Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Six countries in three weeks. Past Review

By (Northern Illinois University) - abroad from 05/14/2019 to 06/05/2019 with

International Business Seminars: Summer Europe

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I hadn't ever been out of the US before, so I gained several foreign perspectives in rapid succession. It was absolutely worthwhile.

Review Photos

International Business Seminars: Summer Europe - 6 Countries in 23 Days! Photo

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Four star hotels the whole time.

* Food:

The only food included in the trip was the hotel breakfasts, and a couple dinners. Otherwise, meals were extra.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

In the cities, you've just got to be aware of your surroundings. It's really not that different from cities in the US.

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

I intentionally chose the longest trip that IBS offered, and I'm glad I did it that way.

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)

Eating out for every meal every day really gets expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? On average, I spent about $500 a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Maybe try to find ATMs that have lower fees. My attitude was generally that this was a rare opportunity, so I didn't think about money since I had already saved up.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The variety of locations.
  • The length of the trip.
  • The flexibility during free time.
* What could be improved?
  • The way of screening the people in our group.
  • The irregularity of the daily schedules.
  • Briefing students on how to act in a city.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known that polos are considered business casual so that I would have brought fewer dress shirts.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'