Once in a Lifetime Opportunity! Past Review
By Julia Meyer (Northern Illinois University) - abroad from 05/15/2018 to 06/06/2018 with
International Business Seminars: Summer Europe
This experience was 100% worthwhile and I learned a lot while traveling abroad! My Europe seminar with IBS was my first time traveling out of the country. I’ve traveled some within the United States, but traveling abroad is a completely different experience. In the States we’re so used to the same language being spoken everywhere you go, but in Europe it’s a different story entirely. This trip was amazing because I got to experience several different languages and cultures over the course of three weeks, as well as gain insight into living and working within the European Union. It was a great way to learn more about myself and make some amazing friends as well. There's nothing like studying abroad and I would recommend IBS to anyone interested in traveling internationally and learning more about international business.
Review Photos
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Food: |
Only breakfast is included, so be sure to do a little research on restaurants before you go! Lots of fun to eat out with new friends and try the local cuisine! |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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* Safety: |
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If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This was a great trip for my first time abroad. Everything was well planned out and very interesting and I am glad for the experience! The faculty was really helpful and always checking in with us to make sure we were having a good time. I learned a lot travelling between the different countries. This was a truly unique experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat! |
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 very easily. The only meal included in this trip was breakfast, which meant we were regularly eating out two meals a day. However, this is a fairly short trip (only 3 weeks) and I kind of expected this. Also, there's a lot of really cool excursions, which is why I ended up spending so much money on personal expenses. However, the trip was very fun and was worth every penny. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Quite a bit, probably around $350-$400 a week (I had budgeted $500 a week). |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try not to eat out every meal, maybe stop by a grocery store or a market for some cheaper options. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
* 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? | How easily I would make friends. I didn't know anyone going on this trip and I was really worried about it at first, but everyone attending was super friendly and open-minded about meeting people which made it super easy to get to know others! It was a great experience and even if you don't know anyone going, don't let that hold you back! |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |