Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Experience Berea College While Surrounded by Barcelona Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 06/22/2018 to 07/21/2018 with

KIIS: Barcelona - Experience Barcelona (Summer)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned more about taking care of a group and also myself.

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 academic rigor was over the top.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The food was great, but usually pricey.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There was very little integration with the local culture on an individual basis. We went to traditional events, but there was little interaction with individual people.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I don't have to for credit, so I wouldn't spend the money or the effort on the same thing again.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan your spending well

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The city
  • The people
  • The work
* What could be improved?
  • The work
  • The professors
  • The lack of integration into the culture
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Where everything was

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Drawing III: A Portrait of Barcelona
Course Department: Studio Art
Instructor: Kevin Gardner
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was definitely a challenge. However, I don't think that the location of Barcelona made it anything more special than any other location for the course. I left feeling that I knew very little of the city and its people. Furthermore, the things taught in that course could have easily been taught in the US or anywhere else and not been any different.
Credit Transfer Issues: There were no problems with transfer of credit.