A vacation abroad that also included class sometimes Past Review
By Adam T (Business, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/21/2014 with
UFV Madrid / Universidad Francisco de Vitoria: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned how to be a better person and to appreciate differences in cultures as opposed to being afraid or skeptical of the nuances
Review Photos
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. |
Classes are about 2 years behind the US, i.e. a 4th year business class is a 2nd year at PC |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Lack of school administration presence |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Lived in the city in my own flat |
| * Food: |
School cafeteria was expensive but decent |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The optional intensive course I paid for out of pocket was the source of all my program related integration, it cost 1400$ but definitely worth it |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Had no health issues but im pretty sure healthcare is completely free |
| * Safety: |
Madrid is extremely safe |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Madrid is very expensive, utilities, food, living, clubbing are all high cost |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget, budget, budget |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I almost never spoke english, partly out of personal preference but the school pushes foreign language quite well |
| 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? | Spanish 151 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH IF POSSIBLE, don't ever be afraid to mess up as the people will generally sit through your broken spanish and get to the meaning |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Spanish people do not like being compared to latin americans and the two types of spanish are not the same. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
