Great time! Past Review
By Leah L (Public Health, Psychology, Anthropology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/01/2015 to 12/12/2015 with
IES Abroad: Quito - IES Abroad in Quito
I really improved my Spanish skills and visited some amazing places. I also learned to be more independent which was useful. Definitely worthwhile.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the staff in the office were wonderful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely loved my host mother and her whole family. I really felt like a part of the family while I was there. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was not able to take classes at the local university due to a lack of syllabuses to provide to Brandeis, and so I did not feel super integrated. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had a stomach bacteria, and they took care of me in the clinic. I was given an IV and some medicine, and it was done well, I kept getting sick though. |
| * Safety: |
As long as you're smart and keep track of your things, you'll be fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Depending on travel. Without travel, I could spend between $0-$50. With travel I could spend maybe $100-150 in a weekend |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If your host family provides food, you can save money by not eating out. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Advanced Spanish at Brandeis - literature course |
| 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 and speak to the other students in the language, even though it is easy to speak in English |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known what the restrictions were about taking classes at a local university, I might have done direct enrollment instead. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
