PRESHCO Past Review
By A student (Connecticut College) - abroad from 01/25/2019 to 05/26/2019 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
I've definitey learned more about myself, improved my ability to communicate with those around me, and become a bit more independent.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I thought it was the perfect level of challenging--four courses was ideal and, while the material the classes covered wasn't necessarily groundbreaking, I learned tons of new words and a bit about the Spanish persepective on different things. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
PRESHCO staff is very helpful! |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family and I couldn't have been better matched. |
* Food: |
I got sick of fried food and not having many vegetables, but my host family did let me use the kitchen if I ever wanted to. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was pretty hard to get to know the students at the UCO. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
If you're not a Smith or Wellesley student, make sure you opt out of the healthcare!! |
* Safety: |
Córdoba feels incredibly safe. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It truly had everything I was looking for in a program, and I felt like it was completely worth it. |
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 practically didn't have to spend money if I didn't want to. Córdoba was insanely economic when I did. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20-40 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat with your host family! |
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 |
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How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
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? | SPA 312 |
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? | Finding a way to get immersed for a few days at the beginning and speaking nothing but Spanish helped me be comfortable with my use of the language and improved my listening skills immensely. |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 had imagined that there would be ~60 of us in the program, but there were actually only 18. It didn't end up being a bad thing, but not knowing until a few nights before I left stressed me out a ton. |
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. |