Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

GO ABROAD, best experience of your life, and travel! Past Review

By (Trinity University) - abroad from 01/30/2013 to 06/08/2013 with

SSA Education Abroad: Seville - Semester, Year or Summer in Seville

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad was priceless. GO. Do not go with CCCS, once abroad I made friends in various other programs with much better experiences.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Barely any, my host mother fed me
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go to Ibiza!

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced ( I came from another semester abroad)
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Don't speak english! Forget you can speak english!! Make local friends and talk non stop to anyone who will listen and practice with you.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Location of classes.
* What could be improved?
  • Courses, options, rules on courses.
  • Help for the students.
  • Living discrepencies (some people with wealthy familes who could walk, others of us lived 4 miles away in really poor homes and had to pay for our own subway/metro/bus etc and figure it out alone)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Local universities are the best place to take class, it may seem daunting but my experience with integrated courses at la Universidad de Sevilla was entirely superior to anything at CCCS. Go with a program of international, not american students. Don't pick one that has you live with any english speakers, and travel!

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!