It is never too late to study abroad and it is always worth it. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Spain, and Europe in general, is an entirely different system, so that by itself is a hurdle that a lot of students struggled to get over. Some classes were a total joke and felt like a waste of time to be there. Upon taking the exams for those classes it was even more confusing. On the other side, I had a class (International Business) that was one of the toughest classes I've taken. That said, I was fully able to learn from the classes and I had a great time doing so.

On-site administration of your program

The on site staff for ISA was AMAZING. The directors were all younger and fun to talk to and learn from. They helped with any and all troubles and they put on great programs for the students to experience the country. Because of the ISA directors in Barcelona I considered the job for myself in the future. Great staff!! They all deserve a raise!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My housing arrangement was great, it was myself and another American in the same program. They placed us with a veteran of the host family process, a woman named "Conchita." She was sweet and kind and a slice of life out of the Barcelona city. She had lived their most of her life and made sure we were both well fed (a major plus for a student on a budget).

You can't be a pickey eater and travel the globe too.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Barcelona is an amazing city and the program directors make sure you get to see all of the historical and cultural aspects. If your into the partying and bar scene, Barcelona has places all over that never sleep. If your into the learning and museums, BCN has more then you could possibly visit. Outside of BCN, it is extremely easy to travel, and cheap too.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did an optional excursion to Morocco with some of the directors and students. Alot of kids get sick on this trip every year because of the contaminants in the Moroccan water supply. I was able to hold out on the sickness until I returned to Spain. Not the programs fault, they warned everyone before the trip and provided everyone with medical advice in case the sickness did happen. I was just unfortunate.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I had a home stay so I was able to practice with the woman my roommate and I lived with. Other home stays were family sized, mine was just one old, single woman, not uncommon apparently. I was also able to practice in the classrooms and with some of the more dedicated students. The downside is that Barcelona is an international hub where the locals speak Catalayn (mixture of Spanish and French), a language only spoken in this part of the world. So, all the locals also speak Spanish, or learn English, French, Arabic, German, Italian, etc. For most students they got by with speaking in English all the time. So If your looking to just experience Europe and don't care about learning Spanish, the you won't have any difficulties at all. On the other hand, if you want to improve your spanish, outside of the university you may find it more difficult. Most students in the programs will just talk in English, when you go to a shop the owners are either annoyed to talk to you out of their native Catalayn or extremely excited to practice their English with you. Only a few times was I able to disguise my american accent when speaking spanish, but even then they know your not from Barcelona because your not speaking Catalayn and they treat you like a tourist.

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• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans
• Host Family