Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best decision I have ever made Past Review

By (Finance and Sport Management, Trinity University) - abroad from 08/30/2014 to 12/17/2014 with

IFSA: Barcelona - Design Thinking, Business, and Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was the most worthwhile experience I could have ever decided to do. I would of course change a few things I did, but nothing is perfect. I gained and learned more than I could write here - my outlook on myself and certain aspects of life have certainly changed. Going abroad is something that every student should get the chance to do.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses weren't too intense, as I had seen similar material, but the teachers were excellent. My Spanish teacher may have been one of the best I have ever had.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I absolutely loved my Directors. Ryan and Helena were the perfect fit for the program, and the students. I still keep touch with them, and will continue to do so.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I personally didn't like where I stayed, however I liked having dinner made for me when I got home from being out all day.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made friends in numerous programs in Barcelona, and from what I could tell, ours had the best orientation and tours of the city. This helped kickstart the integration process, and made it much easier to begin living there.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I went to the doctor at the end of my trip for skin issues. The only thing from this was that I had to pay money up front, and be reimbursed later. Other than that, it all went well.

* Safety:

This may be different for me, but I felt very safe. Granted, I am a giant compared to everyone else where I was living.

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)

It was difficult, would have been nice if the internship was paid.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200ish, if I traveled that number sky rocketed
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Whatever your final budget is, add a considerable chunk on top of it.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish Intermediate 1 years ago
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? Study on your own time, perhaps an audio book so you are used to hearing the language. Spanish speakers speak extremely fast so it is tough to get used to.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* 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?
  • Directors - Ryan and Helena = amazing people
  • the internship, without it I would not have chosen this program
  • Community and Culture class, the experiences and information learned through this were excellent
* What could be improved?
  • Community and Culture class - the Paper/presentation were not needed, it's a 1 credit class and those just didn't fit in at all
  • different internship seminar teacher, I don't think Gabriel was the man for the job
  • perhaps more internship options, I noticed some of the internships assigned werent really what my peers had in mind
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How prevalent the Catalan language really is in Barcelona - it is most certainly not secondary to the Spanish language. I also wish I knew how expensive everything was going to be... I wasn't even close to what I had budgeted. Perhaps, knowledge of the routes to and from work/school before hand so you could have an idea of bus/metro transportation before getting there.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.