Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An adventure that I will never forget. Past Review

By (Electrical Engineering, United States Naval Academy) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 05/26/2015 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - Engineering, Math & Science

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained new travel skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life. I learned how to examine culture and how it shapes society. I also gained confidence in entering new or different situations.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes I took at Carlos III University were very similar to the engineering courses I would have taken at my home university. IES Abroad provided a lot of academic resources such as extra tutoring to ensure that students would excell

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The IES Abroad staff was always willing to help students with any concern they had.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a terrific experience staying in a homestay this past semester. My host parents made me feel like I was part of their family and I highly recommend the homestay experience.

* Food:

Spanish food is not overly exotic but it is tasty. Tapas are a great way to sample local cuisine.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

By the end of the semester I felt that I had fully adapted to the Spanish lifestyle. I also felt that I had a thorough understanding of Spanish culture by the time I left Madrid.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues while in Spain. Health care was available to any student who needed it

* Safety:

Madrid is one of the safest cities I have ever lived in. There is a strong police presence in the city and I never felt unsafe even at night.

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)

Madrid is very affordable compared to many cities in Europe. My day expenses were kept to a minimum which allowed me to spend more on travel and experiences on the weekend.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure you understand the rules your bank has for withdrawing money from ATM's overseas.

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

In addition to the language course I took, I had a lot of opportunities to practice my Spanish language skills through extra events offered by IES.

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? I had completed one advanced Spanish language courses before I left for Madrid.
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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

  • 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?
  • There is always something going on in Madrid
  • Classes at Carlos III University let me meet and interact with Spanish students
  • Madrid is a great jumping off point for exploring the rest of Spain and much of Europe
* What could be improved?
  • Better communication between Carlos III University and IES Abroad would make the program run smoother
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known more about the academics at Carlos III University. The Spanish university system expects students to learn a lot of the material outside of class.

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.