An Open Door to a New Life Past Review
By Gregory W (Business Administration, University of California - Riverside) for
Instituto Mediterrneo Sol / IMSOL: Granada - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I have gained a new independence. I feel that I can conquer the world now. I can take on any challenge by myself. I realized that there is some much more to be offered out in the world. This has caused me to learn about other cultures. I now want to travel the world whether is be by myself or with others. There is a lot of time to reflect while abroad and you are not bombarded by distractions.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Spain's approach to educational experience is less stressful compared to the American system. The workload is light; it is enough to help you learn, yet not overwhelm. The grading system is not emphasized on; they consider more of the effort one puts in and not how they necessarily perform. Teaching methods are similar to the American system. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything is perfect. I have no complaints. Support services were only there on the weekdays though. They knew everything they needed to know and the program size was small and personal My expectations were exceeded. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was warm and welcoming. I was treated more as a guest and respect was mutual. Class was a ten to fifteen minute walk away. Nightlife was always within thirty minutes walking distance. |
| * Food: |
Food was great. I loved the variety of food. Portions were huge and was never left hungry. Never got tired of the food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There are so many. I loved the tour of Granada and the history behind it. The Alhambra was the most magical experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
My program gave me a medical insurance card. There were no health concerns. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | I spent every little on food and personal expenses because a lot was provided through my program already. The little I did spend went mainly to personal expenses were total to an average of one hundred US dollars a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring more cash than expected because you never know what you may encounter or need it for. It's always better to be over prepared than under prepared. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 3 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish everyday. I was in total immersion because there were very few people who spoke English. Immersion is the only way to learn a language fast and efficiently. |
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?
Select all that apply |
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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? | The type of student that would benefit the most is someone with an open mind seeking life change. I can not emphasis how crucial it is to have an open mind; it will allow you to conquer challenge and experience life in a whole new way. I came back from study abroad with a completely different mindset than compared to before I left. Do not be afraid to do anything; fear only holds one back. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish - Beginner II |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | I learned a lot from the course. It was helpful in teaching me Spanish and I would not change it in any other way. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, just make sure you check with your academic advisor for transferring credits confirmation. |
