Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best semester of my life Past Review

By (Finance and Financial Management Services., Villanova University) - abroad from 09/03/2012 to 12/21/2012 with

IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself and my ability to assimilate to different situations and be independent. To me the entire experience was so worth it, I would do it 100 times over if I could.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academics were interesting but some classes were much too easy while others were difficult. I had one teacher who gave almost the entire class B- and C on the midterm and then got upset when people complained.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I liked a lot of administrators in the IES abroad center, but a few caused some students a lot of trouble. For instance, my entire apartment building got in trouble because of noise complaints, and the administrators were very difficult to deal with and did not treat students as adults.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My apartment was so nice and the location was prime. My RA was also very fun and nice.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like I really lived in Spain, but was not friends with many Spanish people because of the nature of our program and my knowledge of Spanish. I'm sure people who did a home stay would feel more integrated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Barcelona is generally really safe. Yes, there are pickpockets but they will not harm you. Being careful at night is very important but overall, I felt completely safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

It depends how much traveling you would like to do. I spent more than a normal semester as a student because I wanted to travel all over.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Book flights early. Do not go out to eat a lot. Do not buy drinks at clubs.

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate French
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Do not be afraid to speak to locals, that is the best way to practice and a lot of times they enjoy being spoken to in their native tongue rather than English.

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
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?
  • The other students
  • Some of my teachers
* What could be improved?
  • Grading system
  • Relevance of classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That every abroad experience is going to be different and you can have whatever kind of experience you set out to have.

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 Urbanite
A 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.