The best educational experience ever! Past Review

By A student (Marketing And International Business, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/03/2012 to 12/19/2012 with

Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid: Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Apart learning the content taught in lectures, I learned to be able to adapt to surroundings and customs of others. It was definitely worthwhile and made the experience so much better.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The university did not provide housing accommodations so I had to find my own place to live. Living with other students also on exchange gave me more exposure and they were all mostly interested in the same things I was interested in.
* Food:	Very different from American food, but deliciously made!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I never had any health issues while living abroad.
* Safety:	People know when you're not from that country so you become an easier target to steal from.
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?	100 euros

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	All of my classes were in English and the professors never encouraged us to speak Spanish. Time spent with my friends, I did speak Spanish.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	Upper division Spanish
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?	Speak the language of the country you are in as much as possible! It's the easiest, quickest and funnest way to learn the language. A lot of other foreign students are there to learn as well so don't feel shy, you're all learning at the same time.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Other
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	Being able to travel at a cheap rate Making friends Learning through a different style
* What could be improved?	The host country's registration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	-Have registration secured -Plan accordingly -Budget and manage money most efficiently

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Spanish Culture & History Through Visual Arts
Course Department:	Spanish
Instructor:	Maria Eugenia Ramos
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The class was phenomenal! What I enjoyed most about the class is that the professor was very knowledgeable of all the lectures and history of what she was teaching. Our grade was evaluated by 2 papers, 1 midterm exam and a final.
Credit Transfer Issues: