Cordoba: Awesome program experience with PRESHCO, not so challenging university Past Review
By Jacqueline M (Spanish or Comp Lit, Wellesley College) for
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
yes, i got to work with a great ngo that led me to getting an internship here for the summer.
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. |
none of my professors returned anything i did to me with a grade, i have to wait to see my final grades so i had no idea how my progress was |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The office team was always available, at the office, or after hours by phone, replied to emails quickly, took care of me when i had a personal emergency, were quick to get things done, knew everything about the host city, and understood American culture enough to explain to my host family some of our habits. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
we went to a lot of different cities...sevilla granada etc |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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* Safety: |
i never had an experience with seeing a doctor or anything so i cant comment on health. Cordoba is a very safe city though, in part because people are up a lot later than in the U.S. so that you dont feel alone when you walk home at night. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | You are guaranteed food and housing, so you just need money for fun things like going out with friends. the program gave us up to 350 or so euros in reimbursements for any fun things you do as long as its culturally related, this can be going out to eat etc. |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | i was well informed |
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? | Spanish 268, it was a film class that required students to have passed the grammar course and intro to spanish speaking literature course. |
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Language acquisition improvement? |
most spoke spanish, however there were many many students from other parts of europe and from the u.s. who spoke english. i practiced at my ngo, in class, and with my host family. i didnt have many spanish friends, but the few times i spent time with spanish students i practiced. |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | anyone who likes small cities, not too urban, definitely not rural, small community |