Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

COLOMBIA: The risk is wanting to stay... Past Review

By (Marketing., Trinity University) for

Universidad de los Andes: Bogota - Direct Enrollment/Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I would totally do it again. It is very interesting to compare the different teaching styles in the different countries. People are very outgoing and welcoming, and willing to learn from you as well.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There is a lot of reading you have to do outside of class and a lot of essays involved. One of the teachers gave the option of doing the assigments in groups. The test where not about how well you memorized dates and concepts, since teachers were more interested if you understod the concepts and theories given particular cases that you would develop through detailed essays, not multiple choice. (In the USA most teachers worry more in your ability to memorize things rather than really knowing if you understood the concept and if you could implemented in different scerarios, instead of doing picky multiple choices.)

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Most things can be done through emails, but some things like payments and getting transcripts mailed or adquiring an ID had to be done in person. The hardest part was getting the course information by the due dates in the USA because Los Andes registration times work totally different, and people register like two weeks the class actually starts.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in my house with my family.

* Food:

Usually I went home to dine, but there are a lot of restaurants close and in the university. There is also a food court with the most popular restaurant at a reasonable price.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I didn't go with a program

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Always call taxis. If you are a girl try not to walk alone on the streets, specially at night. Go to popular places where most turist and go since these are usually sorrounded by more cops. try to avoid sketchy places.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? bus: 1,500 pesos (75 cents) taxi: 10,000-12,000 pesos (5-6 dollars) Food at home. and photocopies are relative regarding the class. (100 pesos per page) one week: about 100,000 pesos ($50 dollars)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? check the exchange rate. If you earn in dollars, you will be able to spend a lot.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
Language acquisition improvement?

Spanish is my native language, but for a person with Spanish as their second language it would definitly be an intensive program because nobody speaks English. You might find some students that know English, but when it come to teachers and employees, it is rare.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • food
  • teaching methods (group assigments)
* What could be improved?
  • Los Andes should have their classes ready with more time...
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? An independent, person that like cosmopolitan cities and is not afraid to try new things. Definitely have a high level in spanish.