Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Incredible Past Review

By (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 09/01/2018 to 05/18/2018 with

UC3M / Universidad Carlos III de Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Language learning, friends, and cultural experience, definitely worthwhile

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.

Classes were extremely difficult and the teachers were hard to contact.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I couldn't contact my advisor face to face, only through email and it was difficult if I had an academic problem.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My homestay was the best option and my family were the nicest people to stay with.

* Food:

Spanish food is amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Through the homestay, I really felt like a part of the community.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did need to go to the hospital once while there and they were good and quick with helping me.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

The direct exchange helped everything run smoothly and eliminated worry about going through another program.

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)

I spent a little extra on transportation and living, but overall it wasn't much more than a normal year's cost.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan ahead

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Meeting foreigners
  • Learning Spanish
  • Travelling
* What could be improved?
  • Preparedness of intense difficultly of this specific school's classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How hard the classes would have been and having had more Spanish experience.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.