You can always make back money, but you can't make back memories. Past Review
By Julia M (International Affairs And Commerce, Fordham University) - abroad from 01/17/2013 to 05/10/2013 with
CIEE: Seville - Business + Society
Worthwhile is an underestimation of how awesome studying abroad was. I made new friends, learned a lot about other cultures, now have a second family, became better at a second language, met more people in a week than I did in a year, traveled to numerous countries, and realized what is important, personally, to me.
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 academic resources were not plentiful, but the academics did not require them to be so. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Poor administration in terms of health care and accessibility to directors. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was most accommodating and welcoming. |
| * Food: |
Nothing to rave about, but it kept us full. (Most of the time). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The local tapas bars knew us as the neighborhood Americans. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
This was my biggest complaint about my program, not necessarily the Spanish healthcare system. When I was injured away from my host city (on a weekend), my program providers were neglectful in finding me healthcare providers and suggestions on how and what to do. Although I got good treatment, I found most of the doctors on my own. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | $100 when not traveling |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Stay in town and don't travel. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Two classes past exit level |
| 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? | the language is a personal choice. Practicing |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | DO WELL ON THE ENTRANCE EXAM. The Program is very difficult in terms of allowing you to reorganize your schedule/grammar class. |
