Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Maymester in Malaga Past Review

By (Accounting, University of Georgia) - abroad from 05/04/2013 to 06/01/2013 with

ISA Study Abroad in Málaga, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
There's a sense of confidence and independence you gain while studying abroad and figuring your way around a foreign country that can't be replicated. This was one of the best decisions I've made in my entire college career.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Soon after arriving in Malaga, we met our local ISA representatives who were very helpful and easy to talk to. At no point during my trip did I feel unsafe, and that was partly because the ISA reps were always so available and eager to assist us with any issues we had.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Before I left for my trip, I was incredibly nervous to live with a host family for a whole month, but it was probably the best decision I could have made. It allowed me to immerse myself in the culture and language way more than I would have if I lived on my own or with other English-speaking students.

* Food:

Living with a host family, we had our "Senora" cook for us every day. Luckily she was a good cook, but I'm also not a very picky eater. I was fine with everything she made us, and most things were really delicious. I went out to eat only a couple of times, which meant that I didn't have to spend a lot of money on food outside of the program tuition. I can imagine that for someone who is a bit more picky or has food allergies the situation could be a little trickier, but I know ISA has made accommodations for people like that in the past.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I HIGHLY recommend living with a host family. It's the best immersion and sense of community you'll get.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

From my experience, Malaga was relatively safe. It is still a pretty big city, so just as you would in your hometowns, don't make yourself vulnerable to pickpockets or anything like that. On one of the first days we got there, our local ISA representatives went over several safety tips to keep in mind , but overall, I felt safe throughout my entire trip.

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

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)

You'll need to adjust your budget depending on how much you want to travel or participate in certain activities while in your host city. Malaga itself is not a particularly expensive city, but I would leave some spending money for museum entrances, bus tickets, etc.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $25-$50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan ahead for the big things you want to do or longer trips you want to take, so that you can make sure you have it in your budget when the time comes.

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

My host mom, while she knew English, tried to speak to us only in Spanish. At first it was a little difficult to get used to, but by the end I was able to have pretty fluent conversations with her.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I got to experience a part of the world I hadn't been to before.
  • I got credit for the classes I took.
  • The program administration was very supportive and helpful.
* What could be improved?
  • More ISA-led mini excursions
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how much there is to see in Spain, so that I could have planned a little better and been able to go to all of the places I wanted to.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!