Past Review
By Sheila O (PSYCHOLOGY., Barnard College) for
Syracuse University: Madrid - Syracuse University in Madrid
Yes. It helped me to relax i was getting really bogged down at school here and it was really nice to get away and have fun and learn in a less stressful environment. I enjoyed experiencing the more relaxed culture in Spain. I would really like to go back soon!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
the teachers were all wonderful!! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
the program was organized, helpful, and welcoming and they really understood that we were all trying to balance travel/fun/experiencing spain with academics |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
lived in an apartment with my senora, it was in a good location (near av. america subway stop so very convenient and walking dist from school) and she was really nice, did my laundry, cooked me excellent food <br /><br /> see above...very safe, close to school, easy to go out, didn't need to buy anything to settle in |
| * Food: |
food was excellent, i have a LOT of dietary restrictions and they were accommodated PERFECTLY by my senora...she was apologizing that she couldn't cook as well as normal because we had to make so many substitutions...but I thought it was amazing |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
FUN. the pre-school traveling seminar was AMAZING and definitely made a big difference in my overall social life once i got to madrid. madrid has lots of different options for socializing so it was really easy and fun to do a lot of different thigns and it was also easy to find travel opportunities. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
there was an easily accessible nurse and the school had a number we could call any time if we were in trouble. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I'm not really sure. i think i ended up spending about $6,000 over the whole semester on food, going out, travel, a little shopping. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | i definitely could've spent less but i also could EASILY have spent a lot more. spending advice: try to find free entrance to clubs because they are expensive. try to get airline deals. stay in hostels (but make sure they are clean and safe). if you're in spain and hungry at lunchtime get menu del dia its delicious and a really good deal. try your best not to go shopping (its very hard because there are stores EVERYWHERE). Split food with friends, you can try more and don't end up spending quite as much. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3300 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
i think my fluency and pronunciation improved a lot. used it every day with my senora (she did not speak english) spoke sometimes w/ my friends but they were english-speakers so mostly just spoke spanish at home and in bars etc. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | do it! |
