Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unforgettable Semester Past Review

By (St. Olaf College) - abroad from 07/28/2017 to 11/24/2017 with

IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Society & Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was a great experience to get out of my comfort zone and force myself to adapt to a new culture, location, and language. I grew as a student and as a general person by gaining a much better understanding of what goes on outside of the United States.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60 dollars

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? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 250
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • The city of Buenos Aires
  • The students in the program
  • the flexibility to travel
* What could be improved?
  • Less overlap of classes
  • More one on one check ins
  • More aid with meeting locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more Argentine Spanish going into the program. I knew Spanish fairly well, but learning Argentine Spanish took me a while to adjust to for sure.

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.