Best decision ever! Past Review
By A student (Auburn University) - abroad from 01/09/2018 to 04/27/2018 with
Instituto Franklin-UAH: Alcalá de Henares - Study Abroad in Spain
It was 100% worthwhile
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. |
It was quality over quantity! I learned a lot without a ridiculous amount of homework or studying. |
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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
I would chose the same program again because it really was amazing and now have new life long friends and a great grasp on Spanish, but I would also try and become a bigger part of the community and make more local friends. |
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? | Because I traveled almost every weekend I spent more than normal, but on the weekends I stayed in Alcalá I only spent maybe $50 each week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save as much as possible beforehand and decide what kind of spending is important to you. To me, traveling and sight seeing was more important than expensive meals and shopping, so while I was out I reminded myself of this when it was between buying expensive clothes or having money to go to Morocco. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate 2 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Only watch tv and listen to the radio in Spanish. Also, practice a little every day it really does help. While you are there don't be nervous to practice. Be the person who is brave enough to ask for directions, the check, or anything else out in public. It really will help. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | I wish I knew beforehand or early-on how to do more things within the campus and community. |
