Study abroad greatness: It's all about your attitude, not your program. Past Review
By Emelyn D (Comparative Literature., Barnard College) for
Knox College: Barcelona - Study Abroad at University of Barcelona
Studying abroad changed my life and my personal outlook. I came out of it feeling empowered, motivated, relaxed, and full of love. My program had many flaws, and while I wouldn't recommend that anyone choose it in the future, I wouldn't take back any of the choices that I made because my experience was rich and eye-opening and I even loved the struggles for what they taught me and how they resulted in the end.
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 learned a few things from the knox college classes, although I often found them too elementary. I learned an enormous amount from the classes I took at the UB itself. These two things average out in my mind as an excellent educational experience-- not to mention all that I absorbed simply being in a foreign university system. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I found the style of my program's administration to be excessively "touchy-feely," It is a good thing to offer students guidance and support while abroad, but I found my programs nosey and overbearing. Their level of interest in my social and personal life made me uncomfortable. They were responsible about coordinating my academic life, but, unnecessarily concerned with my well-being at all times-- I found it inappropriate. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
In the end, I developed a wonderful relationship with my host mother, but I was tremendously upset with my living situation at first. The Knox College program promises in its rule book that it will never place a student with other english-speaking students in their home stay in order to foster their language learning, but there were two Americans living in my home stay until April. THis was a great disappointment that I made up for by not spending much time in my house. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Barcelona is an extremely rich city filled with endless social and educational opportunities. I had a blast taking advantage of as many of them as I could. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
My program was unprepared to deal with some of my health needs. In terms of safety, I felt quite insecure most of the time. My program is not responsible for this, Barcelona is just a dangerous city, especially at night. I was robbed several times- petty theft continues to thrive there. |
| 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Anticipate that you will want to spend money in social gatherings-- the meals and drinks that you want to have will probably not all be at home. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Hispanic Cultures II |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I completely immersed myself in the local language and culture. Of course, I spent time with other American friends, but I constantly used and expanded my Spanish in life and school. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't do it. Do CIEE in Barcelona instead: you will save about 10,000 dollars and get all of the same things and more. |
