Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I'm going back Past Review

By (The Catholic University of America) - abroad from 06/22/2016 to 07/22/2016 with

Study Abroad Programs in Argentina

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a greater proficiency in Spanish, a familiarity with another culture, and came back with my girlfriend and future wife. Yes, it was definitely worthwhile.

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.

Time spent in and outside of the classroom were both so great for learning about the culture and practicing Spanish.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The guides and teachers were both experienced and professional; and very willing to go out of their way for anything students might need assistance with.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family and their home was amazing. It was centrally located and just a block from the subte. For part of the trip I had a room by myself and for the second I had a roommate; both were great experiences. I still stay in touch with my roommate.

* Food:

The food is great. The meal schedule is a bit different at first but it's easy to adjust to. If you are staying with a host family, tell them your likes and dislikes. I was a bit envious after talking to other students about their meals ;)

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Take every opportunity to interact with the local culture. This is easy since you are living in it!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Buenos Aires is pretty safe so long as you remain aware of your surroundings. I used some of my free time to walk and skateboard around the city by myself a few times and felt safe the entire time.

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

I would choose this program because it provided all of the experience and opportunities that I was looking for in a study abroad program. My proficiency in Spanish improved greatly and I made amazing friends that I still stay in touch with,

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? $40.00
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Stop by or call your bank. Put a travel alert on your accounts and find out any additional fees you might incur while abroad. ATMs were very convenient for myself and others, while it worked better for other students do visit an actual bank/currency exchange location. Find out and pay attention to what the fees are for the ATMs.

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

All of the time.

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? 200 lvl
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? Listening to podcasts, reading articles or favorite books, and finding a good TV series in the language were very helpful in my preparation. Finding people to practice with was also very helpful.

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

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The other students
  • The guides
  • The opportunities
* What could be improved?
  • More excursions
  • More accountability with host family meals
  • It really was great
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I honestly think that between SOL and my university; I was pretty prepared. The things that I would later learn, I would want to learn later.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.