The program was challenging but I gained a lot. Past Review
By A student (Smith College) - abroad from 01/29/2017 to 06/24/2017 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
My Spanish got so much better! And I got very close with my host parents. I also gained a global perspective, and was able to see the US how Europeans see it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I adored my host parents! |
| * Food: |
The food was excellent. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish I had made more Spanish friends. My conversation partner was never available to hang out/ showed very little interest. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any experience with healthcare. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe! Sometimes there were lewd comments or stares from men and I felt unsafe, but it was not a big problem. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I have nothing against the program itself. I realized over the semester that I don't like cities, and if I had to do study abroad over I would spend it on a more outdoors-oriented program. |
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? | Traveling costs add up. While tickets for my trip to England were only $75 round trip, things like food, taxi service, and museums made the three day trip cost nearly $200. |
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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | a 200 level course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Have many dinner time conversations with host family, and talk to strangers! Especially those who don't speak any English-- it forces you to improve. |
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? | I wish I knew how much time I would spend alone...despite living with a host family and seeing the other students in class everyday, most of my days were spent doing homework alone or exploring the city. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
