A great growth experience and a very supportive program July 25, 2025
By A student (Spanish, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/01/2025 to 05/21/2025 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
I feel much more adaptable and comfortable traveling and living in new places now. A host family is a very unique experience but once I was comfortable with my host mom I did find it was the best way to improve my Spanish.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were not the most stimulating, but the program was very supportive and the first two weeks of travel were very educational! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the program staff were super lovely and responsive and by the end of the semester they felt like family. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My first living situation was very challenging and I am grateful I ended up moving. My second host mom was very sweet and kind and I felt much more at home in the city after moving houses. |
| * Food: |
Food was a topic of a lot of tension in my first house-- in my initial living situation she didn't buy enough food and also only cooked one meal a day for us. However, my second home was very generous and taught me about Spanish cuisine while also cooking foods she knew we liked. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Córdoba was not the easiest place to study abroad due to the small and insular nature of the city. Although I never felt fully integrated, I do feel my Spanish improved a lot and my flexibility with living someplace so different helped me grow. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
When I had a medical issue the program was very helpful with navigating insurance and checking up on me. |
| * Safety: |
Córdoba was very safe and I never had any major safety concerns while living in Spain. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I really loved the program directors but had I known more about Spain I think I would have chosen to study in Granada or even Madrid to be in a bigger city. It would have been easier to travel and possibly make more local friends in a place where people are more used to exchange students. |
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) |
The PRESCHO reimbursements were very nice, and with eating at home and receiving added cash I felt pretty comfortable living in Córdoba without spending a ton. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent probably 20-40 dollars maximum on food a week, and then maybe 200 a month on travel from my own savings. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Create a budget for traveling expenses and keep in mind the cost of eating all your meals out while traveling. |
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 |
PRESCHO did everything possible to immerse us in Spanish. |
| 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? | A 300 level seminar |
| 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? | I wish I had spoken more Spanish with friends, but because it was hard to connect with the university students I mostly spoke English with the people in my program. |
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? | 0 |
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? | Study abroad is more about personal growth than academics. Immersion can be an uncomfortable experience but that's what teaches you the most. As challenging as it can be, try to focus on that personal growth and not the stress of all the unknown. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
