Studying abroad was enriching and confidence-boosting! July 01, 2026
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/07/2026 to 04/25/2026 with
CIEE: Barcelona - Economics and Culture
This experience was very worthwhile! I gained confidence navigating a difference country on my own, improved my language skills, and did so many things that I would never have been able to if I hadn't studied abroad. I had a great time making new friends and having fun exploring a new place, but I also found learning to manage finances/plan trips/etc to be a valuable life experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were interesting and engaging, and class trips were very helpful and enjoyable. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Lots of helpful, involved staff on site and orientation was informative and well-organized |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My living arrangements were in a great neighborhood with easy access to lots of conveniences. |
| * Food: |
I cooked my own food, but groceries were easily accessible and there were lots of good restaurants nearby. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt quite integrated as I did my best to speak Spanish whenever I could and I visited lots of sites/learned their histories. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No experience with healthcare. However, the program did provide insurance for students and other participants who did need healthcare found it simple. |
| * Safety: |
Although violent crime is much less common in Barcelona than in the US, petty crime (pickpocketing especially) is much more of an issue. Be aware of your surroundings, keep your belongings in sight at all times, and learn how to identify suspicious behavior. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I thought my program was very helpful in terms of getting a visa, managing logistics, and also ensuring we had a safe and fun time studying abroad. I especially enjoyed the trips and activities that were included. |
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? | Track the amount of money you spend in a spreadsheet or keep an eye on your bank statement - it's easy to spend money on a bunch of small things without realizing how quickly they add up |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | 0 |
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 fully grasped that four months is not very long and to make sure I do and see everything I want to! |
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. |
