Fantastic! Past Review
By A student (Social Work and Spanish, University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 05/04/2012 to 08/11/2012 with
Universidad Veritas: San José - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
An appreciation for other ways of life, it was worthwhile and I believe everyone should try to experience something like this during their life time!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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? |
5 stars for my host family but the students that I was placed with made my first month there terrible and I feel there should be a way to stay alone in a host family like I had requested. |
| * 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? |
No
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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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around 50$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Learn how to use public transportation vocabulary before you go so you are not spending a fortune on taxis depending on the country. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Oral and Written |
| 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? | Don't spend so much time with friends in your program from America speaking english, either make friends there to work on your language skills or make your other friends speak the language when you are together |
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
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | That our classes wouldn't provide materials, that we should have brought notebooks and other school materials. |
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