DO IT! ISA Granada is the best program you can pick Past Review
By Maddie (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 01/03/2018 to 05/25/2018 with
ISA Study Abroad in Granada, Spain
This was the most worthwhile thing I've ever done, I can't recommend it enough! I learned so much about other cultures, friendship, and what I want my life to be like after college
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I loved my teachers, especially for my Spanish classes. Definitely not a rigorous course-load, but most study abroad programs aren't. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
THE BEST. Compared to the providers my friends were with, ISA went above and beyond. They treat you like you're their own kids and are an incredible resource. Trips with the ISA Granada staff were always the best. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a spacious apartment near city center with a family. I loved having my own room while also having another ISA student live with me in her own room. |
| * Food: |
Lots of starchy carbs, but yummy. |
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* 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? |
ISA will call a cab for you to pick you up and take you to the hospital (it's the normal place to go for a doctor issue). Then you'll meet the translator who will help you with forms and talking with the doctor. Usually is very fast, and the cab is payed for you too back to your house! Getting prescriptions filled is so easy, but only one or two pharmacy are open on Sunday! |
| * Safety: |
I felt safer walking around in Granada at 3 in the morning than I did walking around any other city I've lived in the US at 11 at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
ISA provides everything you need and more. It's the best provider in Granada, especially in terms of trips, health, and staff. |
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) |
Very easy. Granada is one of the cheapest cities in Europe. You can walk most everywhere and a glass of wine AND tapa will only be 3 euro. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~25-50 euro a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would say have $500 in spending money for every month you'll be abroad. The bulk of the money I spent was when I left Granada and my provided meals and had to spend money on food/transportation/flights/airbnb in other cities. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
You pretty much have to speak a little Spanish to get around Granada.....this is not a big city! Teachers are pretty insistent on using only Spanish when in class. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I would have watched TV/movies specific to Spain before going abroad. I would use Mexican or Central American words sometimes and Spaniards would have no idea what I was trying to say. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | If your goal is to make friends with Spaniards you have to make a real effort. Other students on Erasmus exchange are much more open to becoming friends with Americans because they're also foreigners. Just something to keep in mind. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
