Best four months of my life! Past Review
By Casey N (Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/14/2014 with
ISA Study Abroad in Santiago, Dominican Republic
The program forced me to get out of my shell which gave me the social confidence that I didn't have when I left the United States. My life in the states is better off for having studied abroad!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were much easier and less rigorous than at my home university, but that's probably just because this was the first semester of my life where I didn't have to do math. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
ISA office is a little out of the way. Would have been nice if it was on campus, but our regional director, Danise Gomez, was great! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my homestay! My host mom was great, and the majority of the students in my program lived in the same complex as me or within a block of me. |
| * Food: |
My host mom never forgot to feed me, and the meals were always filling! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every day I saw something new and interesting! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I lost 2 pairs of glasses there, and I'm legally blind, so I had to buy contacts for the first time in my life. Our regional director immediately knew where to send me. She knew a place where if you buy contacts the day of your eye exam, the eye exam is free. |
| * Safety: |
I was pick-pocketed twice, and almost mugged once, but I was the unlucky one in my group. The walk from campus to my homestay was very safe. Probably as safe as any other city with over 2 million people in it. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I probably took out 60 dollars a week from the ATM, but I definitely made the most of my time there! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-$40 |
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 |
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| 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 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | Negotiate the price with cab drivers before you get in the cab! |
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. |
