Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

You're Galápagoing to Love This Program!! Past Review

By (BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES., University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 01/03/2014 to 05/04/2014 with

IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained cultural-, environmental-, and self-awareness, all very important for a fulfilling life. I also learned about amazing animals, how to salsa dance, how to surf, and how to speak spanish. This experience was definitely worthwhile.

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 classes that I took were taught by knowledgable and passionate professors in a way that made even difficult aspects of the classes enjoyable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host families in both Quito and the Galápagos Islands went above and beyond what was expected of them to make me feel welcome and learn more about the culture there.

* Food:

You can get a huge meal for extremely cheap prices, and it is safe and delicious.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with a host family definitely makes it easier to integrate into another culture!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Although I did not have any need of healthcare, the program was great in assisting other students in my program. Any vaccines that were needed were available at the university upon arrival. The lack of stars in this review only comes from the restrictions in healthcare that come with living on an island.

* 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)

Expenses for food are very low. The only cost that was expensive was scuba diving and traveling to other islands, but those activities were not necessities. I spent less money while in the Galápagos Islands than I do in the United States.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $35
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save money up for fun activities! You don't want to miss out on something fun because of the cost.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish Conversation
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? I would recommend that students practice as much as possible, even if they are making mistakes. Once I became comfortable, the mistakes usually fixed themselves.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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 host family experience
  • The location and all of the amazing animals
  • The interesting courses
* What could be improved?
  • The healthcare system in the islands
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had been better at spanish before going on this program because then I think I could have actually become fluent. My spanish is much better now, though!

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.