Great people make the experience great Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 12/10/2013 with
SIT Study Abroad: Bolivia - Multiculturalism, Globalization, and Social Change
Learned a lot about Bolivia. Learned a lot about how differently people can see the world. Got a better perspective on what the US appears like internationally. Spanish skills are much better. Learned to be more independent. Worthwhile for sure.
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. |
Independent study project was hard. Classes weren't hard. Some essays were graded on a hard curve. |
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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? |
Loved my host family! |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Thanks to my host family! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Nothing went wrong so I didn't have to worry. |
| * Safety: |
As a male student I felt a lot safer. |
| 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) |
Everything is inexpensive. Most people used most of their money on alcohol. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 US dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat with your host family, you are already paying them for food. Walk (in the daytime) wherever you can. |
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? | 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? | Span 104B |
| 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? | Talk to your host family! |
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 realized how important it is to the preprogram readings and additional readings. They aren't that key to participating in class but they would have given me a huge head start that I would have really appreciated. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
