keep you grounded and I suggest you maintain one while abroad even if it's a simple one. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
