Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Archaeology and camping Past Review

By (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/25/2018 to 07/18/2018 with

Slavia: International Field School in Mortuary Archaeology

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I got a lot of hands on experience and made some very good friends so I think it was definitely worth it.

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.

The osteology course was very fast paced so to get a good grasp taking an extra, separate course at A&M would be more helpful.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very nice and very helpful with any questions or concerns we had.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We slept on airmatress in a primary school classroom with 9 people to a classroom so it wasn't the best. Plus there were 22 people and 2 showers that worked.

* Food:

There was not much variety to the food and it would have been nice to have some fresh fruits or vegetables.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We got to interact with some of the locals and got to travel on the weekend which was great.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

There was no way I could get the same experiences or make the same friends as I did at this field school.

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 brought a fair amount of money for travel on the weekend so if I hadn't traveled I definitely could have spent way less than $100/week

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Start saving well before you actually leave. Set a budget, convert some money before you go at a local bank to get the best deal or get a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • lab work
  • field work
  • weekend travel
* What could be improved?
  • food
  • living arrangments
  • osteology course
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To bring a blanket and a better pillow, Poland gets cold at night

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 Linguist
You 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!