GCP: Slovakia 2014!! Past Review

By (Business Management, University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) - abroad from 05/22/2014 to 06/06/2014 with

Study Abroad Programs in Slovakia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Lots of real world experience with different cultures, actual companies, and a great traveling/worldly experience over all.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was very educational working with people from different cultures and getting work experience with actual companies. It was labor intensive because it was crammed into 2 weeks. The wifi at the Slovakian university made working on campus difficult.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Amazing, safe, great wifi and comfortable beds/rooms, helpful staff

* Food:

amazing and cheap but great new food types

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The slovak students were very welcoming and wanted to build relationships with the american students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A but information was given in case something happened

* Safety:

I felt very safe, travel with another student at all times, connect to wifi and let others know where you are/going.

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

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)

like a 1.5 the scholar ships for the program helped a lot

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $2,500
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? plan ahead and for a larger amount then told. Use a credit card as much as possible it eliminates currency loss and most places i went took the Credit card.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • the relationships created
  • the sites we saw
  • the food/drinks
* What could be improved?
  • communication between instructors
  • communication between instructors and students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? the amount of money to save and the idea that you can buy essential items once you got there

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'