Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Dobry Den Past Review

By (film and media culture and economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/08/2014 to 12/12/2014 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
learned a ton about myself and the world

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

teachers were very good and helpful. program was very backloaded though

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

the program administrators were a 10/10, ended up being friends with several of them and were so happy to help with any issues

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

it was ok, we had a very spacious apartment but the water would consistently go out or hot water would stop (www.travelcook.com)

* Food:

very cheap and, for the most part, quite good

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

kind of incorporated, there was obviously a language barrier

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

easily accessible, the program set up several options for us. no huge health concerns in the czech rep.

* Safety:

felt incredibly safe for a study abroad program, pick pockets were barely ever an issue

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? probabaly 100 but it went a very, very long way
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? cook your own food instead of going out to eat!

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

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 (eng speaking)
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? really not necessary, everyone speak english

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • the staff
  • the class schedule
  • the diverse courses
* What could be improved?
  • the program work is very backloaded
  • more integration with locals
  • more suggestions for resaurants
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? that the staff is your best friend

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

elementary czech
Course Department: language
Instructor: jitka
Instruction Language: czech
Comments: yes it was challenging but was well done
Credit Transfer Issues: unclear
Course Name/Rating:

film as a mirror
Course Department: film
Instructor: brdeckova
Instruction Language: english
Comments: yes it was challenging but incredibly interesting and eyeopening
Credit Transfer Issues: unclear
Course Name/Rating:

global communication
Course Department: film
Instructor: nesbitt
Instruction Language: english
Comments: it was ok, wasnt quite a film class as much as it was communications. the teacher was good but a bit cryptic
Credit Transfer Issues: unclear
Course Name/Rating:

environmental economics
Course Department: economics
Instructor: jitka
Instruction Language: english
Comments: wow this class was pretty bad, teacher was not passionate and neither were the students
Credit Transfer Issues: unclear
Course Name/Rating:

Nationalism in Central Europe
Course Department: literature
Instructor: prochazka
Instruction Language: english
Comments: class was fantastic. teacher was incredibly wise and loved to cultivate engaging conversations
Credit Transfer Issues: unclear