Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

This is a program you won't want to miss!!! Past Review

By (SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 05/21/2013 to 06/21/2013 with

SUNY Geneseo: Prague - Humanities Course

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was completely worthwhile. Although it was expensive, the things I experienced and the memories that I will have for the rest of my life made the costs less burdensome. I learned so much about European culture and history. Furthermore, I developed a new appreciation for countries, such as Hungary, that have a hidden charm. I would have never appreciated these Eastern European countries if I had not been forced to visit them as part of my program. Now I am completely enraptured with their history and culture and would love nothing more than to go back.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed learning on this program because we learned from experience. We got to go visit the places we were reading about in the course textbook. This is the most effective way to learn for students. I learned so much in these short four weeks.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Both professors ran the program expertly and handled any situations that arose with a calm approach. I would not have wanted any other professors on a program abroad. Furthermore, the tour guides we had in each host country were superb. They presented us with quality information that helped me to learn a great deal in each host country.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in phenomenal locations. Our instructor did a fantastic job of picking safe and comfortable living locations that were in central locations within the cities we visited.

* Food:

The food customs were a little difficult to get used to but they were nonetheless of high quality and filling.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt unprepared for the cultural customs I faced abroad. However, some things must be learned through experience and I eventually became accustomed to the European cultural trends I experienced.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While I did not need to use the healthcare provided to us, I had torn my ACL prior to the trip to Europe. Both instructors made sure to make sure I was doing alright on a daily basis and made me very comfortable on the trip despite my physical limitations.

* Safety:

I felt that we were fully prepared for the safety issues in the countries we visited. We were told what to do and what not to do and if the student complied with these suggestions, then there were no safety concerns to worry about.

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)

I had not expected how much this program would cost while I was there, simply from buying food. The Study Abroad office needs to emphasize to students more just how much money will be required for food expenses. I was the most careful person on my trip as far as spending money was concerned and I still spent a great deal more than I had ever planned to. It was very hard on a student's budget and that was only for a four week program.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100-$150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would suggest that as soon as a student knows they are going abroad, they should plan to have at least $600 saved for food and personal expenses abroad. This is the very minimum they will need, especially if they are going to a country that is on the Euro, which accelerates the cost of living substantially.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Instructors
  • Countries visited
  • Educational experience
* What could be improved?
  • Program preparation (financial, cultural, packing)
  • Later departure date (so students have time to fully prepare prior to embarking to their destination)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had had more time in between the spring semester and this program. For students that have later finals, jobs, or siblings graduating (I had all three), departing less than one week from the last final date is nearly impossible. I had virtually no time to prepare for the trip, and because of that, I did not pack accordingly. Students should not have to worry about packing when they have more pressing academic concerns, such as finals, to attend to first and foremost. Giving students at least eight days from the last final day gives them much more preparation time to fully prepare for their trip and to make the most of their experience. It would also give them a short mental break before starting another course.

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.