Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Summer you will ever have!!!!! Past Review

By (Psychology, Michigan State University) - abroad from 06/11/2015 to 07/31/2015 with

Summit Global Education: Europe - Study Abroad Tour (Multi-Country)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Really one of the best experiences of my life. It is so cool getting immersed in the different cities and making them your own. I learned how to be independent and more confident in being outside of my comfort zone. I saw amazing sites, made amazing friends and had the world's best summer.

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 cool to take classes at Universities all over Europe, you got to hear the perspectives of professors from so many different countries which really added to the material itself. Being a psychology major in an international business-focused program, I really learned a lot!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The leaders of this program are honestly the best, they took such good care of us and were also a blast to be around! You will not find better program leaders anywhere!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Above and beyond!! I expected very mediocre living arrangements and was surprised with some of the nicest living accommodations I've ever had!

* Food:

Professors are great at recommending good places to eat and you'll get lots of opportunities to experience the local food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Integration with the local culture is definitely what you make of it. You have to put yourself out there and talk to people to get the most of it, but we were definitely given the opportunities to do so! We stayed the longest in Prague and Budapest and met a ton of people in both of those cities! By the end of your stays in each country, you really feel like the cities is yours :)

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any poor health experiences but I had friends who did and they were well taken care of!

* Safety:

There was not a second on this trip that I felt unsafe. Our leaders told us where to go and where was unsafe and the cities we visited never felt threatening at all.

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)

Had to pay for the majority of the food but a lot of things were included and some of the living spaces had kitchens which made it easy to eat on a budget. The leaders also gave good tips on where we could find more affordable meal options

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about 300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? eat at local spots, not near tourist attractions or in wealthy neighborhoods. Also, ask the locals what is appropriate for things like taxis so you know if you're being ripped off

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* 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?
  • visiting many different countries
  • freedom
  • feeling at home abroad
* What could be improved?
  • communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Pack light, come with an open mind and don't be afraid to talk to the locals!!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.