Amazing & Challenging Past Review
By Byron Patten (Highline College) - abroad from 09/02/2017 to 10/13/2017 with
The Intern Group: Madrid Internship Placement Program
As for the internship itself, I found the experience incredibly challenging. The company was an entirely different work environment than what I am used to and my tasks were hard to say the least. I found myself, with a full work schedule, going crazy at times! Looking back on it now, though I personally would not work for my specific company again, I learned so much. For the better, I never felt like a student treated as a lesser; I was by no means babied. I was an employee and expected to know my company and how to work proficiently. If it were not for this, what would the point have been? In only six weeks as a marketing intern with almost no experience, I learned fast to use Adobe editing software, develop screenplays, edit text and work independently on important tasks. In the end, I created a commercial for the company used to this day on their website.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
My time abroad through the Intern Group was amazing. They are incredibly accommodating to their students; if you have any concerns, problems or questions they will be there for you immediately. Also, the events they hosts regularly, with sometimes daily excursions, are fun, educational and a great way to make friends with some of the other interns. Really, they go above and beyond to ensure their interns are comfortable and working hard. I highly recommend the recommend the Intern Group. They genuinely care and you will come out a more knowledgeable/experienced worker and person in general! |
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? | $900 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | cook meals at home; minor exceptions on certain days. Also, in terms of grocery shopping, like at home, certain stores are more expensive than others. I did not bother to solve this out till a few weeks in. Had I done this sooner, there'd be major savings. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Take some language courses before arriving. You will value the country all the more with that on your belt. Also, if you plan to do weekend trips, ect. book in advance! Lastly, if you ever at all feel uncomfortable in your working environment (for whatever reason), talk to the intern group and talk to your supervisors. They will listen to you and work with you to solve the issue. Communication is key. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
