Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Travel the World and yours will never be the same Past Review

By (International / Global Studies, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 01/05/2014 to 05/15/2014 with

IES Abroad: Quito - IES Abroad in Quito

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I believe that studying abroad is one of the most incredible experiences that someone my age can have. The very act of leaving home and going somewhere where everything is new will challenge you and help you grow in ways that you did not think were possible. Add to that the culture and, in my case, the language of the other country and not only will your inward view change but your global outlook will also be vastly differed. From this experience I gained: language skills, self-confidence, self-knowledge, knowledge about Ecuador, the most life-altering adventures of my life, an appreciation for Ecuadorian culture, a broader global view, a new perspective of American culture, and a better understanding of my future goals.

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.

* 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? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Check to see if you can access your money freely before leaving, you don't want to have to pay $5 each time you need to withdraw money.

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? Beginner
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 was supposed to have taken Spanish 202 but I was able to do it with only Spanish 201
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? Try to practice with a simple conversation before arriving because no matter how much vocabulary you have, it's totally different when you're trying to conjugate and create a conversation.

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?
  • The professors were well-aware of our needs and challenged us.
  • My host family was fantastic.
  • The ability to travel in-country was phenomenal.
* What could be improved?
  • The integration with local students was not very well organized.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had been more aware of the living options. While I loved my host family, some students had the opportunity to chose between living in the city or with more indigenous/rural families, which I would have loved to do.

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!