Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Prague has changed my outlook on how life should be Past Review

By (Economics., Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/04/2013 to 05/17/2013 with

UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new perspective on life and culture. After spending spring semester absorbing the European culture, my career and living plans have changed. There are so many "characters" in Prague that it seems like everyone is comfortable being who they want to be. Gender and age barriers don't exist as much. Social status and the necessity to uphold an appearance is lost. Rules are more lax and I felt more free in Prague than I did at home in the US. The experience was definitely worth while and I wish I stayed a full year.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

We lived in the most expensive part of Prague and it was still pretty inexpensive. Most costs were associated with traveling throughout Europe rather than living costs in Prague.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure you have a convenient and easy bank to work with. Ask about international fees, clearing checks, etc. I highly recommend TD Bank.

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

We were encouraged to use it in and out of class, but only a few students actually used it outside of Czech language class.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
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? Take a CD rom or basic czech class before going. It is not necessary but I regret not engaging in the czech language more while I was there.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • The people
  • The prices
  • The culture and nightlife
* What could be improved?
  • More interaction with the locals
  • More of a language requirement
  • Nothing else...
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how much I love Europe now so I could have potentially networked with some business contacts while I was there.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

All Courses
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Classes were very challenging. They encouraged participation more than at Middlebury. The classes really integrated European culture into their curriculum. For example, in the Prague as a Living History class, the class would spend three hours each week walking around each section of Prague. We would study how the architecture of buildings would change as time went on. In our economics of transition class, we got to visit the Skoda car factory. In comprehending the holocaust class, we visited a concentration camp in Czech. All the teachers were knowledgable and well-prepared. We were assessed through papers, exams, homework, and class discussions. More weight was put on the final exams though.
Credit Transfer Issues: I am not sure because this application needs to be completed before my credits are transferred.