Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A wonderful experience that I would repeat in a heartbeat! Past Review

By (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 05/19/2017 to 07/25/2017 with

ISA Study Abroad in Meknes, Morocco

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
To keep an open mind and constantly work to grow and learn. It was definitely worthwhile.

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.

The program was great. There was a lot of work, but I learned so much and the resources provided were plenty.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Iman, Younes, and Angel are wonderful people and are passionate about their jobs. They are meant to do those jobs. I loved them all.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Apartment was huge and beautiful. Also our "house mom" Khadijah was an angel sent from heaven. Incredibly sweet and an outstanding cook. She definitely deserves a raise for all of her love.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made lots of friends with locals while I was there, and the program actually introduced us to many of the local students which was great.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The only thing I have to comment on is cat-calling. If you are a girl, walking with a guy is always more pleasant. While the guys making comments at you are not normally physically aggressive, the comments decrease when walking with a guy friend, and I always felt safer even though nothing ever happened to me.

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

The staff, the classes, the environment, and the fellow students were all spectacular. I loved everything about this program.

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)

I spent about $25 a week while I was in Morocco but even that is really not necessary. I mostly spent it on eating out and coffee and that sort of thing.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $25-$40/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you don't eat out a ton or go out a ton, things in Morocco are very cheap and you shouldn't have a problem staying within a budget.

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

Most people speak some english there but it is very helpful to know some french or pick up a few words in darijah.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 400 level french
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Staff
  • Classes/professors
  • Weekend excursions
* What could be improved?
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I hadn't gone in with expectations. Even though it wasn't worse or better than what I had imagined, it was different and took a bit of getting used to the real Morocco rather than the Morocco of my fantasies.

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 Adventurer
The 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.