Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries -AH Past Review

By (California Lutheran University) - abroad from 05/18/2016 to 06/06/2016 with

International Business Seminars: Summer Europe

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
You truly find yourself in the mist of everything going on around you. The ideas you hear about the company traditions, the history of the culture, and how different the country is from one's own home, you truly understand more or so of who you are.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very interesting getting to get a personal experience of Marketing professionals on branding and what makes the companies so appealing to customers.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very knowledgeable on course subject and getting around within the places we were staying. Always open to answering questions or helping in any way the possibly could.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

All the hotels we stayed at were very clean with friendly hotel employees. The food was good and the service was excellent.

* Food:

Being exposed to a different country, one has to try the local food and it actually feels authentic, making it more enjoyable.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Didn't really feel integrated because English is a very common language so the actual culture was harder to follow.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The local pharmacies were easy to locate and had everything needed for simple illnesses.

* Safety:

Felt very safe in the areas we were staying, not much going on. Very peaceful.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

There was not enough time to try everything that i wanted to do.

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? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look ahead of time to see what places you for sure want to visit to have money aside for that and limit to eating out all the time.

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? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Native Speaking in Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Google translate is very helpful, but also getting familiarized with many of the common phrases.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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 Cities
  • Food
  • The Business Aspect
* What could be improved?
  • Time at each city
  • Traveling times
  • Day and Times of visits
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? nothing, you cannot know everything before going. It's meant to be an experience and live more in the moment.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.