Best Experience of My Life! Past Review

By (University of South Carolina - Columbia) - abroad from 05/29/2017 to 07/14/2017 with

CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Barcelona - Summer at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I really got to experience what it was like to live and study in another country. It took some getting used to, but by the end it was the time of my life and I didn't want to leave. I cannot wait to return to Spain and to hopefully study abroad again!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The teachers were amazing and the classes were extremely interesting.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Super helpful and available.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Steps from Las Ramblas, Christopher Columbus statue and the Port!

* Food:

Since I had an apartment, we had a full kitchen to cook what we wanted, but the food in restaurants in Spain was amazing!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

CIS provided numerous activities to help us emerge in the culture and encouraged us to explore on our own!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

CIS was so helpful, both before during and after. I'm actually looking to study abroad again and am planning to go through another one of their programs!

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Its a marathon not a sprint!

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

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

  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • cultural activities
  • interaction with other students on the program
  • helpfulness of the staff
* What could be improved?
  • more opportunities to interact with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Push yourself outside of your comfort zone everyday, try new things, talk to new people.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!